Chief Information Officer

Overview

The New England College of Optometry (NECO) is seeking an innovative and strategic technology leader to

serve as our first ever Chief Information Officer (CIO). This senior leadership role is instrumental in advancing

NECO’s mission and strategic plan through forward-thinking management of information resources, technology

infrastructure, and data systems. The CIO will play a critical role in ensuring that NECO continues to innovate,

adapt to emerging technologies, and enhance student and institutional success through technology-driven

solutions.

The Opportunity

NECO is a small but highly focused institution committed to leveraging technology to improve learning, research,

and operational effectiveness. The CIO will lead the development and execution of an overarching IT strategy that

integrates with NECO’s the Future InSight 2025-2030 strategic plan. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-

on leader to shape the digital transformation of a specialized institution (graduate school focusing on optometry)

and drive impactful change in academic and clinical education.

Why Join NECO?

• Be a catalyst for change in a forward-thinking institution that values innovation and agility.
• Work in a collaborative environment where your expertise will directly impact student success and institutional efficiency.
• Lead a dedicated IT team that is passionate about leveraging technology to enhance education and patient care.
• Enjoy a competitive salary and meaningful work in a specialized academic and clinical setting.

Reporting Relationships

This role reports directly to the Executive Vice President/COO and has two direct reports:

1. Director of Enterprise Technology

2. Director of Desktop, Instructional, and A/V Support Services

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Innovation

• Develop and implement a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with NECO’s mission and future growth.
• Ensure a coordinated approach to technology adoption, implementation and management, balancing institutional priorities with the goals of individual departments.
• Champion emerging technologies, including AI, to improve educational delivery, administrative efficiency, and decision-making.
• Lead business continuity and disaster recovery planning for IT services.
• Ensure IT maintains and communicates appropriate documented policies.
• Data Governance & Integrity: ensure data is accurate, reliable, and secure for decision-making.
• Business Intelligence & Analytics: champions the use of dashboards, predictive analytics, and AI to inform strategy.
• System Integration: align disparate systems (finance, HR, academic, clinical, etc.) to create a unified data ecosystem.
• Cybersecurity & Compliance: protect sensitive institutional data while adhering to regulatory requirements.

Technology Implementation & Oversight

• Align IT initiatives with the organization's mission, strategy, and financial sustainability.
• Provide insights that enable leadership to anticipate trends and allocate resources effectively.
• Identify inefficiencies and leverage technology to improve reporting workflows.
• Manage vendor relationships, ensuring cost-effective, high-impact technology solutions.
• Establish and maintain service level agreements (SLAs) for IT support and operations.
• Optimize IT processes to ensure efficiency, responsiveness, and a high level of client satisfaction.
• Ensure IT maintains and communicates appropriate documented policies and procedures to support governance, compliance, security, and operational efficiency. Regularly review and update policies to align with best practices, regulatory requirements, and institutional needs. Foster transparency by making IT policies accessible and by ensuring stakeholders understand their responsibilities.

Collaboration & Institutional Support

• Partner with finance, HR, academics, and clinical teams to ensure data needs are met.
• Guide teams through transitions in reporting tools and processes.
• Translate complex IT concepts into actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.
• Work in close partnership with Human Resources to manage both the technical and people-centric aspects of digital transformation.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships across departments to ensure IT alignment with institutional goals, and to ensure functional areas perceive IT as a partner
• Work with all departments early on in the discovery and scope-assessment process and provide expertise as they review their technology needs and seek new solutions from vendors.
• Coordinate the implementation of departmental technology solutions to ensure the IT department and Facilities Operations team work closely together identify/account for any associated infrastructure requirements, both the initial physical implementation and the ongoing budgetary implications.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing IT team, including two directors and three individual contributors.
• Demonstrate excellent judgment in evaluating talent and addressing performance opportunities of IT staff.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, continuous improvement and a client service orientation within the IT department.
• Ensure team members have access to ongoing training and professional development.
• Make strategic decisions regarding internal vs. external staffing on key projects.

Qualifications & Desired Experience

• The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, proactive, and strategic leader with the ability to drive IT innovation in a small but dynamic environment focused on innovation adaptation.
• 10+ years of IT leadership experience, with a proven track record of aligning technology with strategic goals.
• Expertise in enterprise applications, cybersecurity, data management, cloud computing, and IT infrastructure.
• Strong experience leading digital transformation and emerging technology initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate across diverse teams.
• Experience managing budgets, vendor contracts, and IT procurement.
• Knowledge of higher education, healthcare, or clinical technology environments is required.
• Outstanding communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Superb project management skills.

NECO is an Equal Opportunity employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply. 

New England College of Optometry offers a robust benefits program including:

• 3 plan options for BCBS medical coverage (employer subsidized at 75% or greater)
• Mental Health and Wellness benefits
• BCBS Dental
• Discounted vision services
• 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off for sick, vacation, and personal days
• Employer-paid life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability
• Voluntary Insurance: life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident,
• Voluntary Benefits: employee discounts and pet insurance
• 9% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan after 1 year of service with no vesting schedule or match requirement
• Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer