Fractional Technology Advisor (vCIO)

Fractional Technology Advisor (vCIO)

Role Overview

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.

Responsibilities

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.

Education/Experience 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.