What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Technology Officer position at Chester County Intermediate Unit?
The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) has an opening for the Chief Technology Officer within the Technology Services division of the Chester County Intermediate Unit.
Are you motivated to create brighter futures for students, families, and the entire community? If so, we want you on Team CCIU! At the CCIU, we pride ourselves on the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit that our employees bring to their work every day, and we know that achieving success together takes a team approach!
We strive to hire exceptional, motivated, and passionate individuals that help us achieve our vision of acting as educational leaders who contribute to a better Chester County and beyond.
If you are looking for an exciting, challenging opportunity to grow your career, don’t wait – apply today to make Team CCIU even stronger tomorrow!
Summary Of Position
The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) serves as the visionary executive leader for all technology ecosystems within the Chester County Intermediate Unit, driving strategic direction for both internal operations and external client services. This role ensures that technology infrastructure aligns with CCIU’s mission to deliver innovative, secure, and efficient solutions that support educational programs, operational excellence, and digital equity. Additionally, the CTO champions the responsible integration of emerging technologies—including Artificial Intelligence—to modernize administrative functions, improve instructional practices, and optimize leadership.
Beyond internal leadership, the CTO manages a robust portfolio of technology services delivered to education and government customers throughout Pennsylvania. This includes oversight of support to technical teams, remote network monitoring, PIMS/data services, technology audits, and vendor negotiation. The CTO is responsible for developing flexible, high-value business models to market these services, leading major initiatives such as Chesconet (a non-profit community ISP), Managed Immutable Backup (ransomware protection), and Private Security Cloud (zero trust) services.
Dimensions And Organizational Relationships Of Position
The Chief Technology Officer:
Strategic Leadership
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and /or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
Technical Competencies
Administrators, Salary TBD
Benefits
Chester County Intermediate Unit offers a regionally competitive benefit package including medical and prescription benefits, dental, vision, long term disability, life insurance generous paid time off (sick, vacation and personal), PSERS retirement and 403(b) plan.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Chester County Intermediate Unit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Chester County Intermediate Unit ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Chester County Intermediate Unit has a policy of active recruitment of qualified minority teachers and non-certified employees. Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact the Department of Human Resources at 484-237-5085.
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Are you motivated to create brighter futures for students, families, and the entire community? If so, we want you on Team CCIU! At the CCIU, we pride ourselves on the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit that our employees bring to their work every day, and we know that achieving success together takes a team approach!
We strive to hire exceptional, motivated, and passionate individuals that help us achieve our vision of acting as educational leaders who contribute to a better Chester County and beyond.
If you are looking for an exciting, challenging opportunity to grow your career, don’t wait – apply today to make Team CCIU even stronger tomorrow!
Summary Of Position
The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) serves as the visionary executive leader for all technology ecosystems within the Chester County Intermediate Unit, driving strategic direction for both internal operations and external client services. This role ensures that technology infrastructure aligns with CCIU’s mission to deliver innovative, secure, and efficient solutions that support educational programs, operational excellence, and digital equity. Additionally, the CTO champions the responsible integration of emerging technologies—including Artificial Intelligence—to modernize administrative functions, improve instructional practices, and optimize leadership.
Beyond internal leadership, the CTO manages a robust portfolio of technology services delivered to education and government customers throughout Pennsylvania. This includes oversight of support to technical teams, remote network monitoring, PIMS/data services, technology audits, and vendor negotiation. The CTO is responsible for developing flexible, high-value business models to market these services, leading major initiatives such as Chesconet (a non-profit community ISP), Managed Immutable Backup (ransomware protection), and Private Security Cloud (zero trust) services.
Dimensions And Organizational Relationships Of Position
The Chief Technology Officer:
- Reports to the Executive Director or his/her designee
- Interacts with all division directors and is a member of the CCIU cabinet, interacts with superintendents, school directors, board members, and PDE staff throughout Pennsylvania.
- Has responsibility to oversee CCIU’s technology vision, strategy, security and operations.
- Administers and provides oversight of the Technology Services Division.
- Plans and directs the accomplishment of division responsibilities, goals, objectives, as well as related IU organizational goals.
- Assesses and solves problems affecting the daily and long-term operations of the division.
- Assists other divisions as needed or requested, including proactively anticipating technology needs.
- Confers with the Executive Director on matters or issues beyond the scope or role of the division.
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and implement a comprehensive technology strategy aligned with CCIU’s strategic plan.
- Identify emerging technologies and trends to enhance educational services and operational efficiency.
- Serve as a key advisor to the Executive Director and Board on technology-related matters.
- Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of secure and reliable technology systems, including networks, servers, cloud services, and cybersecurity protocols.
- Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations related to data privacy, security, and accessibility.
- Manage disaster recovery and business continuity planning for technology systems.
- Collaborate with instructional leaders to integrate technology into teaching and learning.
- Lead initiatives that support digital equity and access for students and staff.
- Evaluate and implement tools that enhance virtual learning, data analytics, and personalized education.
- Establish and enforce policies for data governance, security, and integrity.
- Oversee information systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP), reporting, and analytics platforms.
- Ensure compliance with FERPA, COPPA, and other applicable regulations.
- Develop and manage the Technology Services Division’s budget.
- Negotiate vendor contracts and manage relationships to optimize cost and service quality.
- Establish partnerships to create economies of scale for technology purchases.
- Pursue grants and funding opportunities to support technology initiatives.
- Lead and mentor a team of technology professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
- Provide professional development opportunities for staff to stay current with technology trends and best practices.
- Communicate technology plans and initiatives to internal and external stakeholders.
- Build partnerships with school districts, community organizations, and technology providers.
- Represent and promote CCIU in regional and state technology forums.
- Visionary Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive technology roadmap that aligns with CCIU’s strategic plan, emphasizing digital transformation, operational efficiency, and revenue generation.
- Service Business Model: Design and implement sustainable business models for technical services that provide flexibility and high value to education and government clients across Pennsylvania.
- AI Governance: Lead the organization’s Artificial Intelligence strategy, creating governance frameworks for the ethical and effective use of emerging technologies in administration and instruction.
- Executive Advisement: Serve as a key advisor to the Executive Director and Cabinet team, identifying emerging trends to enhance educational services and operational excellence.
- Infrastructure Architecture: Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of secure, cloud-forward technology ecosystems (networks, servers, telecommunications) ensuring 99.9% availability.
- Chesconet Oversight:Direct the operations and expansion of Chesconet (non-profit community Internet Service Provider), ensuring high-speed, reliable connectivity for member institutions.
- Cybersecurity & Resilience: Lead and collaborate with cybersecurity personnel to align technology initiatives with security standards and compliance requirements. This leadership and partnership ensure secure system design, risk-aware technology adoption, and effective governance for cybersecurity and data protection across the organization.
- Compliance: Ensure strict compliance with state and federal regulations related to accessibility, physical security, and critical infrastructure protection.
- Regional Support Delivery: Oversee the delivery of support for technical teams, and remote network monitoring, for external school districts and government agencies.
- Consulting & Audits: Lead a team of experts to provide technology audits, strategic mentoring, and consulting services to client leadership.
- Data Services (PIMS): Manage the delivery of data services, including PIMS (Pennsylvania Information Management System) reporting, ensuring accuracy and regulatory compliance for client LEAs.
- Instructional Integration: Collaborate with instructional leaders to integrate technology into diverse learning environments, including Special Education, Career & Technical Education, and Virtual Learning.
- Digital Equity: Lead initiatives that support digital equity and access, evaluating tools that enhance virtual learning, data analytics, and personalized education for all students and staff.
- Data Governance: Establish and enforce rigorous policies for data governance, security, and integrity across the organization.
- Enterprise Systems: Oversee the lifecycle of student information systems (SIS), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and reporting platforms to ensure seamless data interoperability.
- Regulatory Compliance: Serve as the Data Privacy Officer, ensuring strict adherence to FERPA, COPPA, HIPAA, and other applicable data privacy regulations.
- Financial Stewardship: Develop and manage the division’s capital and operating budgets, including financial forecasting for revenue-generating service lines.
- Vendor Strategy: Negotiate high-value vendor contracts and manage relationships to optimize cost and service quality.
- Economies of Scale: Establish partnerships and purchasing consortiums to create economies of scale, lowering costs for the CCIU and its member districts.
- Funding Acquisition: Pursue grants, E-Rate funding, and other opportunities to support technology initiatives.
- Talent Development: Lead and mentor a diverse team of technology professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
- Professional Growth: Provide professional development opportunities for staff to stay current with technology trends and best practices.
- Communication: Communicate technology plans and initiatives effectively to internal and external stakeholders, building partnerships with school districts and community organizations.
- Representation: Represent CCIU in regional and state technology forums to advocate for the needs of the Intermediate Unit and its members.
- Application Programming Interface (API) and Data Virtualization Knowledge: Skills to design and implement integration frameworks and APIs that allow disparate systems (e.g. program management tools, finance systems) to share data securely and efficiently.
- Strategic Vision and Digital Transformation: The ability to define a technology roadmap that leverages current and emerging technologies (like cloud and AI) to meet the organization’s strategic goals and enhance service delivery.
- Software Development Life Cycle & Methodologies: Expertise in modern software development and delivery practices, such as Agile and DevOps, to ensure high performance and rapid adaptation to change.
- Cloud Computing Expertise: Proficiency in major cloud platforms to manage scalable, cost-effective, and secure infrastructure.
- Constituent-Focused Development: A focus on developing and enhancing external-facing platforms like online portals, interactive websites, and management systems that are user-centric and accessible.
- Education:Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or Business Administration required; Master’s degree (MBA, M.Ed., or MS in Tech Management) highly preferred.
- Experience: Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in enterprise technology management, with specific experience in K-12 education or the public sector preferred. Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
- Certifications: Professional certifications (e.g., CETL, CISSP, CISM, PMP) are advantageous.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and /or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
Technical Competencies
- Strong understanding of network architecture, cloud computing (Azure/AWS/Google), and cybersecurity frameworks (NIST/CIS).
- Demonstrated experience managing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Student Information Systems (SIS) preferred.
- Knowledge of AI trends, Large Language Models (LLMs), and their application in an educational setting.
- Comprehensive understanding of current and emerging technologies, data center operations, cloud computing, and software development.
- Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies governing K-12 education technology and data use.
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills to effectively translate complex technical concepts to diverse, non-technical audiences.
- Proven ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams, manage change, and solve complex, organization-wide problems.?4) Extensive experience with network systems management, large-scale project management, and budget administration.
- Experience collaborating with curriculum and instruction teams to support educational technology initiatives is highly desirable.
- Strategic Communication: Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business language for the Board, Superintendents, and non-technical stakeholders.
- Financial Acumen: Strong capability in forecasting, budget analysis, and total cost of ownership (TCO) modeling.
- Change Management: Proven track record of leading large-scale digital transformation projects.
- Policy & Legal: Ability to interpret legislation and apply it to organizational policy (e.g., AUPs, Data Privacy agreements
- Language Skills
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional literature and legal documents.
- Ability to write reports and correspondence in a professional manner.
- Strong presentation and training facilitation skills.
- Effective communication and conflict resolution abilities.
- Mathematical Skills
- Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts for budgeting and analysis.
- Experience with data analysis and financial forecasting preferred.
- Reasoning Ability
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to interpret technical information and make sound decisions.
- Other Skills and Abilities
- Ability to apply knowledge of HR best practices.
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
- Ability to travel within the region as needed.
- Must pass required background checks.
Administrators, Salary TBD
- Salary is based on years of direct experience in a comparable role.
Benefits
Chester County Intermediate Unit offers a regionally competitive benefit package including medical and prescription benefits, dental, vision, long term disability, life insurance generous paid time off (sick, vacation and personal), PSERS retirement and 403(b) plan.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Chester County Intermediate Unit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Chester County Intermediate Unit ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Chester County Intermediate Unit has a policy of active recruitment of qualified minority teachers and non-certified employees. Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact the Department of Human Resources at 484-237-5085.
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