CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) is an independent State agency that regulates Maryland’s $46 billion insurance industry and protects consumers by monitoring and enforcing insurers’ and insurance professionals’ compliance with State law.  Through the diligence of a highly professional staff of market analysts, financial analysts, accountants, lawyers, law enforcement officers, actuaries, complaint investigators, and others, the MIA works to facilitate a strong and competitive insurance marketplace where consumers are well informed and treated fairly. Staff members are subject matter experts who serve as a resource for lawmakers, consumers, and other public and private entities. 

The MIA is charged with a broad range of responsibilities including the licensure of insurance carriers and insurance producers (brokers/agents) operating in Maryland, the conduct of financial examinations of companies to monitor financial solvency, and the review and approval of rates and contract forms. The MIA investigates reports of consumer fraud and consumer complaints about life, health, automobile, homeowners, and/or property insurance.  Insurance carriers are subject to market conduct examinations and other actions to monitor compliance with Maryland law.  The MIA also has a unit dedicated to consumer education and outreach, which participates in hundreds of events and reaches thousands of individual consumers annually.

* This is a Management Service position that serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

Baltimore City

This position serves as the MIA’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) and is responsible for the management, planning and technological guidance of the Agency’s Information Technology (IT) Unit. The position is part of the MIA senior management team and reports directly to the Associate Commissioner of Operations & Technology. The CIO is responsible for directing and coordinating all aspects of the information technology activity of the MIA (or “Agency”) and has responsibility for the highest level of complexity within the Agency’s information technology applications and operations. The position directly supervises technical information technology supervisors and staff and serves as advisor to the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Associate Commissioner of Operations and Technology and is the official point of contact with other government agencies and private entities on information and technology management issues.

The position oversees all information technology functions of the Agency including all data centers, cybersecurity, technical service centers, production scheduling, help desks, communications networks (data and video), computer program development, agency staff training in information technology and computer systems operations. In addition, the CIO oversees the information management and data integrity of the Agency to include information security and privacy; ensures the department’s security and privacy programs are established and maintained; provides for ongoing risk assessments, and adequate security for the departments operations and assets, particularly for the protection of sensitive health information and establishes and maintains effective standards and procedures to ensure overall data security and integrity and to facilitate disaster recovery.

The CIO is a technology innovator for the MIA who proactively uses the Agency’s resources to enhance its delivery of service and the efficiency of the Agency’s IT systems. In addition, the position is responsible for:

· Leading and managing staff within the MIA Information Technology Unit including supervisory and staff level positions.

· Project, program, and portfolio management support.

· Support for information technology (IT) acquisitions. Infrastructure support (support for network, data centers, cloud, and phone systems).

· Developing, maintaining, and supervising the operation of information systems. 

· Implementation of information technology security controls.

· Developing, maintaining, and enforcing IT policies, procedures standards, and guidelines.  

· Attending legislative hearings, with MIA senior management, on the Agency’s budget and support the agency’s position on technology related items.

Essential functions include:

●      Ensures that information technology is developed, acquired and managed within the department in accordance with Federal, State, and Department policies, standards, and procedures.

●      Reviews the technology needs of the Agency, advising the Commissioner and senior staff on innovative solutions to IT challenges and manages MIA resources to implement solutions as approved by the Commissioner or their designee.

●      Monitors and validates the performance of information technology investments managed by the Agency, evaluating those investments on the basis of applicable performance measurements, and advising the Commissioner whether to initiate, continue, modify, or terminate an investment.

●      Ensures the Agency’s security and privacy programs are established and maintained, provide for ongoing risk assessments, adequate security for the departments operations and assets, particularly for the protection of sensitive information.

●      Ensures that, at a minimum, an annual self-assessment of the department’s information security program, Cybersecurity Incident Response Playbook, and comprehensive Disaster Recovery Plans are kept current. 

●      Directs and actively participates in the preparation of the Agency’s information technology operating budget request and Information Technology Project Request (ITPR). 

●      Determines the Agency’s optimal information technology organizational structure and develops strategies to achieve staffing requirements. 

●      Ensures that all agency information technology procurements, contract management, program and project management activities are aligned with best practices and sound principles, and that all agency major information technology projects and procurements are planned, budgeted, and implemented in accordance with State laws and policies. 

●      Develops and oversees a department-wide strategic information technology master plan that is consistent with the statewide strategic information technology plan.

●      Ensures integration of information technology into strategic planning, budgetary, Managing for Results (MFR), acquisition, and program management processes.

●      Enforces the performance evaluation process for the department’s information technology staff, assessing the staff’s information technology skills and knowledge relative to job performance and setting appropriate strategies for hiring, training, and professionally developing information technology staff.

●      Partners with other State information technology leaders to facilitate the implementation of sound and integrated statewide information technology architectures.

• Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field.  

• Experience: Ten (10) years of information technology experience; of which five (5) years must have involved the supervision of technology staff.  

The ideal candidate would possess the following:

· Master’s degree in Information Technology or related field.

· Experience with IT procurement, budgeting, cybersecurity compliance, legislation analysis, management, resource planning, and project management.

· Prior experience planning and implementing an enterprise IT systems in support of business operations in order to improve cost effectiveness and service quality.

· Experience with Salesforce.

· Project Management Professionalism Certification.

· Network and/or Cloud Architectural Experience.

· Project Management Professionalism Certification.

Transcripts are required to verify that applicants meet the education requirements for this position.  For education obtained outside the U.S., a course-by-course evaluation of your foreign transcript may be requested prior to interview.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes a generous leave package; medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage; healthcare and dependent daycare flexible spending accounts; a defined benefit pension plan with optional 457 and 401k supplemental retirement plans; flexible work schedules; and service that may qualify the successful candidate for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

Please contact: charrison@maryland.gov for additional information concerning this recruitment. Online applications are strongly preferred.  In addition, please upload one WORD or PDF file, at the "Resume" tab, that contains both:

1. A cover letter stating your interest and specific salary requirements; and

2. A current professional resume.

Both the letter and resume should be combined in one document. If you are unable to apply online, you may submit an application by mail.  The paper application must be received by close of business, on the closing date for the recruitment.  Postmarks will not be accepted. 

Complete application packets may be mailed to:

Maryland Insurance Administration

Human Resources - Recruitment #:  24-004496-0003

200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700

Baltimore, MD 21202

If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division at 410-767-4850 or Application.Help@maryland.gov. 

Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request by calling: 410-767-1251 or MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258.

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.