Chief Information Officer

Company: The Public Defender Service for the District of Co
Location: Washington
Posted on: March 28, 2025

Job Description:

Location: 633 3rd Street Washington, District of Columbia 20001About The JobPDS Overview:The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. PDS provides legal representation for indigent individuals who are charged with criminal offenses in the District of Columbia and face a loss of liberty. The PDS staff consists of approximately 275 attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical employees who collaborate to advance the mission of the organization. By statute, PDS employees are entitled to participate in federal health insurance, life insurance and retirement plans, to include the Thrift Savings Plan. Employees with prior tenure at federal agencies will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes.Open Date: Mar 24, 2025 Close Date: Apr 7, 2025 Position Type: Permanent Job Vacancy #: PDS- 2025-15Employment at the Public Defender Service is considered "At Will" and is not considered as federal nor District of Columbia government employment.Division Overview:The Information Technology (IT) Division is responsible for the planning, development, management, and support of the information technology and telecommunications systems and subsystems that support PDS programs and management operations. The IT Division is also responsible for required standards, policies, and procedures. The IT Division assesses PDS technology requirements; analyzes potential returns on investment of possible solutions, develops business cases; and procures, manages, implements, and maintains solutions, including PDS's own case management system. The IT Division supports PDS interfaces with external systems, including the National Business Center and local District of Columbia criminal justice systems. The IT Division designs, upgrades, administers, and supports all Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN) infrastructure including hardware and software, telecommunications, videoconferencing, network operations, desktop systems, notebook and wireless systems, and network security.Position Overview: The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is a key executive leader responsible for developing and implementing the organization's technology vision, strategy, and policies. The CIO ensures the secure and effective use of IT to support the PDS mission while maintaining compliance with applicable federal regulations. This position reports to the Deputy Director and collaborates with other senior leadership to enhance operational effectiveness. The Chief Information Officer will be responsible for strategic and operational leadership of the organization's information technology capabilities, security, organization, and infrastructure and will develop, implement, and drive technology strategy, roadmaps, solutions, and operations to enhance the agency's success, in alignment with the agency's goals and objectives.Major Duties:The CIO will be responsible for guiding the long-term direction as well as the day-to-day operations of the IT Division. The selected candidate will be an integral part of the executive management team, contributing to executive-level decisions and providing advice and recommendations on IT matters.

• Interpret and apply information technology-related laws and regulations to develop and manage an effective enterprise architecture.
• Negotiate and manage vendor relationships and contracts.
• Develop and monitor IT budgets.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to provide necessary documents and/or information for annual audits; leads team in gathering supporting information needed for the audit.
• Develop strategies, including a multi-year plan- determine the architectural design, implementation, and support for the organization's information technology infrastructure and software applications.
• Work closely with senior management as well as technical staff.
• Identify and resolve issues on high-visibility development projects.
• Analyze IT performance from multiple perspectives, including cost, technology, schedule, and customer satisfaction.
• Lead, manage or participate in project reviews.
• Function in an administrative or technical oversight role.
• Participate in the front-end of systems integration projects as needed, particularly in the requirement phase.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.Key Responsibilities:
  • Develop and implement an enterprise-wide IT strategy aligned with the organization's mission and federal compliance requirements.
  • Oversee all areas of the agency's information technology function, including systems, infrastructure, services, applications, security, telecommunications, devices, networks, cloud services, manage prioritization of initiatives, and ensure that information technology strategy is cohesive with overall agency strategy, providing best-in-class enablement of business operations and legal services delivery.
  • Direct the agency's information technology portfolio, and collaborate on information technology capital and expense budgets, contracts, and vendor negotiations.
  • Lead procurement and help manage information technology expenses to keep them in line with forecast, and the value that they provide to the agency.
  • Maintain appropriate operational and performance metrics for information technology functions.
  • Oversee IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, and digital transformation initiatives.
  • Ensure compliance with federal IT regulations, including NIST, FISMA, FedRAMP, and other relevant policies.
  • Manage IT budgets, procurement, and vendor relationships to optimize cost-effective technology solutions.
  • Lead a team of IT professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and address technology needs, ensuring efficiency and security.
  • Represent the organization in discussions with federal agencies, contractors, and external partners on IT matters.
  • Develop and manage comprehensive risk management programs, including cybersecurity risk assessments, mitigation efforts, and compliance strategies, while ensuring vigorous vendor and third-party risk management.
  • Ensure robust disaster recovery and business continuity planning.Supervisory Responsibilities:The CIO will supervise a team of approximately nine full-time technical professionals in the areas of user support, network engineering and software development; this includes hiring, employee development, promotions, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions.Required Qualifications:All candidates must possess the following qualifications:
    • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
    • Minimum of 10 years of progressive IT leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior management role.
    • Demonstrated experience in a federal and non-federal, or non-government setting.
    • Deep understanding of federal IT compliance requirements, cybersecurity frameworks, and cloud-based solutions.
    • Strong leadership, strategic planning, and decision-making abilities.
    • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.Key Requirements:
      • Applicant must be a US Citizen or have current authorization to work in the United States.
      • Incumbent must have no convictions as defined in D.C. Code Sec. 14.305(b)(1) (Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime)
      • All candidates are subject to a criminal background check.Preferred Qualifications:
        • Master's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.
        • Background in digital transformation and modernization initiatives.
        • Certification(s) in any or all of the following:
          • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
          • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
          • Project Management Professional (PMP)
          • IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)Application Evaluation:Your application package includes your cover letter, resume and requested supporting documentation. Please ensure your application package includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position. Failure to provide sufficient evidence in your application package and requested supporting documents can result in a rejection of your application package.Rating:Your application package will be rated and ranked among other applicants, based on your experience, education, training, and awards relevant to the duties of this position. Your rating can be lowered if your application package is not supported by the requested documents.Referral:If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application package will be referred to a hiring manager for consideration at which time you may be invited to participate in a selection interview.Interview Structure:Those who are selected for interviews will be required to interview via Web- X, Skype, or some other communications platform. Note: PDS reserves the right to interview prior to the closing date.Number of vacancies:1Pay Series:2210Compensation:Salary Range: $132,368 to $183,500/yearAD-14/15 (equivalent to GS-14/15)Position Full Performance Level: AD-15 (equivalent to GS-15). If a selection is made at the AD-14 grade level, the incumbent may be promoted without further competition upon completion of at least one year of exemplary performance at the AD-14 grade level; promotion is subject to approval of the PDS Director.Benefits:PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and employees are entitled to participate in federal benefits plans, federal retirement systems, and the workers compensation program. Transferring federal employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes. Benefits include:
            • Federal Employees Retirement Systems (retirement annuity)
            • Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K program)
            • Federal Employees Health Benefits (health insurance)
            • Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (life insurance)
            • Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
            • Flexible Spending Accounts (for healthcare and dependent care)
            • Parking Space (for Investigative Specialists)
            • Employee Assistance Program
            • Federal Occupational Health (access to health clinic and services)Telework: This position requires on-site presence, both in the office and in the field, as necessary to meet the demands of the role. Currently, this position is eligible for telework in accordance with the organization's policy.Who May Apply:This vacancy is open to US Citizens or those authorized to work in the United States.How to Apply:For consideration applicants must submit the required documents listed below. Failure to submit will result in an incomplete application. Please upload the required documents as one PDF attachment.
              • A cover letter
              • A r--sum-- with an email address, with current and previous employers, dates of employment, position status as full- or part-time, and position title and scope of duties
              • A list of three professional references with brief description on how each reference is able to attest to your skills/experience. Please include the name, email and telephone number and the relationship (i.e. Direct Supervisor, Indirect Supervisor, Mentor etc.)Please send your application package in 1 PDF file if able. Applications MUST be emailed to [emailprotected]. To ensure your application receives proper consideration, the subject line of your application email MUST include the job announcement number and the position title (i.e. PDS-2025-15: IT Chief Information Officer).All application materials become property of PDS and will not be returned. PDS will not accept application packages by postal mail, fax, or personal delivery.For applicants with disabilities, this organization provides reasonable accommodations which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please email your request to the Office of Human Resources at [emailprotected].Disclaimer: The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization; governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, PDS provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of freedom in the local criminal, delinquency, and mental health systems in the District of Columbia. PDS's approximately 275 attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical staff collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission. PDS's main office is located at 633 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and all employees are entitled to participate in the federal health and life insurance plans, the federal retirement plans (FERS, FERS-RAE, FERS-FRAE, CSRS, CSRS-Offset), and the Thrift Savings Plan. Transferring employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes. Employment at PDS is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and E-Verify Participant.
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