Chief Information Officer for Broome County

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Broome County, NY

Are you a visionary tech leader ready to shape the digital future of local government?
Broome County is seeking an experienced, innovative, and strategic Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead its Information Technology Division. With a $10.6M budget, a team of 40+, and projects ranging from ERP upgrades to cybersecurity modernization, this is a high-impact executive role at the heart of public service transformation.

The Broome County Chief Information Officer (CIO) plays a key role in the operation of Broome County government, leading the Division of Information Technology. The CIO position is an executive management role reporting to the Deputy County Executive for Physical Services and/or the County Executive, who leads, manages, and oversees the administration of Broome County government. The CIO is appointed by the County Executive for a five-year term of service.

The CIO provides leadership in the strategic planning, development, acquisition, implementation, and operational initiatives in all areas of information and communication technologies in Broome County government. They fulfill an important management and organizational planning role within County government, and are responsible for:

• Setting County policy to meet organizational goals
• Setting priorities for systems development
• Coordinating departmental user needs to maximize the efficient, effective, and economical application of technological and staffing resources, and to contain costs.

The IT department utilizes many outside vendors, and the CIO is responsible for overseeing the purchasing or contracting of all hardware, software and peripheral equipment. They are also responsible for developing, negotiating, and monitoring all contracts for services, and oversee all telecommunications and printing services for the County. 

Communication and administrative leadership skills are critical in this role; the CIO regularly communicates with elected officials, other County department heads (approximately 40 other department heads that IT services), and exercises administrative supervision over all systems information staff (40+ employees).

Major Responsibilities and Tasks
The CIO handles a range of administrative, organizational, and leadership roles within County government. Their primary responsibilities and tasks include:

Management and Leadership

• Directs the strategic planning, development, and management of new automated information and communication systems and technology, as well as enhancements to existing automated systems in Broome County departments.
• Leads efforts to leverage technology to drive digital transformation initiatives across the organization.

Direction and Supervision of Staff and IT Systems

• Responsible for directing and coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Department of Information Services.
• Oversees department staff, who are directed to meet information and telecommunication needs for Broome County and departmental user needs.
• Works with the County’s Risk Manager to ensure all IT systems are properly secured and follow best practices for cybersecurity.
• Coordinates the implementation of automated systems including but not limited to: acquisition of hardware and peripheral equipment, and assigning technical staff to user departments to effectively utilize resources.

Reviews and Evaluation

• Responsible for evaluating vendor performance and making recommendations based on operational needs.
• Manages County's investments in existing information and communication equipment and reviews them for efficiency, cost, and devaluation to make recommendations to better meet operational needs.
• Reviews and approves County and departmental information systems portion of the annual budget prior to submission to the Legislature for approval.
  Advising
• Serves as chief technology advisor to the County Executive, members of the Legislature, and County department heads and managers on information and communication technology.
  Research and Analysis
• Examines costs and benefits of technologies as viable solutions to identified automation needs for the County and explores the most economical way for acquiring these services for County use (by purchase, lease, or contracting).
• Identifies opportunities to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and enhance user experience through the use of technology.
• Researches, analyzes, and communicates new concepts, ideas, and techniques in information systems and data processing to County officials, staff, and others.

Priorities and Projects
Broome County’s next CIO is key to the County’s ongoing efforts for Firewall and Wi-fi Controller replacements. They will also be part of on-site ERP upgrades on PeopleSoft with Oracle Cloud for Finance and Human Resource department software (HRMS).

The CIO will need to be ready to take on the challenge of managing multiple projects with limited staff and be ready to manage relationships with internal and external government stakeholders, including other local governments, higher education institutions, and nonprofits.

Work Environment
This position is a full time (40-hour week) role. The CIO works out of the Broome County office in Binghamton, New York. Hybrid work options are available for this role with approval.
The CIO works in an office environment and should be comfortable conducting work in a busy office and interacting with staff and internal and external government stakeholders.

Qualifications
A) Education: Master’s degree in public administration, business, computer science, information systems, or a closely-related field.
○ Experience: Information systems management experience (executive-level) providing technical support to a large organization, and/or consulting at a senior level to a large organization (six years total).
B) OR, Bachelor’s degree AND eight years of experience as noted above.
C) OR, Associate’s degree AND ten years of experience as noted above.
D) OR, An equivalent combination of education and experience as defined in points A, B, and C.

Note on Degree Accreditation
Degrees used to qualify for this position must be awarded from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency (regional, national, or specialized agency) recognized by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

For degrees awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, independent verification of equivalency must be submitted with application documents.
Companies who provide this service (evaluation fees apply): https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm

Special Requirements

• The selected CIO must reside in Broome County or one of the adjoining counties (Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, or Tioga) during their employment. Relocation assistance is available.
• The selected CIO must meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) requirements relevant to the role.

Desired Qualifications

Technology Expertise
To lead in this role, the next CIO should have a thorough knowledge of and expertise in cybersecurity, information technology, and other tech-relevant concepts, including:
Information and communication technology and concepts, including:
○ Enterprise-wide networking
○ Distributed systems
○ Relational database technology
○ Open systems
○ Local/wide area networking
○ Personal computing applications
○ Desktop computing
○ Telecommunications
● Cybersecurity risk programs, industry standards, and best practices
● Overseeing hardware and software upgrades
● Ensuring appropriate system architecture, software solutions, and data storage

Financial and Business Knowledge
The CIO should have knowledge of financial and business practices as it relates to:
● Equipment and service acquisition
● Budgeting, funding, billing, and cost containment
They must also have knowledge of budgeting and budgeting practices, particularly for a public sector or business organization.

Management, Organizational Management, and Organizational Leadership Skills and Experience
The next CIO will manage a budget of $10.6 million and should be skilled in public and business administration and project management. They should have a thorough knowledge of:
● Organizational management
● Public and business administration
● Principles and methods of project management and contract management

The CIO will oversee a staff of at least 40 employees and must possess leadership skills and abilities, including the ability to plan, organize, and supervise the work of a diverse and highly technical staff.

Communication and Collaboration Skills and Experience
The CIO communicates and collaborates with other staff, the County Executive, County department heads, elected officials, and external County stakeholders and must be skilled in communicating and working with teams and individuals.

The next CIO should be a strong communicator (both verbally and in writing) with the ability to present ideas clearly and concisely.

Personal Qualifications
Personal qualifications the next CIO should possess include:
● Sound judgment
● Tact
● Flexibility
● Resourcefulness
● Innovation
● Taking initiative

Salary and Benefits
The salary for this position is $174,066. Benefits include:
● Healthcare, dental, vision insurance
● Life insurance
● New York State (NYS) retirement plan
● Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Benefits
● Flexible Scheduling: Hybrid work options are available (pending approval)
● Paid time off: Vacation, holidays, sick leave, bereavement

Other Benefits
● Tuition reimbursement
● Flex Spending Benefits (for childcare and healthcare costs not covered by insurance)
● Free public transit rides

A full list of benefits available to County employees is available on the Broome County website.
Relocation assistance for this position is available (up to $5,000 reimbursable) with approval from the Broome County Legislature.

Application Instructions and Interview Process
Pracademic Partners is assisting the County with this executive search and inquiries, referrals and nominations can be directed to Dr. Ian M. Coyle at ian@pracademicpartners.com

Applicants should apply for this position through the Broome County employment application system at: https://broomecountyny.gov/personnel/employment_application. Applications are accepted online, via mail, or in person. Applicants are required to submit a resume with their application.

Online
On the Broome County Applications page, under ‘Application Type’ select ‘General Employment Application’ and complete the application and submit your resume.
Mail or In-person Application Submission

On the Broome County Applications page, select ‘Download a fillable, printable PDF version of the Employment Application’ to complete the application. A resume must be submitted with this application. Visit the Broome County employment application page for more information about how to apply by mail or in person: https://broomecountyny.gov/personnel/forms

Interviews
If selected, the first round of interviews (in person or virtually) will be with a pre-selected panel. The second round of interviews will be in person with the County Executive. Finalists must undergo a background check and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) requirements.
This position is subject to confirmation by the Broome County Legislature and to the terms and conditions of employment outlined by Broome County.

About Broome County
Broome County in central New York includes sixteen towns, seven villages, and one city with the City of Binghamton serving as the county seat. Over 196,000 people call Broome County home, and the county boasts a rich history stretching back to its creation in 1806.

Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Broome County was a center for manufacturing and business. Cigar-making flourished from the 1870s up through the 1930s, and the area’s shoe manufacturing company, Endicott Johnson Corporation, produced nearly all footwear for the U.S. Army during WWI and WWII. The Village of Endicott in Broome County is also the birthplace and longtime home of IBM. Manufacturing (including computer, electronics, and aerospace) remains an important industry in Broome County today, with technology and renewable energy being some of the top industries in the region.
Healthcare and education are the largest employment sectors in Broome County; SUNY Broome Community College and Binghamton University—one of the four universities in the State University of New York (SUNY) system—are the largest higher education institutions in the County, with Binghamton being recognized as a top public university, and one of the County’s top employers.

Visitors to Broome County enjoy the County’s historic sites, especially its famous antique carousels in Binghamton which are listed on the National Historic Places Registry, and the variety of arts, entertainment, and cultural offerings throughout the County. The Bundy Museum of History & Art and its Rod Serling Archive, honors Rod Serling, the famous Binghamton local and creator of The Twilight Zone series. Galleries and art studios in Artists’ Row attract residents for weekly art walks. Operas, plays, musicals, and the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra perform at the historic Broome County Forum Theatre. Broome County’s annual Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally attracts over 100,000 people each year and is the third largest hot air balloon event in the U.S. Spiedie Fest earned a Legacy Award from the Library of Congress in 2001.

The County’s scenery and agriculture fuels a growing agritourism industry where locals and visitors can enjoy wineries, farmers markets, horse farms, and traditional seasonal activities like pumpkin and apple picking and Christmas tree farms. Broome County has over a dozen state forests and offers access to outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and golf.

Broome County Government
The County Executive (elected to a four-year term) is the administrative lead for the County and directs and supervises County government functions. Two Deputy County Executives (Human Services, Physical Services) manage and oversee the work of the County’s fifty-four departments.

The County Executive works closely with the County Legislature (composed of 15 elected legislators) to govern County matters. The County Legislature creates policy and has full budgeting authority, including levying property taxes. They are also responsible for confirming appointments of the County Executive.
County Priorities and Projects

Broome County government is focused on the County’s continued economic development, job creation efforts, and revitalization plans, including repurposing and transforming older structures for modern businesses, housing, and other community needs, such as the Broome County Childcare Center planned for Oakdale Commons.

The County aims to complete several major development projects in 2025, including upgrades to The Greater Binghamton Airport, renovations at Grippen Park, and a Veterans Resources Center. Broome County is also working to address the area’s housing needs with new apartment and housing developments, with 800 units currently under construction, and nine developments planned in Binghamton. Other current priorities for County government include expanding childcare access, continuing to reduce overdoses, stimulating job creation, lowering unemployment, and incentivizing business growth in Broome County.