Chief Information Officer

$138,736 - $168,626/Yr

County Santa Barbara Health - Santa Barbara, CA

Full-time - Manager

Santa Barbara, CA

251-500 employees

About the position

The County of Santa Barbara's Behavioral Wellness Department is seeking a Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead a comprehensive technology and business systems unit. This full-time position is responsible for overseeing various critical areas including IT operations, enterprise security management, database management, application development, service desk support, and network infrastructure management. The CIO will coordinate activities across divisions and departments, providing complex staff assistance and administrative support to executive management. This role is pivotal in ensuring the department's technology services align with its mission to promote mental health and addiction recovery among individuals and communities. As a member of the department's leadership team, the CIO will communicate IT issues effectively and work collaboratively with staff to address data and technology needs. The position requires a strategic approach to managing IT resources, ensuring compliance with health records standards, and implementing disaster recovery and information security measures. The CIO will also be responsible for financial management, including budget preparation and forecasting, while identifying opportunities to enhance IT infrastructure and business continuity. The role demands a high level of decision-making, as the CIO will establish objectives and goals for the IT unit, exercise discretion in problem-solving, and foster collaboration among various work units. The incumbent will oversee the installation and administration of enterprise systems, ensuring effective integration and utilization of technology across the department. This position is crucial for maintaining the department's effectiveness and efficiency in delivering state-of-the-art, culturally competent services to clients.

Responsibilities

• Overall management responsibility for system design of department applications; directs the activities of project staff in the development, maintenance and daily production of user computer systems.
• Participates as a member of the department's Leadership team, communicating IT issues in a timely manner, and working collaboratively with staff to create responsive solutions to non-IT staff data and technology needs.
• Effectively utilizes information technology staff by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; initiating, coordinating, and enforcing systems, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains organization's effectiveness and efficiency by defining, delivering, and supporting strategic plans for implementing information technologies specific to behavioral health needs, as well as data solutions for interagency Health Information Exchange, and data sharing with other non-health system partners.
• Verifies application results by conducting system audits of technologies implemented and ensures compliance with audit standards for health records.
• Preserves assets by implementing disaster recovery and back-up procedures and information security and control structures.
• Recommends information technology strategies, policies, and procedures by evaluating organization and program outcomes; identifying problems; evaluating trends; anticipating requirements.
• Accomplishes financial objectives by forecasting fiscal requirements; prepares an annual budget; schedules expenditures; analyzes variances and initiates corrective action; plans for system upgrades to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements for electronic health records.
• Identify and implement methods to reduce the IT hardware infrastructure quantity and complexity and increase business continuity and simplicity.
• Collaborate with the department's HIPAA Data Compliance Program and members of the county's security and IT teams to define appropriate and effective information security controls. Work with various business units and department divisions in implementation. Participate in HIPAA risk assessments and gap analysis exercises.
• Oversee the installation, configuration, integration, upgrade and administration of enterprise, file, print and application servers, desktops, and other peripheral devices.
• Works with members of the operations support team, technical specialists, vendors and end users to ensure effective integration, utilization and concurrent connectivity with multiple platforms and networks.
• Oversees staff in performing feasibility studies; determining system requirements; formulating specifications; developing or acquiring systems; coordinating user site preparation and training; implementing, maintaining, auditing, and making enhancements to data processing systems.
• Develops contracts, negotiates regulatory requirements, and coordinates program operations with State regulatory agencies; makes recommendations on regulatory and legislation changes; responds to audit and enforcement actions; and ensures compliance with applicable regulatory agency requirements.
• Coordinates work with the general public, County staff, and external agencies; may represent the County on various professional committees; and prepare and make presentations to the public, elected officials, boards, and other stakeholders.

Requirements

• Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in computer science, information technology, or related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in healthcare IT including at least three (3) years as a supervisor or manager of an IT division/system within the healthcare sector.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County or the ability to provide suitable transportation needs as a condition of continued employment.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with cloud services management and implementation of cloud-based architecture.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and standards related to IT operations and healthcare compliance.
• Experience in public administration and program management, including strategic planning and evaluation.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Dental insurance coverage
• Vision insurance coverage
• Life insurance coverage
• Disability insurance coverage
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays and vacation time
• Flexible scheduling options
• Professional development opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement for further education
• Employee assistance programs for mental health and wellness support