Chief Technology Officer

Chief Technology Officer

Riverside County is seeking an accomplished technology executive to serve as its next Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The CTO's responsibility includes overseeing the day-to-day operations of three technical bureaus : Infrastructure & Field Support (TSB), Converged Communications (CCB), and Enterprise Applications (EAB), while driving large-scale enterprise projects from inception to completion. This role is responsible for negotiating strategic vendor partnerships to secure the best possible pricing and contract terms, assisting with budget planning and analysis, and developing a forward-looking technology strategy for Riverside County. The CTO will create an environment built on trust, innovation, and collaborationfostering a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement. In partnership with the CIO, the CTO will play a critical role in shaping the County's technology direction and promoting RCIT both within and beyond the organization.

The ideal candidate will be a dynamic leader and polished communicator, capable of engaging with department heads, executives, and stakeholders to build trust, influence decisions, and align technology initiatives with Countywide goals. We seek a forward-thinking leader who fosters collaboration, motivates teams, and applies creative problem-solving to complex technology challenges. This is a unique opportunity for an innovative and collaborative leader to influence the future of technology in one of California's largest countieshelping to ensure that IT services are secure, reliable, and aligned with the County's mission to serve its residents.

The Chief Technology Officer class has been designated At-Will by the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the provisions provided under Article 6, Section 601E (2) of the County Management Resolution and serves at the pleasure of the Chief Information Officer. This class has been deemed eligible for the Performance Recognition Plan as set forth under Article 3, Section 311(B) of the County Management Resolution. Program eligibility requires employees to be in a leadership position, manage other employees or programs, and have significant influence on the achievement of organizational objectives.

Meet the Team! The Riverside County Information Technology (RCIT) department provides information technology services to County departments and agencies and is entrusted with managing and safeguarding the County's enterprise and mission-critical solutions and infrastructure. RCIT is committed to cultivating a collaborative and inclusive culture that fosters best of breed solutions with a focus on problem-solving to deliver quality products and services to our customers.

Examples of Essential Duties

Identify new and emerging technologies for use in County government; lead the planning, execution, and completion of large-scale enterprise technology projects, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.

Build strong relationships with County departments, executives, and external partners; balance competing priorities and service demands through effective communication and service level agreements.

Manage relationships with strategic vendors and negotiate favorable pricing, contracts, and service terms to maximize value for the County.

Identify opportunities to leverage AI, machine learning, generative AI, and automation technologies to improve County services.

Serve as a member of the IT management team; participate in strategic, operational, and organizational planning processes; identify operational and organizational problems; formulate and implement solutions; set goals and measure results.

Develop and modify policies and procedures; direct the development and implementation of countywide policies and procedures concerning the application, utility, and feasibility of information technology systems.

Assist the CIO in developing and executing a comprehensive technology strategy that aligns with County goals and future technology trends.

Create an organizational environment built on trust, collaboration, and innovation while cultivating a culture of accountability, care, and ownership.

Contribute to budget development, financial planning, and cost analysis to support IT operations and strategic initiatives.

Prepare a variety of written and oral reports; make presentations to the Board of Supervisors and others.

Minimum Qualifications

Education : Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in computer science, information systems, public / business administration, or a closely related field to the assignment. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year of full-time experience equaling 30 semester or 45 quarter units of education.) Experience : A minimum of five years in a management position in which three of those years provided operational oversight to a division that included responsibility for setting standards and managing a variety of large and complex technology implementation projects for a major agency or large department. Knowledge of : Information technology and systems architectures; technology standards and benefits; principles underlying, and methods of determining, total cost of ownership; current technology marketplace; principles and practices of general and financial management. Ability to : Manage a large and complex technology infrastructure; manage and track a variety of concurrent complex technology projects to ensure timely and cost-effective completion; keep current on industry standards; recognize problems and identify solutions; analyze and improve departmental policies and procedures; provide strong organizational leadership; promote collaboration and innovation; speak and write effectively; prepare effective, professional presentations; present a professional and positive demeanor; prepare, monitor, and review division / departmental budgets; evaluate the work of others.

The Ideal Candidate The successful candidate will be a well-rounded technology leader with the ability to identify opportunities for technology and security improvements, introduce innovative uses of both existing and emerging technologies, and design cost-effective solutions that advance Countywide services.

Key qualifications include :

• Strong knowledge of enterprise applications (on-premises and cloud-based) and familiarity with cloud operations across private, public, and hybrid environments
• Experience with disaster recovery planning, with an emphasis on leveraging public cloud solutions
• Awareness of emerging trends in AI, machine learning, generative AI, and automation technologies
• Expertise in network, applications, and infrastructure security
• Ability to bring customers, stakeholders, and staff together to achieve shared goals
• Working knowledge of VMware VCF, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure
• High-level understanding of VoIP services, both on-premises and cloud-hosted
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to evangelize and market RCIT services and represent the department alongside the CIO to internal and external stakeholders

Supplemental Information

This recruitment is open to all applicants. Current Riverside County employees may receive priority consideration. Recruiter Contact For questions regarding this position please contact, Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org or at (951) 966-3590.