Chief Information Officer

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside is seeking a visionary and forward-thinking Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead the Court’s enterprise technology strategy and digital transformation efforts.

This is a rare executive opportunity for an accomplished technology leader who can align innovation with public service, modernize operations, strengthen cybersecurity, and deliver technology solutions that support the evolving needs of the Court, judicial officers, staff, justice partners, and the communities we serve.

Under general direction of the Court Executive Officer and as a key member of the Court’s executive leadership team, the CIO will shape the future of technology across one of California’s largest and most dynamic trial courts.

Why This Role Matters

Technology plays a critical role in advancing access to justice, operational excellence, and service delivery. The CIO will provide strategic direction over the Court’s technology ecosystem and ensure the organization is positioned to meet current and future business needs.

This Role Is Ideal For a Leader Who Can

• Drive enterprise-wide digital transformation
• Build and sustain a high-performing technology organization
• Translate business needs into scalable technology solutions
• Lead innovation while maintaining stability, security, and service continuity
• Partner effectively with executive leadership, judicial officers, justice partners, and vendors

What You’ll Lead

The CIO provides executive oversight of the Court’s technology environment, including a staffing headcount of 37 Information Technology Division professionals, an annual technology budget for 2025-2026 of $10,910,000, all operating within three core pillars:

Infrastructure \& User Support

Lead enterprise infrastructure, service delivery, end-user support, systems reliability, and cybersecurity operations to ensure secure and seamless day-to-day court operations.

Custom Application Development

Oversee the strategy, development, enhancement, and maintenance of internally developed systems that support court business functions.

Business Systems

Direct the implementation, administration, optimization, and integration of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) applications, including critical court technology platforms.

Key Executive Responsibilities

The Chief Information Officer will:

• Develop and execute a court-wide technology strategy aligned with organizational priorities
• Partner with executive leadership to identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and modernization
• Lead enterprise technology planning, governance, budgeting, and investment prioritization
• Advance the Court’s cybersecurity posture, risk mitigation, and systems resiliency
• Oversee systems integration, interoperability, data strategy, and modernization efforts
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cloud strategy, and future-ready architecture
• Strengthen organizational capacity by mentoring leaders, developing staff, and building sustainable technical expertise
• Direct vendor management, procurement strategy, service contracts, and technology-related RFP processes
• Champion a user-centered approach to technology that prioritizes accessibility, usability, and operational effectiveness
• Represent the Court in partnerships with the Judicial Council of California, justice agencies, external stakeholders, and industry partners

For a complete list of the qualifications and essential duties, please refer to the job description.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a strategic executive with a strong record of leading complex technology operations and organizational transformation.

We Are Looking For a Leader Who Brings

• Executive-level experience leading enterprise technology strategy
• Strong operational and strategic knowledge across infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, and systems integration
• Experience managing complex budgets, projects, vendor relationships, and cross-functional initiatives
• The ability to inspire teams, develop leaders, and build a culture of accountability and innovation
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for executive and non-technical audiences
• Sound judgment, political acumen, and the ability to lead in a highly collaborative public-sector environment

Experience in a court, justice, government, or similarly complex public service environment is highly desirable.

Minimum Qualifications

A typical way to qualify is:

• A bachelor’s and/or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in information systems, computer science, IT management, business administration, public administration, systems engineering, application development, telecommunications, or a closely related field; and
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible management experience in technology leadership, including areas such as:

+ Strategic planning

+ Budgeting and forecasting

+ Business process improvement

+ Project and portfolio management

+ Organizational development

+ Systems design and implementation

What Sets This Opportunity Apart

This is more than a traditional IT leadership role. It is an opportunity to help shape how a major public institution delivers services, supports judicial operations, and prepares for the future.

The CIO Will Have The Ability To Influence

• Organizational transformation
• Technology modernization
• Cybersecurity readiness
• AI and innovation strategy
• Long-term operational excellence across the Court

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, is one of the largest trial courts in the state, serving a county that is both geographically expansive and continually growing. Riverside County spans more than 7,000 square miles and includes a diverse mix of urban, suburban, rural, and desert communities. As one of California’s fastest-growing regions, Riverside County continues to evolve in ways that shape the demand for public services, including the administration of justice.

The Court serves the public through a network of courthouses located throughout the county and provides essential judicial services across a broad range of case types, including criminal, civil, family law, probate, juvenile, traffic, and other matters. The work of the Court has a direct impact on individuals, families, businesses, and communities across the region.

As an independent branch of government, the Court’s mission is to serve the public by ensuring access to justice, providing a forum to resolve legal matters, and protecting individual rights. Its vision is to be an innovative, efficient, and trusted institution that delivers outstanding service, administers justice fairly and transparently, and upholds public trust and confidence.

That commitment is grounded in the Court’s core values of Accessibility, Accountability, Collaboration, Diversity/Equity, Efficiency, Innovation and Agility, and Timeliness. These values shape how the Court serves the public, works across departments, and approaches the future of court operations.

The Court’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan Reflects a Strong Commitment To Modernization, Service Excellence, And Long-term Organizational Effectiveness. The Plan Is Organized Around Six Strategic Focus Areas

• Enhance the Court User Experience
• Optimize Operational Efficiency
• Increase Public Trust and Understanding
• Strengthen Stakeholder Relations
• Transform Court Culture and Develop a Team for the Future
• Elevate Court Infrastructure

Several of these priorities are especially important to the future of the Court’s technology environment. Efforts to enhance the court user experience and optimize operational efficiency are closely tied to how effectively the Court delivers digital services, improves access to information, streamlines business processes, and supports timely case and administrative operations. In addition, the Court’s focus on elevating infrastructure reflects the importance of secure, reliable, and modern technology systems that can support both current demands and future innovation. The Strategic Plan also emphasizes the need to leverage existing and emerging technologies, strengthen agility, support data-informed decision-making, and continuously improve how the Court serves the public and its internal stakeholders.

Supported by judicial officers, executive leadership, and a dedicated professional workforce, Riverside Superior Court remains focused on strengthening operations, modernizing services, and meeting the evolving needs of the community it serves.

Join Us

If you are a strategic technology leader ready to make a meaningful impact in public service, we invite you to explore this exceptional executive opportunity with the Riverside Superior Court.

At Riverside Superior Court, we reward hard work and dedication!

We Offer

• Annual merit increases for satisfactory job performance
• A robust benefit plan including medical, dental, vision and court paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Court paid basic life/accidental dismemberment (AD\&D) insurance in the amount of $50,000/$50,000
• A pension plan provided by the California Public Employer's Retirement System also known as CalPERS. You will contribute between 7% and 8% of your biweekly pay, depending on your membership status
• A 401(a)-retirement account where the court contributes $50 per pay period
• Optional life insurance and deferred compensation programs
• Generous leave accruals
• Fourteen (14) paid holidays
• Court-paid parking in Downtown Riverside
• Bereavement leave
• Tuition discounts
• Alternative Work Schedule
• Qualified employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?or Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification

Selection Procedures

All applications will be reviewed to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; those candidates deemed most qualified may be invited to an online or written assessment, if applicable.

Candidates who take and successfully pass the assessment may be invited to an oral panel interview. Candidates who are successful in the interview may be placed on an eligible list. Placement on an eligible list is not a guarantee of employment.

Additional steps for the selection process may include a comprehensive background check and drug test.

Status Notifications

You will be notified by email and/or text message during the process of this recruitment through governmentjobs.com. Please check your email spam/junk folders and accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and riverside.courts.ca.gov. If your information changes, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

Reasonable Accommodations

Riverside Superior Court provides reasonable accommodations upon request for applicants with disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 951-777-3017 or [email protected] if you feel you will need an accommodation for any aspect of the selection process. The Human Resources Department requests that it be advised of special needs at least five days prior to the examination so that a reasonable accommodation may be made.

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