World Relief Seeks First-Ever Remote CIO to Lead Global Tech Transformation

Global Christian humanitarian organisation World Relief (WR) has announced a search for its first-ever Chief Information Officer (CIO), marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s efforts to strengthen its global technology infrastructure and improve operational effectiveness across more than 100 countries.

Founded in the aftermath of World War II, World Relief has spent more than 80 years partnering with local churches and communities to respond to poverty, disasters, displacement, and humanitarian crises. The creation of the CIO position reflects the organisation’s commitment to building a more coordinated, secure, and mission-driven technology function capable of supporting its expanding global operations.

The new executive role offers an opportunity to shape the future of technology within one of the world’s leading faith-based humanitarian organisations while advancing programmes that serve vulnerable communities worldwide.

About World Relief

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to partnering with churches and local communities to develop sustainable, locally driven solutions to some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.

Its mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the Church, while its vision is to create thriving and welcoming communities where families flourish and individuals experience restored relationships with God, their neighbours, themselves, and creation.

The organisation delivers programmes across several key areas, including:

• Community resilience and livelihoods.
• Humanitarian and disaster response.
• Refugee and immigration services.
• Advocacy and public policy.
• Agriculture, health, water, sanitation, and economic development.

World Relief’s work is guided by Christian values including service, partnership, empowerment, excellence, continuous improvement, prayer, and a strong commitment to strengthening local churches.

A Strategic Leadership Opportunity

The Chief Information Officer position is being established as World Relief transitions from a decentralised technology environment toward a more integrated enterprise IT model.

Historically, technology decisions have largely been managed by individual country offices and programme teams. While this approach has allowed flexibility, it has also created challenges including fragmented systems, inconsistent service delivery, cybersecurity risks, limited enterprise visibility, and difficulties integrating organisational data.

The successful CIO will lead the development of a unified technology strategy that strengthens governance, improves cybersecurity, enhances operational efficiency, and supports both U.S. and international programmes.

Rather than overseeing a large-scale technology expansion, the successful candidate will focus on practical execution, disciplined prioritisation, and sustainable improvements within existing resource constraints.

Key Responsibilities

The Chief Information Officer will provide strategic leadership across World Relief’s global technology function.

Core responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing an enterprise-wide IT strategy aligned with organisational priorities.
• Establishing IT governance frameworks across a decentralised global organisation.
• Strengthening cybersecurity practices and advancing alignment with recognised standards such as NIST.
• Building a scalable IT service delivery model for offices across the United States and internationally.
• Leading technology strategy for enterprise systems, including ERP, CRM, HRIS, data infrastructure, and knowledge management.
• Improving system integration, reporting capabilities, and data consistency.
• Building high-performing technical teams and strengthening organisational IT capability.
• Promoting responsible adoption of artificial intelligence, automation, analytics, and emerging digital technologies.

Ideal Candidate Profile

World Relief is seeking an experienced technology executive who combines strategic leadership with strong interpersonal skills and a passion for mission-driven work.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Significant experience leading IT functions as a Director, Vice President, CIO, or equivalent executive.
• Expertise managing technology operations within complex, multi-site, or international organisations.
• Strong technical knowledge across infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise systems, and IT service delivery.
• Experience implementing cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST, HIPAA, or comparable standards.
• Demonstrated success improving technology capabilities within resource-constrained environments.
• Experience leading digital transformation initiatives involving artificial intelligence, automation, systems integration, and data management.
• The ability to influence diverse stakeholders within decentralised organisational structures.
• A bachelor’s degree, with advanced qualifications or certifications such as CISSP, CISM, ITIL, or PMP considered advantageous.

Candidates must also affirm World Relief’s Statement of Faith and demonstrate a committed Christian faith aligned with the organisation’s mission and values.

First 18–24 Month Priorities

The successful CIO will be expected to deliver measurable progress during the first two years in the role by focusing on several strategic priorities.

These include:

• Establishing an organisation-wide IT governance framework.
• Strengthening cybersecurity and enterprise risk management.
• Building a reliable global IT service delivery model.
• Improving integration across core business systems and organisational data.
• Supporting more informed decision-making through enhanced technology infrastructure.

These initiatives are expected to strengthen operational efficiency while enabling World Relief to better serve communities affected by poverty, conflict, disasters, and displacement.

Supporting Global Humanitarian Impact Through Technology

As World Relief continues expanding its global reach, technology has become increasingly central to programme delivery, operational resilience, and organisational stewardship.

The introduction of a Chief Information Officer represents an important investment in digital leadership that will help the organisation build stronger governance, improve cybersecurity, increase operational consistency, and enhance collaboration across international offices.

By aligning technology with its humanitarian mission, World Relief aims to create a stronger foundation for delivering sustainable impact in vulnerable communities while supporting churches and local partners responding to some of the world’s most urgent challenges.