Department Recruiting for Deputy Director/CIO

A department of state government is recruiting for a deputy director/chief information officer (CIO) who’s “passionate about leading teams and inspiring others to deliver great service.”

The deputy director/CIO (Career Executive Assignment) of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) will serve as a member of the executive team and provide “innovative program guidance, consultation, oversight and technical assistance on IT matters,” the job posting says. “The CIO directs the planning and implementation of enterprise IT systems in support of business operations.”

The position was most recently held by Jennifer Benson, a veteran of the public and private sectors who had served as CIO and deputy director for the department for almost four years. This month, Benson took a new position: associate director of Enterprise Support Services and IT Project Management for California State University at Monterey Bay.

The CIO “has executive leadership responsibility for the planning, development, implementation, administration, and assessment of DTSC’s policies, programs, and procedures for the Office of Environmental Information Management (OEIM),” the job’s duty statement says. “The Deputy Director/CIO provides high-level policy design and oversight for all DTSC (IT) services, data programs, and analytics.”

In addition, the CIO acts as liaison to top managers, legislators, the Governor’s Office and local, state and federal agencies, participating in “directorate-level strategic planning to evaluate and recommend policy and program direction, ensure compliance with legislated program mandates, and manage staff in the development of policies for DTSC’s IT services and analytics associated with the delivery of DTSC’s diverse programs,” the duty statement notes.

Areas of responsibility include oversight of:

• Business process automation/technology support
• Technology and data management planning
• Personnel management
• Budget administration
• Supporting the CIO of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), DTSC’s parent organization

In addition, the duty statement notes: “The CIO must have the ability to handle sensitive and confidential materials/matters; establish cooperative working relationships, and effectively communicate with staff at all levels both within and outside DTSC to complete work assignments. The CIO must also understand the different functions of DTSC and other State and local agencies and how they relate to each other; reason logically, analyze information to reach accurate and defensible conclusions and resolve complex problems, and clearly communicate those conclusions,” among other skills and attributes. 

The position has a monthly salary range of $10,360 to $12,341, and the application deadline is Feb. 5.