Our client has requested that we manage the search and hire effort for a CIO to join their organization.
This person will serve as a strategic and tactical technology and IT services leader, reporting to the CEO. The CIO will lead strategic initiatives that embrace new technologies, accelerate efforts to provide greater data management, information systems enhancement, and will work to evolve and integrate systems and software for continued growth.
The successful candidate will have experience in the manufacturing, construction, industrial, or engineering industries.
Responsibilities
The CIO’s role is to provide vision and leadership for developing and implementing information technology initiatives in alignment with the Company’s operating plans. This is a unique opportunity to lead aid in the evolution of the IT organization, next generation systems, software, products and capabilities, that will make a significant impact on this dynamic company. This position and the IT environment is quite complex with legacy systems, ongoing projects and governance processes that need to be evolved and optimized as the platform expands.
In the mid and long term, the CIO will be challenged with meeting the business’s desire for technology that will be a true competitive advantage and will evolve the IT organization. First, though, the CIO will need to operate in a “matrixed” manner, seeking to optimize the current systems, software, and products to advance the demands of the company both internally and externally. Internally, will be focused on data management, system support, and efficiencies. Externally, will optimize the current technology systems and software, supporting the demands of the customer and their interaction from a technology perspective. Evolution and enhancement of the current “legacy” systems, products and data management is constant, while preparing for development of products and capabilities as the company grows in the future.
Additionally, the CIO will work in concert with the Senior Management team and overall technology team in support of business operations to improve cost effectiveness, service quality, innovation, and enhancement. This includes working with leadership and operating teams, to match their needs and demands as the company expands.
Primary Responsibilities:
The CIO is directly responsible for implementing the most up-to-date and proven technology solutions to further the external growth and success of the Company. The CIO is responsible for using innovation and creativity to leverage cutting-edge technology to ensure exceptional customer experience, while maintaining a clear vision of where the Company will be in the next five years and what technologies will be required to reach that future state.
The Chief Information Officer is responsible for:
Owning the Company’s tech offerings and external products, focusing on tools that provide greater efficiencies and better performance.
Leveraging technology to enhance products and services delivered to external customers so that products remain innovative and appealing.
Aligning product architecture with business priorities.
Balancing technology development and market demands for a sustainable competitive advantage.
Performing research on new technologies that could enhance the business, while monitoring the use and implementation of new and existing technologies.
Supporting a growth strategy by expanding existing customer relationships, anticipating current and future needs, developing new business opportunities, and cultivating partner relationships.
Collaborate with business unit operating leaders to provide insight as to methods of managing and interpreting data and translating business requirements into a data model in order to drive innovative services.
Be involved in the selection of vendors to ensure alignment with the organizational direction and appropriate business acumen.
Negotiate services, products, and contracts with vendors to obtain the best benefit to cost ratios.
Enhance relationships with vendor partners, developing strategic and practical relationships maximizing the efficacy of selected vendor products/services.
Simply put this role must ensure to connect all the “dots” for the information technology needs of the company. This leader must ensure the integration and operating efficiency of the systems in all areas of the business from an architecture perspective.
As a strategic leader for IT, this position must ensure the long-term IT/Enterprise Architecture is in place and advancing to keep pace with the revenue and market growth of the company.
As a member of the Company’s Leadership team, the CIO will work cross-functionally with all areas of the business to match their technology needs with each operating discipline of the business.
LEADING OTHERS
Support of the Enterprise Vision
Creates a robust technology strategy and roadmap in support and alignment with the enterprise strategy.
Communication and Influence Cross-Functionally
Acts as a technology evangelist, both internally and externally. Successfully conveys information while using complex influence strategies to build rapport and achieve desired outcomes.
Team Leadership
Encourage engagement of all team members while simultaneously looking for cross-team collaboration opportunities through-out the organization.
Drives for Differentiation
Using technology, the Company should be experienced tangibly different from its competitors. This technology should set up both our company and stakeholders up for success
GROWING THE BUSINESS
Enterprise Perspective
Thinks in enterprise-wide, cross-functional terms when making decisions or taking actions. Is willing to compromise own business unit or area of responsibility when that compromise benefits the larger organization.
Technology acumen, especially in architecture, software strategy areas to address legacy technology challenges
Ability to see how technology fits with strategic business goals
Ability to convince diverse stakeholders to commit and invest in unknowns (strong conviction & empathy)
Problem solving, time management, multi-tasking and creative thinking
Ambitious and bold, who can shake the status quo, stay resilient and turn technology into something useful for the organization
Combining technology, people and business skills
