Job ID: 29815

Agency: Bureau of Information & Telecommunications

Location: Pierre, SD or Sioux Falls, SD

Salary: $117,679.68-$176,494.46 Annual Salary, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: P

Closing Date: 1/3/25

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Bureau of Information & Telecommunications (BIT). For more information on BIT, please visit https://www.sd.gov/bit.

If you are highly motivated, enjoy strategic planning, possess extensive IT leadership experience, and are ready to take on new and significant challenges, we want you to join our team!

The Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT) has a full-time permanent position open for a Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Reporting directly to the Commissioner of BIT/State CIO, the CTO will lead a service-oriented team responsible for providing strategic oversight and guidance for state technology architecture, infrastructure operations, software development, and enterprise-wide IT strategy, ensuring these areas align with organizational goals and deliver value. This senior executive role requires strong leadership, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of enterprise architecture, secure software development lifecycle (SDLC), cloud transformation, and modern technology trends. The successful candidate will work closely with BIT leadership, state agencies, and constitutional offices to ensure technology supports business needs securely, efficiently, and effectively.

The position is located in Sioux Falls or Pierre, South Dakota, working in office Monday-Friday with occasional travel to Sioux Falls or Pierre (at least once a month).

Duties And Responsibilities Include

Strategic Leadership:
Drive strategic technological planning to align with the state's goals and priorities.
Lead initiatives to modernize and secure the state’s IT infrastructure and applications.
Serve as an advisor to the CIO on emerging technologies and long-term technology strategies.
Enterprise Architecture:
Establish and maintain a comprehensive enterprise architecture framework to guide technology decisions.
Ensure interoperability and integration of systems across agencies.
Develop and enforce architectural standards and governance to drive consistency and efficiency.
Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC):
Champion the adoption of secure software development practices across state agencies.
Oversee the implementation of modern development methodologies, including DevOps, Agile, and CI/CD pipelines.
Ensure applications meet rigorous security, performance, and compliance standards.
Technology Oversight:
Assess and communicate risks associated with technology-related investments and purchases.
Research and recommend innovative technologies to enhance state operations and services.
Drive the adoption of cloud technologies, automation, and other modern solutions.
Operational Excellence:
Ensure continuous delivery of technical services by overseeing systems performance, reliability, and availability.
Lead vendor negotiations and provide strategic oversight of procurement processes, working closely with procurement teams to ensure alignment with state goals.
Develop service-level agreements (SLAs) and monitor compliance to ensure user satisfaction.
Team Leadership:
Recruit, develop, and retain a highly skilled technical team.
Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture focused on service excellence.
Provide mentorship and guidance to technical leaders and staff.
Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement:
Build strong relationships with state agencies, constitutional offices, and external partners.
Act as a key liaison between BIT and other government entities to align IT strategies with statewide priorities.
Represent BIT at state and national forums on technology.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

A bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent is preferred. A master’s degree is highly desired.
Extensive IT Leadership Experience: Demonstrated success in leading large-scale technology initiatives and teams.
Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture, cloud computing, secure SDLC, infrastructure operations, software engineering, and IT governance.
Strategic Vision: Proven ability to align technology strategies with organizational goals.
Collaboration Skills: Strong track record of building effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Problem-Solving Abilities: Ability to assess complex challenges and deliver innovative solutions.
Integrity and Trust: High ethical standards and a commitment to public service.

Knowledge Of

industry best practices and cutting-edge technology innovations;
enterprise architecture frameworks and methodologies;
secure software development practices and compliance requirements;
cloud technologies, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS models;
technology environments, including telecommunications, networks, programming, and mobile platforms.

Skills In

collaboration and teamwork;
strategic planning and execution;
software development and CI/CD practices;
effective communication, both oral and written;
managing projects, schedules, and resources efficiently.

Ability To

lead and motivate high-performing technical teams;
work across multiple agencies and governmental structures to achieve goals;
drive innovation while ensuring security and compliance;
adapt to a demanding and dynamic environment.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=VK

You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources

Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"

State of South Dakota jobs

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)