Fractional Technology Advisor (vCIO)

  • Contract
  • United States

Description

Hope Walks is seeking an experienced, senior-level technology leader to serve as a Fractional Technology Advisor (vCIO) during a critical period of organizational growth. Hope Walks now operates with the digital complexity of a much larger organization, supporting clubfoot treatment and holistic family care across 15 countries, a growing fundraising technology stack (Virtuous/Salesforce), a child-level data system (PATH on DHIS2), and emerging AI applications.


This is a strategic, roadmap-building role, not a day-to-day operations role. The Advisor's job is to help Hope Walks think clearly about priorities: to translate a long list of legitimate technology needs into a realistic, sequenced plan the organization can actually afford and execute, given that Hope Walks is spread across 15 countries and cannot responsibly pursue full compliance or enterprise-grade security everywhere at once.


The Advisor will work in close partnership with the Manager of Technology & Data (a full-time hire), co-executing the roadmap's foundational infrastructure work directly alongside that person before transitioning into a coaching and advisory role. The engagement is intended to be front-loaded —intensive during the assessment, roadmap development, and initial build period—before stepping back gradually into a lighter, ongoing advisory capacity.


Technology & Data Roadmap Development

  • Assess Hope Walks' current global technology, data, and vendor environment across programs, fundraising operations, and administrative functions.
  • Develop a 3-year technology and data roadmap connecting organizational strategy to program delivery, patient/impact data, finance, HR, development and donor reporting, data protection, cybersecurity, and AI.
  • Deliver a detailed, actionable first-year implementation plan; provide a directional (not fully scoped) investment strategy for years two and three.
  • Identify and prioritize the organization's most significant technology and data risks, including a clear articulation of the cost and risk of inaction.


Identity, Access & Infrastructure Strategy

  • Co-execute the initial identity and access rollout directly alongside the Manager of Technology & Data, rather than only handing off a completed design.
  • Define a target-state model for centralized identity, access management, and multi-factor authentication across all offices and country teams.
  • Recommend organizational standards for systems of record, user onboarding/offboarding, administrative account controls, and device-management foundations.
  • Prioritize which foundational infrastructure gaps must be closed before more advanced cybersecurity or compliance tools can be responsibly deployed.


Realistic, Risk-Based Data Protection Prioritization

  • Develop a risk-based data protection framework that identifies which of the 15 countries carry the highest exposure, rather than assuming uniform compliance is achievable everywhere at once.
  • Provide strategic direction for PATH/DHIS2 optimization in partnership with Hope Walks' existing PATH consultant, and help define a minimum viable global patient and program dataset.
  • Recommend a sequenced approach to data governance policy that the Manager of Technology & Data can execute and maintain.


Vendor, Managed Services & Fundraising Technology Strategy

  • Assess whether the scope of Hope Walks' existing managed services provider (MSP) engagement is appropriately sized for the organization's needs, and recommend adjustments.
  • Assess the Virtuous/Salesforce integration and recommend a CRM and fundraising technology roadmap.
  • Support vendor requirements development, proposal evaluation, and contract negotiation for major technology engagements.


AI and Emerging Technology Governance

  • Develop a practical, right-sized framework for responsible AI and emerging technology adoption across Hope Walks.
  • Recommend governance guardrails the Manager of Technology & Data can apply when evaluating new AI tools requested by staff.


Executive & Board Reporting

  • Present the roadmap, prioritized risks, and investment recommendations to senior leadership and, as requested, the Board.
  • Provide periodic advisory check-ins during the post-roadmap phase to support the Manager of Technology & Data and senior leadership as priorities evolve.

Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Management, or a related field required; equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • 10 or more years of progressive technology leadership experience, including prior experience as a CIO, vCIO, or similar senior strategic technology role.
  • Demonstrated track record building and prioritizing multi-year technology roadmaps for resource-constrained or multinational organizations.
  • Experience defining identity, access management, and device-management foundations at an organizational level.
  • Experience evaluating and right-sizing outsourced or managed-services engagements (e.g., MSP relationships) for organizational fit.
  • Strong project management skills with a demonstrated track record of delivering technology improvements on time and within budget.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to translate complex technical concepts clearly for non-technical staff, executive leadership, and board members.
  • Genuine alignment with Hope Walks' Christian mission and Core Values; comfort working within a faith-based organizational context.


Preferred

  • Master's degree or relevant professional certifications.
  • Familiarity with DHIS2 or comparable health information systems.
  • Working knowledge of CRM platforms (Virtuous and/or Salesforce).
  • Familiarity with data protection considerations relevant to a multi-country nonprofit (e.g., GDPR or equivalent national frameworks), applied at a risk-prioritization level rather than deep compliance-certification expertise.
  • Familiarity with AI governance frameworks and practical experience with responsible AI tool evaluation.
  • Background in global health, international development, or nonprofit technology.
  • Demonstrated experience or aptitude for mentoring and developing less-senior technical staff.