Position: Chief Information Officer (CIO) — Full-Time, 12-month, benefited
Location: Devils Lake, ND
Salary: $110,000 – $132,000 per year (based on experience)
Application Deadline: 11/22/2026
Eligibility: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future employer sponsorship. LRSC does not provide employment-based immigration sponsorship for any position.
Background Check: Required for the selected candidate prior to beginning employment.

Job Summary: Lake Region State College seeks a strategic, innovative, and collaborative leader to serve as CIO, reporting to the Vice President of Administrative Affairs. The CIO provides leadership and direction for LRSC’s IT operations, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and long-term technology strategy, developing and implementing a comprehensive technology vision supporting the college’s mission, strategic priorities, academic programs, and administrative operations. The position works closely with college leadership, faculty, and staff to identify technology needs, improve institutional effectiveness, and ensure reliable, secure, and efficient technology services.

Scope of Oversight: All aspects of information technology—network infrastructure, enterprise systems, cybersecurity, data management, technology planning, budgeting, and IT personnel. Responsible for establishing technology policies, managing institutional risk, ensuring compliance with security requirements, and maintaining disaster recovery and business continuity plans. Serves as a key advisor to college leadership on emerging technologies, digital innovation, and technology investments, and represents LRSC in North Dakota University System (NDUS) technology initiatives and collaborative efforts—helping ensure LRSC has a strong voice in shared services and technology coordination discussions while advocating for the campus’s unique needs.

Ideal Candidate: Demonstrates strong leadership, sound judgment, effective communication, and the ability to balance long-term strategic planning with the operational needs of a rural community college. Will foster a service-oriented IT department valuing accountability, teamwork, innovation, and responsiveness.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Educational Leadership, or closely related field
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible IT experience, including supervisory or management responsibilities
• Demonstrated experience in IT strategic planning, technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, and information systems management
• Experience managing technology budgets, personnel, projects, and vendor relationships
• Strong understanding of information security, risk management, and data protection practices
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership, develop effective working relationships, and communicate technical information to nontechnical audiences
• Ability to align technology initiatives with institutional goals and operational needs

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Educational Leadership, or closely related field
• Experience in an executive or senior-level IT leadership position
• Experience in higher education or a similarly complex organization
• Knowledge of enterprise systems, cloud technologies, network infrastructure, and emerging technology solutions
• Experience with cybersecurity frameworks, regulatory compliance, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning
• Experience leading institution-wide technology initiatives and organizational change
• Familiarity with higher education technology systems, student information systems, and academic technology needs

Benefits: Fully paid family health insurance, life insurance, annual leave, sick leave, employee tuition waiver, spouse/dependent tuition discount, TIAA retirement, and much more.

Application Instructions: Complete the LRSC employment application, and include a cover letter, resume, and information for three professional references.

Application Link: Apply through Lake Region State College’s employment site (lrsc.edu).

Additional Notes:

• Confidentiality: Pursuant to NDCC 44-04-18.27, applications and identifying records are confidential, except records related to finalists, which are open to the public after the search committee identifies the top three finalists.
• Veteran’s Preference: LRSC will hire one applicant and interview the top three candidates. North Dakota veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date (DD-214, plus a current VA disability letter dated within the last 12 months if claiming disabled status).
• No Smoking: The State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment per N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.

LRSC is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.