Chief Technology Officer

NWEA™ - a mission-driven not for profit organization that supports students and educators worldwide by creating and delivering state-of-the-art assessment solutions that matter for kids – seeks a talented, dynamic, technology-astute and values-based visionary leader to serve as its next Chief Technology Officer. This is a career-defining opportunity to lead and manage the technology strategy and next generation vision for an organization which is already well-known as a top-tier provider of concurrent-user online applications, and a highly respected, fast-growing, industry leader that is at the forefront of shaping the dynamics of U.S. education policy and practice.

In the CTO role, you will report to NWEA’s President and COO and develop the technical product and operational delivery strategy for the organization in consultation with the executive team and direct reports. As the CTO, you will also be responsible for current and visionary products and service offerings associated with NWEA in partnership with the executive team to establish and execute long-range goals, strategic initiatives, annual plans, and operational plans, policies and procedures that achieve NWEA’s overall strategic direction.  The products and services include all externally-facing technology functions, including enterprise architecture, product and internal applications development, product operations (IT functions of development, delivery, quality assurance, and architecture), and partner technology services to complement the tone for NWEA’s brand, image, culture, and operations insuring mission representation of NWEA to clients, partners, and business/non-business communities.

Qualifications and Characteristics:

NWEA strongly welcomes applicants from a diversity of backgrounds and experiences and will consider the following factors in evaluating candidates for this critical-path leadership role. As the successful candidate, you will possess these characteristics:

• Deep understanding of and commitment to NWEA’s mission, vision, and values. • Passion for the education of children. • Leadership credentials and ability to understand the critical issues of managing and growing a complex, technology-oriented organization with patented intellectual property applied to the education services industry. • Experience leading and managing reliable and scalable large-scale software solutions. High volume SaaS development and operations • Experience leading and managing multi-product, multi-solution software development cycles for domestic and international partners. • Experience leading and managing onshore and offshore development efforts with full-time and contracted staff. • Experience with user-centered design methodologies. • Experience leading and managing multi-product technology architectures. • Experience developing and managing products with high quality data architecture and security expectations.   • Serverless Microservices Cloud technology • InfoSec experience (organizational and implementation) • Full stack architectural experience (cloud, infrastructure, data, security, application, frameworks, etc.) • Enterprise Data strategy and implementation • Validated strategic operations and technical change management experience in a fast-growth and transforming business environment. • Pragmatic technical planning and implementation results tied to ongoing multiple, concurrent deliverables. • Exceptional understanding of technology development cycles and implementation in a variety of unrelated client environments pertaining to software development, internet delivery and use of data. • Experience with mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic partnerships. • Ability to convert broad strategic plans and initiatives into SDLC plans (Agile/modified Waterfall) with high volume SaaS and future PaaS.  Includes serverless microservices Cloud technology, InfoSec experience, full stack architectural experience, and enterprise data leadership applied to plans, budgets, performance measures, and progress reports. • Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills effective across a wide range of audiences.  Presentation and public speaking experience. • Knowledge of the evolving education services industry would be helpful. • International experience a plus. • BSCS required; advanced degree preferred. • Physical requirements: Ability to work additional hours as necessary to accomplish objectives, goals, and projects; ability to sit/stand for extended periods; ability to use keyboard for extended periods; ability to travel.

Key Opportunities and Challenges in this role:

You will build, develop, and strengthen existing and new partnerships - NWEA has fostered a strong presence in the market as a trusted partner in student learning. Over the next decade, the organization has a tremendous opportunity for significant growth by maintaining the success of its current operations and programs, and as the CTO, you will build on this to further establish NWEA as a partner to schools, districts, and states.

You will ensure the success of NWEA’s state-based strategy - With the passage of ESSA and greater emphasis on state-level assessments and decision-making, NWEA has developed a growth strategy aimed at meeting the needs of state partners, as well as those at the district and school level.  Your leadership in the CTO role will be vital to this success.

You will lead, manage, and support a talented team – As the CTO, you will inherit and continue to build a strong internal culture and talent base. Hiring and developing a diverse and talented organization includes the expectation that you are an effective and inspirational leader who clearly communicates strategic priorities with accountability across the organization.

You will ensure continued organizational growth and stability - With our expansion into state-focused work, as the CTO, you will need to accelerate operational excellence and optimize on-shore and off-shore resources to effectively scale NWEA’s market opportunity and growth.

About NWEA:

NWEA was founded in 1973 when educators and researchers from Oregon and Washington school districts formed an association to build a new testing system. Their goal was to create a new way of measuring a student’s academic level and growth and to use the data as a transformational teaching tool.

The mission and values central to our success remain firmly embedded in the organization.  NWEA’s mission is Partnering to Help All Kids Learn, and the vision is to positively transform education to accelerate growth and mastery for each student.  Our values are honesty and integrity, care and respect for all stakeholders, collaboration and accountability, courage, success, and joy.

As a mission-driven not-for-profit, we have always been both research based and a contributor to education research. Technical research includes a wide variety of topics ranging from psychometric technical research to the measurement and impact of student engagement in assessments. 

Over the next decade, NWEA will provide solutions to changes in education that include but are not limited to technology, school structures, processes and methods of instruction, theories on learning, roles of teachers, social media, curriculum and content, and purposes and types of assessments. As the CTO, you will have the opportunity to assess and shape the next stage of our strategies and guide our continued growth.

NWEA’s executive team reports to Jeff Strickler, President and COO.

NWEA vision and strategy are guided by our seven-member board, currently chaired by Dr. Kenneth K. Wong, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair for Education Policy at Brown University. To learn more about our board, visit https://www.nwea.org/board-of-.... 

Location:

This position will be located at NWEA’s offices in downtown Portland, Oregon, a vibrant city with a population of roughly 582,000 (1.95 million in the metropolitan area). Proclaimed as North America's “Best Big City,” by Money magazine, Portland combines natural beauty with an exciting mix of historic and contemporary architecture, a bustling local scene, abundant recreational opportunities, and sumptuous dining. The metropolitan Portland area is home to an impressive collection of bookstores and cultural venues and is a leader in the region for its high-tech industry, progressive social services, and prosperous business environment. Located on the banks of the Willamette River only 60 minutes from snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Range in one direction, and 90 minutes from the open beaches on the Pacific Ocean.  Portland affords easy access to a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities. To learn more about Portland, visit https://www.travelportland.com....

Applications, Inquiries, and Nominations:

Review and assessment of completed applications will begin immediately and continue until the conclusion of the search process. All materials will be held in confidence. Applications, inquiries, and nominations can be submitted on the web or by contacting Pamela Jones at JONES PARTNERS, [email protected].   360 921 6114.

JONES PARTNERS Post Office Box 449 Vancouver, Washington 98666

If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please call us at (503) 624-1951 or e-mail us at [email protected]  and let us know the nature of your request, your location and your contact information.  This is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.   NWEA™ is an equal opportunity employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.  For our EEO Policy Statement, please visit the following website: https://www.nwea.org/content/u....