Part-Time Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Metro-Regional-Transit-Authority; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

METRO Regional Transit Authority in Akron, Ohio seeks a Part-Time Chief Information Officer to provide executive leadership, strategic direction, and technical expertise to modernize the agency's IT environment. The role is on-site 24–29 hours per week and may transition to full-time CIO based on performance.

The CIO will oversee infrastructure, cybersecurity, governance, and a multi-year technology roadmap, reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and collaborating closely with finance,

Qualifications

• Executive-level IT leadership experience as CIO or comparable senior IT role.
• Undergraduate degree in MIS, Computer Science, or Information Technology and 10-12 years of experience.
• Experience with public sector or transportation organizations preferred.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks (NIST, CIS, CIS Controls).
• Experience with cloud technologies, enterprise infrastructure, and digital modernization.
• Strong background in budget development, capital planning, vendor management, procurement.
• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills.
• Proficient in data analytics.

Responsibilities

• Assess technology infrastructure, cybersecurity posture, IT operations, and governance.
• Develop a 3–5-year IT Strategic Plan aligned with METRO’s goals.
• Establish IT governance processes, standards, and updated policies.
• Advise executive leadership with guidance and decision support.
• Evaluate IT staffing, workflows, service delivery, procurement practices, and vendor oversight.
• Oversee major technology initiatives including upgrades, ERP improvements, ITS and fare systems.
• Review technology contracts, vendor performance, SLAs, and procurement strategies.
• Plan transition of CIO duties from part-time to full-time.

Skills

Executive IT leadership

Strategic thinking

Budget development

Vendor management

Communication

Data analytics

Executive presentation

Cybersecurity awareness

Education

Undergraduate degree in MIS, CS, or IT

Job description

Part-Time Chief Information Officer (CIO)

METRO Regional Transit Authority

The Part-Time CIO provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and technical expertise to evaluate, modernize, and strengthen METRO’s information technology environment. This role conducts comprehensive assessments of infrastructure, systems, cybersecurity practices, operations, and policies, and develops a multi-year technology roadmap that aligns with organizational and transit-specific needs. The position is on-site 24–29 hours per week and may transition into a full-time CIO role based on organizational needs and performance. This role reports to the CFO.

Department: Finance

Classification: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

Reporting Relationships

• Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
• Direct Reports Currently 3 - 1 IT Manager and 2 Data Technicians

Key Objectives

• Assess METRO’s current technology infrastructure, systems, cybersecurity posture, IT operations, and organizational structure.
• Identify opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency, security, and system performance.
• Create a 3–5-year IT Strategic Plan aligned with METRO’s business and transit goals.
• Establish governance practices, technology standards, and sustainable IT policies.
• Provide executive-level guidance, recommendations, and decision support to leadership.

Essential Responsibilities

Technology & Cybersecurity Assessment

• Conduct comprehensive evaluation of infrastructure, cloud environments, hardware lifecycle, enterprise systems, integrations, data management, telecommunications, end-user computing, disaster recovery, and business continuity.
• Assess cybersecurity policies, identity and access management, MFA, endpoint protection, firewalls, network security, vulnerability management, training, incident response, regulatory compliance, and cyber-insurance readiness.
• Produce Current State and Cybersecurity Assessment reports with prioritized risk-reduction recommendations.

Strategic Planning & Governance

• Develop a multi-year Technology Strategic Plan, including major initiatives, capital investment needs, lifecycle planning, digital transformation opportunities, innovation strategies, resource planning, and budget forecasts.
• Establish IT governance processes, technology standards, and updated policies (security, acceptable use, DR/BC, change management, retention, etc.).
• Advise executive leadership and participate in organizational strategic planning.

Operational & Organizational Review

• Evaluate IT staffing structure, roles, workflows, help desk processes, service delivery, procurement practices, vendor oversight, asset management, and documentation standards.
• Recommend operational improvements, organizational alignment, and process efficiencies.

Project Oversight & Transit Technology Leadership

• Provide oversight for major technology initiatives including infrastructure upgrades, software implementations, ERP improvements, ITS and vehicle technologies, fare collection systems, and grant-funded technology projects.
• Ensure alignment with transit operations, customer-facing systems, and mobility technologies.

Vendor & Financial Management

• Review and optimize technology contracts, vendor performance, SLAs, procurement specifications, negotiations, and purchasing strategies.
• Support development of technology operating budgets, capital plans, replacement schedules, cost-benefit analyses, ROI evaluations, and grant funding opportunities.

Transition Planning

• Provide recommendations on future IT organizational structure, staffing needs, skill gaps, succession planning, and transition of CIO duties from part-time to full-time.

Deliverables

• Current State Technology Assessment
• Cybersecurity Assessment and Risk Report
• IT Strategic Roadmap (3–5 years)
• Technology Improvement Plan
• Capital Investment and Budget Recommendations
• Updated IT Policies and Standards
• Quarterly Executive Progress Reports
• Presentations to Executive Leadership and Board of Trustees (as requested)

Expected Outcomes

Improved IT governance, enhanced cybersecurity, modernized infrastructure, greater efficiency, reduced technology risk, better system reliability, stronger organizational alignment, and a sustainable roadmap for METRO’s future technology growth.

Qualifications

• Executive-level IT leadership experience as CIO or comparable senior IT role
• Undergraduate degree in MIS, Computer Science, or Information Technology and 10-12 years of experience
• Experience with public sector or transportation organizations preferred
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks (NIST, CIS, CIS Controls)
• Experience with cloud technologies, enterprise infrastructure, and digital modernization
• Strong background in budget development, capital planning, vendor management, procurement
• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills
• Proficient in data analytics

Core Values

Teamwork

• Demonstrating teamwork in and across departments.
• Treating everyone with respect.
• Recognize that the team is greater; much more than the collection of individual efforts.

Safety

• Ensuring the safety of everyone.
• Believing that every accident can be prevented.
• Having a constant eye to safety in all aspects.

People Centric

• Celebrating individual differences
• Treating everyone fairly
• Valuing everyone: co-workers, customers, each other, stakeholders.

Service Excellence

• Providing the best customer service to everyone, both externally and internally.
• Routinely exceeding expectations.
• Serving our customers and each other.

Integrity

• Always demonstrating honesty, trust, character and fairness without compromising the truth.
• Showing high regard for civility, fairness and human dignity.
• Having the courage to do the right thing.

Action Ready

• Sharing one goal, one mission
• Keeping commitments
• Giving more than is expected, willingly, without hesitation and without direction