Chief Information Officer

initiatives and councils.

The position leads initiatives to source and deploy technological solutions that enable research, support administration, facilitate delivery of extension programs, improve business processes, and utilize data for evidence-based decision making. UC ANR is seeking an innovative and collaborative leader with excellent communication and problem-solving skills and a good understanding of how technology impacts UC ANR's ability to successfully execute its cooperative extension mission.

The CIO will position the Information Technology Services team as service-oriented influential collaborators and thought partners with leadership, staff, and researchers. The CIO also represents UC ANR with external partners and works with University of California's systemwide IT, finance, and business offices to coordinate UC ANR implementations with systemwide enterprise systems, standards and policies.

The position provides oversight, coordination, and leadership over a variety of IT services including, IT help desk, database administration, application programming, IT project management, systems administration, systems and process analysis, information security, solution development and maintenance, business technical support or a combination of these and / or other IT functions.

This position is a career appointment that is 100% fixed.

The home department is IT Services. While this position normally is based in Davis, CA, this position is eligible for hybrid flexible work arrangements for applicants living in the State of California at this time. Please note that hybrid flexible work arrangements are subject to change by the University.

Pay Scale:

$143,000.00/year to $214,000.00/year

Job Posting Close Date:

This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 12/1/2025.

Key Responsibilities:

50% IT OPERATIONS:

• Direct and manage a multi-unit department with multiple direct reports and over 25 FTE to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction and high-quality end-to-end service delivery. Responsible for staffing and performance management. Establish a supportive work environment.
• Responsible for the implementation and administration of UC ANR's IT infrastructure, resources, applications, and processes. Make decisions on information systems matters and ensure achievement of objectives.
• Develop an optimal operating model for UC ANR IT that strikes an effective balance between centralization and decentralization. Ensure support for secure, robust, mission-critical technology platforms that enable day-to-day business operations.
• Establish and assure adherence to IT budgets, schedules, work plans, and performance requirements. Assess and optimize the current applications portfolio and continue efforts to improve services and processes in collaboration with stakeholders.
• As needed, recommend changes to technology-related policies and establish procedures that affect the organization.
• Collaborate with functional units to identify opportunities to use technology solutions to improve business processes.
• Enhance the availability and adoption of digital tools, including emerging AI tools, to facilitate communication, collaboration, and engagement.
• Work closely with the Chief Information Security Officer to ensure robust information security and privacy strategies that respond to rapid changes in risk, regulatory and cyber liability requirements.
• Promote a customer-service oriented culture and environment that supports secure innovation, cooperation, and collaboration within UCANR and across the UC IT community. Work collaboratively within UC ANR to ensure that the resources and customer service plan of the IT unit is well aligned with institutional objectives.

40% STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP:

• Provide broad IT leadership across all operational areas at UCANR, consulting regularly with executives and functional leaders.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to develop and implement an IT vision and strategic plan that will advance UC ANR priorities.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate strategic goals of the department to make needed strategic changes for improvement.
• Partner with executive and unit leaders to improve the IT Governance structure to set strategy, establish priorities, and address risk. May be called upon to initiate change by modifying and altering existing procedures and methods.
• Develop and maintain a multi-year forecast of strategic technology investment needs and collaborate with leadership to devise a funding strategy for needed investments.
• Advise senior management on security and situational risks relating to information technology matters, controversial situations, and negotiations. Promote a security-first culture across the organization.
• Provide high-level analytical support to executive and senior management, unit directors and staff, and advise them on IT-related matters

10% SYSTEMWIDE REPRESENTATION AND COLLABORATION:

• Consult with other divisional and campus units to share knowledge and best practices related to IT improvements and business process enhancements.
• Coordinate and collaborate with functional departments and units involved in system requirements, techniques, and controls.
• Represent UC ANR and play an active role in systemwide work groups and on councils and committees.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• 7 or more years of experience leading and managing a medium-sized IT organization/function.
• 2-5 years of senior management level experience at a medium-sized IT organization.
• Experience hiring, supervising, managing, and leading technical staff.
• Extensive and in-depth knowledge of information technology principles, theories, and concepts.
• Experience managing ongoing technology infrastructure acquisition and expansion, including the identification and integration of suitable emerging technologies.
• Experience overseeing the adaptation, integration, and modification of existing programs or vendor-supplied products for use within a large and complex technical environment
• Experience managing multi-platform environments in support of a broad range of constituents.
• Demonstrated knowledge of computer hardware, software, and vendor IT products.
• Demonstrated ability to understand the needs and concerns of diverse user groups and to apply knowledge to meet those needs.
• Experience developing, presenting, and managing IT budgets, plans, and projections to a variety of audiences, including senior executives. Strong financial management skills.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills with the proven ability to communicate openly and effectively with staff, management peers, business partners, and executives, including the ability to present technical topics to large groups and senior management with varied levels of technical sophistication.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully conceptualize, launch, manage, and deliver multiple IT projects that meet organizational objectives on time and within budget within an environment that depends on consensus, collaboration, and partnerships.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of information security best practices, frameworks, monitoring tools, and response activities.
• Prior leadership role in the implementation of institution-wide technology solutions with significant process improvement and organizational change management components.
• Demonstrated success in leading change management activities and managing the impact of change across divisional boundaries.
• Experience managing IT in a highly dispersed environment with an understanding of the diverse support needs of statewide programs and extension and educational activities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, communicate, and obtain broad support for a vision of the present and future role of information technology in higher education and how advancements in information technology will yield competitive advantages to the university.

Preferred Skills:

• Advanced degree.
• Applicable certification in professional cyber security management.
• Knowledge of University of California and/or UC ANR policies and practices.
• Knowledge of UC ANR mission, programs, research and extension.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University vehicle. Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability damage insurance on vehicle used is required. Reimbursement of job-related travel will be reimbursed according to University policies.
• The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check. This is a designated position requiring a background check and may require fingerprinting due to the nature of the job responsibilities. UC ANR does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities.
• As of January 1, 2014, ANR is a smoke- and tobacco-free environment in which smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes), is strictly prohibited.
• As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.
• Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer. a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct: UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy UC Anti-Discrimination Policy Abusive Conduct in the Workplace