IDEA Public Schools Careers

Chief Information Officer

Mission:

IDEA Public Schools is searching for a Chief Information Officer (CIO) who will report directly to the Deputy Superintendent of Operations and sit on the Executive Team. As an innovative and forward-thinking educational organization, we are seeking a visionary and inspirational CIO who will drive the strategic direction of the Information Systems & Technology (IST) area and lead its group of high-functioning team of technical and subject matter experts. The IST area creates value for end users—students, staff, and families—and empowers their decision-making with seamless integrations, process design, customized solutions, data insight generation, collaboration, and best-in-class customer service. The CIO will partner with cross-functional teams to ensure the effective integration of technology into our educational and operational ecosystem, the provision of reliable, secure, and robust infrastructure, and to build a truly data-driven culture of rigor and insight. A successful candidate will have an expansive mindset about a futuristic approach to technology and data, a people-first approach to innovation, value co-creation, and problem solving, and a proven track record of scaling complex information systems and solutions. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

The CIO will manage the Vice Presidents of each division (Data Accountability and Compliance, Enterprise Applications, Information Technology, Technology Operations), the Director of Project Management Office, a Chief of Staff, and an Executive Assistant. 

Location:

This is a full-time position based in Texas, with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.

Travel Expectations:    

While this is a remote position, there will be in-person meetings across various regions. Candidates must be willing to travel up to 40% of the time during key implementation phases and go-live support periods. 

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities

Essential Duties:

Technology Vision, Strategy, and Innovation:

• Set and champion a bold, future-focused enterprise technology vision that advances IDEA’s mission, long-term strategy, and student outcomes, translating vision into executable, multi-year roadmaps
• Continuously assess emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, data platforms, and digital learning tools, to identify opportunities that enhance instructional impact, operational effectiveness, and staff experience
• Lead the development of an organization-wide strategy for responsible and impactful use of AI in classrooms and operations, balancing innovation, equity, ethics, and compliance
• Provide executive oversight of network and information security to adapt to new technologies and threats and to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data across the organization

Executive Leadership and Organizational Management:

• Provide visionary, people-centered leadership to the Information Systems & Technology area—including Data Accountability and Compliance, Enterprise Applications, Information Technology, Project Management Office, and Technology Operations—driving excellence in strategy execution, service delivery, and innovation
• Build and sustain a high-performing leadership team through coaching, clear accountability, succession planning, and investment in leadership development
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovation-oriented culture that values partnership, professional growth, and shared ownership across teams and functions
• Serve as a trusted advisor and key member of the Executive Team, providing strategic counsel, clear recommendations, and transparent reporting to the CEO/Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, and Boards of Directors
• Build strong cross-functional relationships to co-create solutions that meet the needs of students, educators, staff, and families
• Position IST as a strategic enabler and trusted partner across the organization 

Service Delivery, Infrastructure, and Operational Excellence:

• Lead the design and implementation of a scalable, customer-centered technology service model in ServiceNow, grounded in IT Service Management (ITSM) and ITIL best practices
• Ensure the delivery of reliable, secure, and resilient technology infrastructure and enterprise systems that support teaching, learning, and operations across a large, multi-state organization
• Drive continuous improvement in service quality, responsiveness, and user experience through data, automation, and process optimization 

Data Enablement, Governance, and Decision Support:

• Partner closely with the Vice President of Enterprise Data and Strategy to establish and maintain robust enterprise data governance, ensuring data integrity, privacy, security, and regulatory compliance across multiple entities and authorizers.
• Enable a truly data-driven organization by streamlining systems and services and supporting the development of high-value analytical tools that provide visibility, insight, and actionable intelligence for leaders and field-level staff
• Champion the use of data and analytics to improve student achievement, operational performance, and strategic decision-making
• Ensure organizational compliance with state reporting requirements through strong systems, processes, and accountability 

Change Management, Performance, and Continuous Improvement:

• Manage the IST Project Management Office and lead large-scale organizational change initiatives associated with enterprise systems, data platforms, and new ways of working, ensuring high adoption, capability building, and sustained impact
• Lead the current implementation and change management for the adoption of our new ERP (Workday)
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess progress, identify risks and gaps, and guide strategic adjustments across the IST portfolio
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and innovation grounded in evidence, feedback, and shared accountability 

Financial Stewardship and Executive Governance:

• Provide strong financial leadership for the technology function, ensuring disciplined budgeting, transparent resource allocation, and long-term sustainability across devices, infrastructure, and enterprise software investments
• Direct enterprise-wide RFP and discovery processes for major technology and software investments, partnering with Finance to evaluate total cost of ownership, long-term value, and organizational impact
• Oversee strategic enterprise technology vendor and contractor relationships to ensure high-quality delivery, strong performance, accountability, and alignment with organizational priorities, and to drive long-term strategy and operational excellence
• Drive ongoing optimization of total cost of ownership (TCO) while maintaining high standards for system reliability, scalability, and security
• Uphold the highest standards of integrity, fiduciary responsibility, and governance in all technology-related decisions and investments 

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

 N/A

Knowledge and Skills – Competencies

• Make Strategic Decisions: This team member embodies IDEA’s mission and values in decision-making, balancing bold vision with ethical and operational rigor. They establish governance frameworks that ensure consistency and accountability organization-wide, while applying systems thinking to break down silos and drive data-informed continuous improvement.

• Manage Work and Teams: This team member designs scalable systems that anticipate future organizational needs, driving sustainable impact through cross-functional collaboration and strategic problem-solving. They foster a culture of ownership and accountability, lead change with clarity and purpose, and balance hands-on leadership with empowering others to build capacity and achieve long-term success. 

• Grow Self and Others: This team member embeds development priorities into strategic planning, ensuring organization-wide systems and resources support continuous learning. They build and empower senior leadership teams to drive performance, innovation, and inclusivity, while executing a comprehensive talent strategy that spans the full employee lifecycle and cultivates a culture of lifelong growth. 

• Build a Culture of Trust:  This team member exemplifies IDEA’s values and ethical standards through integrity, transparency, and responsible stewardship. By openly sharing decision rationale and fostering curiosity and inclusion, they build trust across the organization and create a culture where diverse perspectives are valued. 

• Communicate Deliberately: This team member sets and upholds communication standards across the organization, ensuring clarity and trust, especially during times of change or crisis. They lead major initiatives with strategic, context-rich messaging, proactively shaping narratives that address challenges, foster resilience, and align stakeholder perception with organizational impact. 

Additional Skills:

• Building strong, non-transactional business partnerships with internal and external stakeholders through trust, empathy, vulnerability, and credibility, and developing organizational and political intelligence
• Oversee and prioritize multiple long-term projects at once, often under pressure with competing priorities and tight turnarounds while maintaining composure, ensuring quality, and achieving result
• Lead with a people-first customer service and experience perspective, solutions-orientation, and curiosity, particularly in spaces that the CIO does not directly manage or impact
• Building, inspiring, motivating, engaging, coaching, and maintaining high-performing teams and fostering cross-functional and innovative collaboration in a hybrid—mostly virtual—environment
• Work in a highly regulated environment and ensure compliance with data privacy and federal, state, and local laws and statutes 

Required experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• At least 15 years of professional experience
• At least 8 years overseeing technology functions, preferably in the education sector or a large-scale, multi-state organization
• At least 8 years of direct people management experience, including coaching and leadership development across multiple layers
• At least 8 years of demonstrated record of results for large-scale complex information system management and organizational change management in a high-pressure environment
• At least 8 years of budget (P&L) management and business operations experience 

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree preferred
• ITIL 4 Foundation (highly preferred)
• Experience in the public education or non-profit sectors preferred 

Physical Requirements:

• This is a sedentary position.
• The ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period.
• The employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. 

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary for this role is commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA 

At IDEA the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values