Chief Technology Officer

Description:

As Chief Technology Officer, you will serve Cooperative Extension in shaping the next era of how 4‑H empowers young people to be Beyond Ready for college, careers, and life. In alignment with Cooperative Extension, you will lead the vision, strategy, and execution of digital platforms and experiences that enable Cooperative Extension’s nationwide network of 3,500 educators to impact 10 million 4‑H youth and engage 35 million 4-H alumni across the country—reimagining how learning, engagement, and impact are connected at scale.

Simultaneously, you will steward National 4‑H Council’s enterprise technology foundation, ensuring secure, resilient, and scalable infrastructure, applications, and cybersecurity that power mission delivery and organizational growth.

As a member of the Executive Team, you will advise the CEO and Board, translating technology strategy into clear business value, informed risk decisions, and prioritized investments—elevating technology from a support function to a core driver of performance, efficiency, and national impact.
 

Scope and Impact

Enterprise-wide leadership of technology, data, analytics, AI, and digital platforms
Accountability for infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, and innovation
Direct engagement with the CEO and Board on technology strategy, risk, and investment
Ownership of technology roadmap supporting a distributed, national network
Leadership of a multidisciplinary technology team and external partners

Primary Responsibilities 

Enterprise Technology Strategy

Lead end-to-end technology strategy aligned to mission outcomes and organizational growth priorities
Develop and execute a clear technology roadmap across run, improve, and transform horizons
Align technology investments with enterprise priorities, ensuring focus on highest-value outcomes
Partner with executive leadership to integrate technology into strategic and operational planning
Translate emerging technologies into practical, mission-aligned use cases

Technology Governance and Portfolio Management

Establish clear enterprise ownership, product and platform accountability, and decision rights
Lead technology governance, portfolio management, and prioritization processes
Ensure disciplined investment decisions with clear tradeoffs, value realization, and accountability
Provide transparent reporting on technology performance, risks, and outcomes

Infrastructure, Applications, and Architecture

Ensure reliable, scalable, and secure infrastructure supporting a remote-first, distributed organization
Oversee enterprise applications, platforms, and integrations to enable effective operations
Provide architectural leadership across cloud, data, and application environments
Drive modernization of legacy systems and adoption of scalable, cloud-based solutions

Cybersecurity and Risk Management

Lead enterprise cybersecurity strategy, risk mitigation, and compliance
Ensure strong protection of organizational data, systems, and digital assets
Establish and maintain security policies, standards, and incident response capabilities
Partner with executive leadership to manage technology-related risks and business continuity

Digital Enablement and User Experience

Improve how technology supports storytelling, engagement, and mission delivery
Drive adoption and effective use of technology platforms across internal teams and external partners

Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence

Advance data strategy, data architecture and governance, data quality, and data platforms in alignment with Cooperative Extension
Lead innovation in automation, artificial intelligence, and digital tools with pragmatic execution
Lead AI strategy, prioritization, and responsible deployment
Identify and scale practical AI use cases
Establish governance and responsible AI practices; advanced analytics and insights generation
Build data and AI capabilities within technology team

External Engagement and End-User Alignment

Build strong relationships with Cooperative Extension stakeholders and other end-users
Develop deep understanding of user needs to improve technology adoption and value delivery
Ensure technology solutions are practical, usable, and aligned with field realities
Represent the organization externally on technology partnerships and initiatives
 

Board and Executive Engagement

Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board on technology strategy, risk, and investment decisions
Present clear options, tradeoffs, and implications to support informed decision making
Provide transparency into cybersecurity posture, system performance, and innovation progress
Strengthen governance and oversight of technology investments and risks
 

Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness

Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing technology and data team
Build internal capability while leveraging external partners where appropriate
Foster a culture of service, stewardship, and continuous improvement
Drive cross-functional collaboration across Finance & Business Operations, People & Culture, Development & Marketing, Stakeholder Relations business units
Operate as a collaborative enterprise leader with shared accountability for organizational outcomes

Transformation Opportunity

Shift technology from a support function to a core enterprise capability
Build a modern, integrated technology and data ecosystem
Strengthen alignment between technology investments and mission outcomes
Improve reliability, scalability, and user experience across all platforms
Accelerate innovation while maintaining operational discipline and security
 

Key Success Factors

Trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, providing clarity on technology strategy, risk, and investment tradeoffs
Clear, actionable enterprise technology roadmap across run, improve, and transform priorities
Reliable, secure, and scalable core systems that enable uninterrupted operations
Disciplined technology portfolio focused on high-value initiatives with strong execution and adoption
Strong governance, prioritization, and accountability for technology investments
Deep engagement with end-users, resulting in high adoption and satisfaction
Demonstrated use of data and analytics to improve decision-making and mission outcomes
Scaled adoption of AI/automation delivering measurable efficiency or engagement gains
High-performing team with a strong service and stewardship mindset
 

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred
15+ years of progressive technology leadership experience, including senior enterprise roles such as CTO, CIO, SVP of Technology, or equivalent leadership positions with organization-wide scope and accountability
Experience leading enterprise technology strategy, infrastructure, and applications in a complex organization
Strong background in cloud architecture, enterprise systems, and cybersecurity
Experience with technology governance, portfolio management, and prioritization
Demonstrated ability to align technology investments with business outcomes
Experience working with executive teams and Boards on technology strategy and risk
Track record of leading innovation initiatives with practical execution
Experience in nonprofit, public sector, or enterprise services environments preferred