Chief Information Officer

*For full job description, please visit our website: https://recruiting.adp.com/srccar/public/nghome.guid?c=1169451&d=SDMTSExternal&prc=RMPOD3&r=5001054196006

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) provides technology vision and leadership by setting objectives and strategies that support the mission of the Agency, providing safe, reliable, and customer-oriented public transit. In collaboration with the CEO and senior executive team, the CIO devises and directs the Agency's technology strategy and ensures that all systems necessary to support its operations and objectives are in place. The CIO selects and implements suitable technology to streamline all internal operations to help optimize their strategic benefits and improve customer experience. The CIO is a persuasive leader who inspires, motivates, and guides others towards an understood goal, continually leading by example and making technology 'easy' for the customer. This position supports the 24/7 transit operations and will primarily be site based. The successful candidate must demonstrate the following traits:

• Leadership
• Strategic Planning and Business Development
• Project Management
• Operational Stewardship
• Budgeting
• Mentoring
• Team Building

MTS TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW MTS has made significant investments in its technology resources and executive leadership is strongly committed to realizing the highest possible return on these investments. All foundational infrastructure (servers, storage, network, and desktop equipment) is replaced on a four to five-year rotation with a goal of maintaining 90% of equipment less than four years old. MTS has several large enterprise systems and a complex network architecture to support day-to-day operations of its transit system.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

Strategy & Planning

• Participates in the strategic and operational governance processes of MTS as a member of the senior management team and provides technical guidance.
• Leads IT strategic and operational planning to achieve MTS goals by fostering innovation, prioritizing IT initiatives, and coordinating the evaluation, deployment, and management of current and future IT systems across the organization.
• Promotes and oversees strategic relationships between internal IT resources, stakeholders, and external entities.
• Continually researches trends and issues in the IT industry, including innovative technologies and associated costs, and advises all layers of management of any competitive impacts and risks.
• Develops and maintains an appropriate IT organizational structure that supports MTS needs.
• Establishes and promotes technology goals, best practices, and standardized operating procedures.
• Identifies cost-effective opportunities for technology investment including sourcing, purchasing, staffing, and in-house development.
• Develops the technology investment plan and presents it to the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC), a committee of MTS executive management.
• Develops business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending and initiatives. Analyzes the costs, value and risks of information technology to guide MTS management and makes recommendations.
• Directs development, update and execution of an enterprise-wide Disaster Recovery and Strategic Plan, conducts an annual Enterprise Assessment, and reports findings to ITAC.

Acquisition & Deployment

• Consults and facilitates discussions with stakeholders, internal customers, regional partners, and staff to exchange information, define business and systems requirements for new technology implementations.
• Approves, prioritizes, and controls projects and the project portfolio as they relate to the selection, acquisition, development, and installation of major information systems.
• Reviews hardware and software acquisition and maintenance contracts and pursues master agreements to leverage economies of scale.
• Defines and communicates Agency plans, policies, and standards for acquiring, implementing, and operating technology systems.

Operational Management

• Develops and manages the IT annual operating and capital budgets, oversees the daily operations of the IT Department, and directs the development and maintenance activities for all hardware, software, and network systems.
• Manages the daily operations of the IT Department, including directing IT staff in the execution of administrative, network, telecommunications, development, maintenance, and other IT functions.
• Designs, establishes, and maintains a network infrastructure for local and area-wide connectivity and remote access.
• Ensures continuous delivery of IT services through oversight of service level agreements (SLAs) with end users and monitoring of IT systems performance.
• Maintains excellent customer service experiences for internal and external customers.
• Ensures IT system operations conform to applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Supervises recruitment, development, retention and organization of all IT staff consistent with budgetary objectives and personnel policies.
• Develops IT specific RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs for acquisition of technology, services, and prepares/presents MTS Board agenda items.
• Directs the development and maintenance activities for all IT systems, including hardware, software, and networks to ensure reliability, availability, security, and recoverability.
• Oversees the development and implementation of strategic problem resolution.
• Partners with the Cybersecurity department in the facilitation of achieving a secure technological security posture.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of or ability to learn MTS policies and regulations; ability to read, understand and apply MTS policies, regulations and union labor contracts; ability to write letters, memoranda and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct English; ability to speak clearly, distinctly and effectively in person-to-person or small group situations using tact and diplomacy; ability to coordinate and initiate actions necessary to implement decisions and delegate responsibilities to appropriate personnel; ability to establish and maintain priorities in order to complete assignments by deadlines without detailed instructions; skill in verifying the accuracy and completeness of forms and reports; knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel and the ability to learn and use other software that MTS might have or acquire; ability to initiate, coordinate and negotiate sharing of tasks to achieve goals; ability to establish and manage priorities judiciously; exceptional verbal and written communication skills; ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to individuals or groups with varying technical understanding; exceptional organizational, prioritization and multi-tasking skills; good stress-management coping skills and ability to work well under pressure; ability to create and present clear and logical system documentation.

Special Skills Detailed knowledge of and ability to apply effective business theories and business processes; exceptional knowledge of and skill with budgeting and business operations; extensive understanding of computer systems' characteristics, features and integration capabilities; comprehensive understanding of and ability to apply traditional and contemporary project management principles and methods; exceptional knowledge and understanding of the software development life-cycle; strong understanding of human resource management principles, practices and procedures; superior analytical and problem-solving capabilities; a strong strategic and business mindset; excellent organizational and leadership skills.

Experience/Education/Certificates/License(s) A minimum of 10 years of increasingly responsible management and operational experience in Information Technology is required.

Must also possess the following:

• Proven experience as a senior manager in a technical area or field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of information systems, including advanced technology, systems, integration, state-of-the-art hardware, software, and cloud-based systems.
• Demonstrated experience with long-range information technology strategic planning methodology and techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge of modern management theory, project management principles, and application.
• Background in designing or developing IT systems and planning IT implementations.
• Demonstrated experience with data analysis, budgeting, and business operations.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities with proven record of working collaboratively and effectively across departments in an organization.

Must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A master's degree is highly desirable, but not required. A combination of education and experience meeting the required knowledge and abilities would be considered. Must possess and maintain a valid California driver's license.

SALARY GRADE #19 ($201,601 -- $286,273)