Chief Information Officer

The Opportunity

Providence seeks a strategic, innovative technology leader to serve as its next Chief Information Officer (CIO). This is an exceptional opportunity to advance technology and transformation at one of the nation's largest and leading healthcare delivery systems, committed to innovation with the aim to create health for a better world. 

Providence spans 51 acute care hospitals, $29 billion in revenue, 29 million patient visits, 122,000 care givers and $2.1 billion in community benefit. The System provides a comprehensive range of health and social services across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. Providence is poised for technology transformation having made significant investments in the past few years, including: transforming from legacy systems and architecture to a single Epic EHR and single Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP; moving data centers and applications to the Microsoft Azure Cloud; modernizing the network; moving data from isolated on-prem databases to the cloud and the largest healthcare instance of Snowflake; and, maturing information security capabilities. The organization is also at the forefront of AI and digital transformation which will be a key area of focus for the incoming CIO.

Reporting to the President and CEO, Erik Wexler, and an integral member of the executive leadership team, the CIO will lead all aspects of information technology, including digital and artificial intelligence (AI) efforts, ensuring alignment with the strategic and operating plans of the system. Key areas of focus for the CIO will be development, implementation, and communication of an IT roadmap, including digital and AI and a strong emphasis on improving the caregiver experience; enablement of a high-performing team; and optimization of the Epic EHR and other applications across the system. 

The CIO will be an emotionally intelligent, confident yet humble, compassionate, visible, and customer-focused leader who is experienced in team-building and capable of building consensus across a complex health system. The CIO will have exceptionally strong communications skills, who can build and leverage relationships across the organization. They will be business savvy and a strong, decisive leader who can develop a vision and drive innovation through leveraging technology. The CIO will have the opportunity to lead at the intersection of innovation and compassion.

Position Summary

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is responsible for providing leadership and vision for the strategic planning, operations, integration and implementation of information systems & security and digital technology across Providence. These efforts must support the overall strategic business plan and direction of the health system. This leader will be expected to ensure that applications, infrastructure, and information security will continue to meet and exceed the needs of this evolving health system. The CIO must embrace innovation and be able to lead technology transformative initiatives that optimize current systems and improve organizational performance. 

The CIO is responsible for providing strategic and operational direction in the design, development, installation and support of information systems and technology that meets the needs of patients, clinicians, staff, and the community. The CIO will lead the technology strategy in collaboration with executive and clinical leaders from across the enterprise. They will ensure that all relevant initiatives are fully integrated into the strategic planning process for leadership commitment, resource allocation and execution. 

The CIO also serves as a member of the Providence senior leadership team. This means functioning as a senior decision-maker for the health system involving issues outside their area of expertise, as well as active community involvement.

Reporting Relationships

The CIO will report to the President and Chief Executive Officer and lead a team of approximately 3,000 in the U.S. 

Responsibilities 

The successful Chief Information Officer candidate will:

• Oversee the development and transformation of the technology infrastructure and systems that support and strengthen Providence as a fully integrated, state-of-the-art health system
• Develop and oversee the implementation of the system-wide strategic plan for long-term information systems resourcing—including capital requirements, financial performance targets and implementation timelines
• Actively support and incorporate the mission and core values into daily activities 
• Lead IT strategy that increases focus on new provider, payer, and consumer ecosystem strategies, highlighting coordinated care and consumer engagement while continuing the application and infrastructure rationalization and standardization to mitigate enterprise risk and IT/data complexity and advance best practices that generate high value
• Oversee the development and execution of the technology strategy in partnership with executive leaders from across the health system including how to leverage innovation, analytics, information, and security to improve health system operations, quality, and the patient experience 
• Envision/propose and bring to fruition technological advancement to support the delivery of care and operational needs of the health system, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence
• Provide leadership for the technology operations teams in maintaining the current environment while building new capabilities to support digital transformation efforts 
• Direct the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) initiatives across the enterprise, including development of AI strategy in alignment with the organization's vision and goals. Collaborate with clinical leaders to ensure AI models enhance clinical workflows and improve patient outcomes
• Establish metrics, policies, monitoring methods and communication processes for consistent management of technology functions across Providence, including common budgeting and reporting methods, operations performance management and project management
• In partnership with clinical leaders, ensure the continued optimization and integration of the Epic EHR and other clinical systems to enhance clinician workflows and care pathways to improve patient care and efficiency 
• Oversee an effective enterprise governance model that will drive the speed of decision-making and act as a mechanism to permeate social and cultural changes for technology that is centered around optimal prioritization and return on value for patient care 
• Develop strong relationships with physicians, nurses, and other clinicians, and be seen as a trusted advisor on information technology matters by the executive team 
• Champion data-driven decision making with advanced data and analytics across the organization in partnership with various stakeholders by establishing best practices for data acquisition, governance, analytics, and outcomes
• Oversee and activate high-functioning, efficient and compliant information security program for the System in coordination with executive leaders in other areas to ensure appropriate risk mitigation, preparedness, review, and response processes are tested and in place for data and information security management and breach events
• Partner to develop and deliver technology solutions that advance communication and positively impact both team member engagement and clinical outcomes
• Provide financial management of the operating and capital budgets for technology, security, innovation, and analytics functions
• Develop and advance IT leaders and team members and support a culture of service, innovation, continuous learning, and partner-based solutions that accelerate organizational performance
• Stay current and knowledgeable regarding advances with technology in the industry including maintaining an expert understanding of national initiatives and emerging AI trends, technologies and regulations impacting healthcare

Goals and Objectives

The following goals and objectives have been identified as priorities for this position:

• Partner with senior management, build strong relationships and become fully integrated into the leadership team. Be perceived as a solid team player who has credibility and integrity, and who contributes broadly as a subject matter leader
• Establish relationships with stakeholders throughout the system at all levels. Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships enterprise wide
• Develop, articulate, and implement the future IT vision and plan in alignment with health systems goals and priorities, specifically addressing the caregiver burden
• Perform an overall assessment of the current technology department including resources, structure, and staff. Identify any gaps and make changes necessary to create a single IT organization that is fully integrated and aligned, effectively serving the future needs of a transforming healthcare system. Enable a culture that energizes and is supportive of staff and offers career growth and development opportunities to aid in recruitment and retention
• Lead optimization of Epic EHR and other applications across the system, including engagement of key stakeholders. Drive toward standardization that facilitates system changes; drive best practices, benchmarking to the industry 
• Provide the leadership and guidance in creating the roadmap to leverage analytics, automation, and AI to improve clinical outcomes, the consumer and caregiver experience and drive value for the organization
• Lead in creating a technology ecosystem in support of advancing interoperability and data integration with health system partners

Candidate Qualifications

Education/Certification

• Bachelor's degree required. Advanced Degree in business administration, information technology or related field preferred

Knowledge and Work Experience

• Significant and progressive leadership experience in a senior technology position such as a CIO or #2 role, preferably within a complex health system. Senior technology executives from other industries will be considered who have a strong appreciation for the business of healthcare
• Proven success with developing and leading technology innovation and transformation 
• Strong change management experience to support the long-term transformation of the health system 
• Understanding of the opportunities and challenges in deploying and enabling AI across a health system 
• Knowledge and experience with implementation, integration, and optimization of major information systems such as an EHR and ERP 
• Knowledge and experience with Epic EHR 
• Experience with and/or appreciation for supporting the technology needs of academic and research environments
• Experience with web and mobile development technologies/services, platforms, enterprise integration, and cloud computing 
• Demonstrated ability to attract, support and develop talent within the organization for progressive responsibilities 
• Understanding of healthcare data security frameworks and HIPAA implications to the design and implementation of information systems and digital solutions 
• Knowledge and experience with cybersecurity and business continuity planning

Leadership Skills and Competencies

Role Imperatives 

• Strategist - Partners with the business to align business and IT strategies to advance organizational objectives and maximize the value of data and technology assets
• Catalyst - Drives innovation through IT transformation by leveraging business architecture, strategy, operations, and technology to support change
• Technologist - Optimizes technologies and designs technical architectures that enable creation and use of digital products to drive business agility and improved outcomes
• Operator - Operates and delivers efficient IT services and solutions to support the business while managing risk and complexity, and protecting core assets

Essential Leadership Behaviors 

Is an inspirational change leader:

• Articulates how the capabilities of the IT organization (e.g., technology, data, digital, automation) can drive competitive advantage by enhancing quality, increasing patient safety, and reducing costs 

Demonstrates strategic vision balanced by a mindset of practicality:

• Creates and articulates an inspiring vision for IT that supports and accelerates Providence's vision and mission

Is a collaborative, solutions-oriented business partner with a customer-first orientation:

• Takes an enterprise perspective to see across the business, make connections, and achieves mutually beneficial solutions that drive safe, seamless, and personal care – every person, every time; exhibits confidence and humility

Drives excellence in execution and operations:

• Cultivates a culture of future-focused and possibility-thinking, while ensuring operational effectiveness through responsiveness to the core realities of the business today

Creates a high-performing Information Technology team:

• Views talent management as a strategic enabler of business strategy; invests time and energy in building a diverse and inclusive high-performing team; demonstrates strong servant leadership skills

At Providence, our strength lies in Our Promise of “Know me, care for me, ease my way.” Working at our family of organizations means that regardless of your role, we’ll walk alongside you in your career, supporting you so you can support others. We provide best-in-class benefits and we foster an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued, and everyone is essential, heard and respected. Together, our 120,000 caregivers (all employees) serve in over 50 hospitals, over 1,000 clinics and a full range of health and social services across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. As a comprehensive health care organization, we are serving more people, advancing best practices and continuing our more than 100-year tradition of serving the poor and vulnerable.

The amounts listed are the base pay range; additional compensation may be available for this role, such as shift differentials, standby/on-call, overtime, premiums, extra shift incentives, or bonus opportunities.

Providence offers a comprehensive benefits package including a retirement 401(k) Savings Plan with employer matching, health care benefits (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, disability insurance, time off benefits (paid parental leave, vacations, holidays, health issues), voluntary benefits, well-being resources and much more. Learn more at providence.jobs/benefits.