Chief Technology Officer

Thank you for your interest. We will begin reviewing applications on January 26, 2026, and the expected start date for this role is March 2026. The non-profit Waterford Research Institute has been a leader in the use of technology to educate young children for nearly 50 years. With the rapid expansion of its UPSTART virtual pre-K program and the growth of in-school SaaS offerings SmartStart (pre-K) and Waterford Early Learning (K-2), Waterford is seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to join its executive leadership team and help accelerate organizational growth and impact. The CTO will oversee all technology-related aspects of the business from both a functional and a strategic perspective, including architecture, software engineering, development operations, quality assurance, IT, Tier 2 customer support, field engineering, and database development and administration. Responsibility • Makes product quality, user experience, and positive learning impact the first and highest priority for Waterford’s technology teams • Establishes and emphasizes a culture of goal-setting, measurement, and accountability—continuously improving project estimation accuracy and execution (achievement of planned deliverables according to projected time and budget) while increasing development velocity and capacity utilization without compromising quality • Establishes and executes an overall technology plan for the organization and its products in accordance with Waterford’s mission, strategic plan, and product roadmap • Ensures effective, ongoing collaboration between technology team members, product management, and the executive team within an Agile development environment • Clearly articulates technology's role in achieving organizational goals to board members, executives, and the broader team • Builds and continuously improves technology teams via networking with and recruiting top talent, and via mentoring, developing, and motivating staff to succeed in current and future roles • Defines or approves all technology safeguards, policies, and processes to minimize the risk of security breaches and protect sensitive data and company IP • Consistently evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of technology, processes, and team members and makes changes and improvements as necessary • Owns the evaluation, approval, and purchase process for technology that supports both internal processes and external objectives while ensuring the needs of department leaders are understood and met • Effectively communicates technology-related decisions and direction to those who have technical backgrounds as well as those who are non-technical The ideal candidate will possess the following skills, experience, and education: Technical Skills • Deep knowledge of technical ecosystem alternatives and trade-offs to achieve the right blend of reliability, performance, and scalability for cloud-based, multimedia-rich offerings • Well-versed in product technology lifecycle management and well aware of current and emerging technology solutions; has a proven history of success navigating technology challenges and opportunities that evolve over time • In-depth knowledge of critical IT areas including security and privacy, data governance, disaster recovery, system performance, and high availability • Experience in building strong and diverse teams of high-performing individuals while managing multiple projects to success Executive Skills • C-level presence and subject matter expertise worthy of an industry thought leader and public speaker • Ability to strike a balance between what’s innovative and best practice from a technical perspective and what’s strategic and pragmatic for the business at any given time; strong advocate for functional areas of responsibility within the context of what is most beneficial to the organization and its mission overall Management Skills • Motivator and mentor who strives to advance the careers and expertise of team members by providing opportunities Technically challenging work • Ongoing education • New responsibilities and advancement • Analytical approach to development, infrastructure, and purchasing decisions, including: • Build versus Buy • ROI • Technical debt • Gap analysis • Cost-conscious mindset, but creative problem solver within budget, time, and resource constraints • Strong contract negotiation skills • Excellent interpersonal, written/oral communication, and presentation skills Industry Experience • 15+ years of experience in the information technology or related arena • 10+ years of experience in management and strategic planning • 8+ years in the education technology industry • Experience or awareness of other industries in order to apply solutions from other industries to the education domain • A strong and current background of demonstrated technical engineering experience in a diverse set of disciplines including software architecture, programming, IT infrastructure, and design • Understanding and experience with Agile methodologies • Practical implementation of sprints, scrums, Kanban, etc. • Experience effectively using and working with offshore teams • Passion for education • Basic understanding and experience with Java, AWS, Ruby on Rails, and HTML5 • Experience in running IT and development groups within a startup and/or nonprofit environment with demonstrated knowledge of how to balance investment in tools and people to maximize return in support of organizational goals Education • BS degree in computer science or related field • MBA or double major in computer science and business, preferred • Current and ongoing knowledge acquisition of technical tools and trends with sufficient depth to make purposeful decisions • Ongoing acquisition of education industry knowledge About Waterford.org Waterford.org provides PreK through 2nd grade reading, math, and science programs that children can use wherever they learn. Our programs help children reach critical milestones by 3rd grade, laying the foundation for their future success. Waterford.org serves over 200,000 children across 42 states every year. Working at Waterford.org Waterford.org team members are located across the United States and primarily work from home. We anticipate this full time, salary position will pay $265,000 - $290,000 per year depending on the education, experience and skill level of the individual we hire. We also offer a phenomenal benefits package that includes health insurance, dental insurance, basic life insurance, and disability insurance. New hires receive a one-time HSA contribution. Retirement contributions are matched up to 5% by the organization. Plus, a generous vacation, sick, and holiday offering. Waterford.org Employee Growth & Applications At Waterford.org, we truly believe in the boundless potential of our team members and their continuous growth and development. We are dedicated to encouraging a culture that nurtures talent from within, which is why we prioritize internal applicants for all job postings. External candidates may experience a delay in being contacted by our Talent Acquisition team. Equal Opportunity Employer Waterford is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Waterford is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status. Apply tot his job