Chief Technology Officer

Are you motivated by the opportunity to shape the technological future of one of the nation's most impactful youth development organizations? Do you thrive at the intersection of innovation, strategy, and mission driven work where technology becomes a catalyst for scale, equity, and transformation? National 4-H Council is seeking a visionary Chief Technology Officer to lead the enterprise technology strategy and digital evolution that will power Cooperative Extension and 4-H into its next era of growth and impact.

At National 4-H Council, we empower nearly 6 million young people each year to become confident leaders who are ready for life and work. As the nation's largest youth development organization, we prepare young people to be Beyond Ready through hands-on learning experiences in STEM, Agriculture, Healthy Living, and Civic Engagement.

As the Chief Technology Officer, you will serve at the highest level of organizational leadership, shaping how technology, data, and digital platforms enable and accelerate the 4-H mission nationwide. You will lead the vision and execution of enterprise systems, cybersecurity, data strategy, AI enablement, and digital experiences that support a distributed network of 3,500 educators and engage 35 million 4-H alumni. You will steward National 4-H Council's technology foundation while also advancing modern, scalable solutions that strengthen how young people learn, connect, and grow. As a member of the Executive Team, you will advise the CEO and Board, ensuring technology investments are aligned to mission priorities, operational excellence, and long term organizational sustainability.

Join us in building the digital backbone of a movement that is preparing the next generation to be Beyond Ready for the future. #4HBeyondReady

Mission

4-H, the nation's largest youth development organization, grows confident young people empowered for life today and prepared for careers tomorrow. In collaboration with the USDA and our network of 110 public universities, we serve every county and parish in the United States in more than 3,000 local 4-H Extension offices. Our programs have a positive impact on young people: 4-H youth are 2x more likely to excel in school, 4x more likely to contribute to their communities, 2x more likely to make healthier choices, and 2x more likely to pursue STEM education or careers.

National 4-H Council (Council), 4-H's private sector nonprofit partner, builds public-private partnerships and provides resources and leadership development opportunities that expand the reach and impact of 4-H. With the Beyond Ready Initiative, 4-H has the potential to reach 10 million young people annually to help them lead healthy, productive, and engaged lives. Young leaders will have the experience and mentorship to succeed in an evolving workforce and thrive in their communities.

Position Summary

As Chief Technology Officer, you will serve Cooperative Extension in shaping the next era of how 4 H empowers young people to be Beyond Ready for college, careers, and life. In alignment with Cooperative Extension, you will lead the vision, strategy, and execution of digital platforms and experiences that enable Cooperative Extension's nationwide network of 3,500 educators to impact 10 million 4 H youth and engage 35 million 4-H alumni across the country-reimagining how learning, engagement, and impact are connected at scale.

Simultaneously, you will steward National 4 H Council's enterprise technology foundation, ensuring secure, resilient, and scalable infrastructure, applications, and cybersecurity that power mission delivery and organizational growth.

As a member of the Executive Team, you will advise the CEO and Board, translating technology strategy into clear business value, informed risk decisions, and prioritized investments-elevating technology from a support function to a core driver of performance, efficiency, and national impact.

Scope and Impact

• Enterprise-wide leadership of technology, data, analytics, AI, and digital platforms
• Accountability for infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, and innovation
• Direct engagement with the CEO and Board on technology strategy, risk, and investment
• Ownership of technology roadmap supporting a distributed, national network
• Leadership of a multidisciplinary technology team and external partners

Primary Responsibilities

Enterprise Technology Strategy

• Lead end-to-end technology strategy aligned to mission outcomes and organizational growth priorities
• Develop and execute a clear technology roadmap across run, improve, and transform horizons
• Align technology investments with enterprise priorities, ensuring focus on highest-value outcomes
• Partner with executive leadership to integrate technology into strategic and operational planning
• Translate emerging technologies into practical, mission-aligned use cases

Technology Governance and Portfolio Management

• Establish clear enterprise ownership, product and platform accountability, and decision rights
• Lead technology governance, portfolio management, and prioritization processes
• Ensure disciplined investment decisions with clear tradeoffs, value realization, and accountability
• Provide transparent reporting on technology performance, risks, and outcomes

Infrastructure, Applications, and Architecture

• Ensure reliable, scalable, and secure infrastructure supporting a remote-first, distributed organization
• Oversee enterprise applications, platforms, and integrations to enable effective operations
• Provide architectural leadership across cloud, data, and application environments
• Drive modernization of legacy systems and adoption of scalable, cloud-based solutions

Cybersecurity and Risk Management

• Lead enterprise cybersecurity strategy, risk mitigation, and compliance
• Ensure strong protection of organizational data, systems, and digital assets
• Establish and maintain security policies, standards, and incident response capabilities
• Partner with executive leadership to manage technology-related risks and business continuity

Digital Enablement and User Experience

• Improve how technology supports storytelling, engagement, and mission delivery
• Drive adoption and effective use of technology platforms across internal teams and external partners

Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence

• Advance data strategy, data architecture and governance, data quality, and data platforms in alignment with Cooperative Extension
• Lead innovation in automation, artificial intelligence, and digital tools with pragmatic execution
• Lead AI strategy, prioritization, and responsible deployment
• Identify and scale practical AI use cases
• Establish governance and responsible AI practices; advanced analytics and insights generation
• Build data and AI capabilities within technology team

External Engagement and End-User Alignment

• Build strong relationships with Cooperative Extension stakeholders and other end-users
• Develop deep understanding of user needs to improve technology adoption and value delivery
• Ensure technology solutions are practical, usable, and aligned with field realities
• Represent the organization externally on technology partnerships and initiatives

Board and Executive Engagement

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board on technology strategy, risk, and investment decisions
• Present clear options, tradeoffs, and implications to support informed decision making
• Provide transparency into cybersecurity posture, system performance, and innovation progress
• Strengthen governance and oversight of technology investments and risks

Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing technology and data team
• Build internal capability while leveraging external partners where appropriate
• Foster a culture of service, stewardship, and continuous improvement
• Drive cross-functional collaboration across Finance & Business Operations, People & Culture, Development & Marketing, Stakeholder Relations business units
• Operate as a collaborative enterprise leader with shared accountability for organizational outcomes

Transformation Opportunity

• Shift technology from a support function to a core enterprise capability
• Build a modern, integrated technology and data ecosystem
• Strengthen alignment between technology investments and mission outcomes
• Improve reliability, scalability, and user experience across all platforms
• Accelerate innovation while maintaining operational discipline and security

Key Success Factors

• Trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, providing clarity on technology strategy, risk, and investment tradeoffs
• Clear, actionable enterprise technology roadmap across run, improve, and transform priorities
• Reliable, secure, and scalable core systems that enable uninterrupted operations
• Disciplined technology portfolio focused on high-value initiatives with strong execution and adoption
• Strong governance, prioritization, and accountability for technology investments
• Deep engagement with end-users, resulting in high adoption and satisfaction
• Demonstrated use of data and analytics to improve decision-making and mission outcomes
• Scaled adoption of AI/automation delivering measurable efficiency or engagement gains
• High-performing team with a strong service and stewardship mindset

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred
• 15+ years of progressive technology leadership experience, including senior enterprise roles such as CTO, CIO, SVP of Technology, or equivalent leadership positions with organization-wide scope and accountability
• Experience leading enterprise technology strategy, infrastructure, and applications in a complex organization
• Strong background in cloud architecture, enterprise systems, and cybersecurity
• Experience with technology governance, portfolio management, and prioritization
• Demonstrated ability to align technology investments with business outcomes
• Experience working with executive teams and Boards on technology strategy and risk
• Track record of leading innovation initiatives with practical execution
• Experience in nonprofit, public sector, or enterprise services environments preferred

Leadership Profile

• Enterprise technology leader with strong strategic and operational orientation
• Balances innovation with reliability, security, and execution discipline
• Communicates complex technology concepts in clear, practical terms
• Builds strong relationships across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Drives collaboration and shared accountability across functions
• Strong team leader who develops talent and builds trust

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive executive compensation aligned with nonprofit benchmarks and eligibility to participate in a 403(b) retirement plan and 457 deferred compensation plan. Flexible, remote-first work environment with periodic in-person engagement.

Equal Opportunity and ADA Statement

National 4-H Council is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, National 4-H Council provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at careers@4-H.org.

This role is primarily performed in a professional office or remote work environment and requires the ability to use standard office technology, including computers and communication tools. Occasional travel and in-person meetings may be required.