Vice President of Information Technology Position Profile
Company Overview
Our client has asked to remain anonoymous at this point in the search but their organization is a leading nonprofit, devoted to Chicago, its history, and its future. It is steeply engrained in the vibrant fabric of the city.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Based in Chicago, IL, and reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President of Information Technology (IT) is responsible for translating company defined priorities into a coherent technology strategy and roadmap through execution. The new Vice President of IT will partner with business leaders and provide innovative thinking to identify, plan, manage and implement business and system initiatives that align with this firms’ objectives and goals. They will have responsibility to develop, integrate and maintain end-to-end systems to align with leading industry best practice and overall company standards.
The Vice President of IT will be responsible for a $500,000 budget, accountable for leading the technology selection, systems, integration, cloud, and data architecture required and ensuring a positive ROI on technology investments. The Vice President of IT will be responsible for the management of existing corporate infrastructure through internal and external teams, and the transition required to deliver the company vision. They will be responsible for everything IT from Helpdesk to future implementations and iterations of deployed technology, upkeep and management of the website, engagement, Information Security, and the integrity of frameworks for multiple platforms.
The successful candidate must be up to date with top technology trends in the industry and how these can be leveraged and translated into business value. Agile, information security management, network, systems architecture design and delivery, big data, artificial intelligence/ machine learning, and experience in building scalable products in multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web) are critical competencies; as well as soft leadership skills such as building and managing diverse teams, the ability to communicate effectively across diverse stakeholders, teamwork, problem solving, and empowerment. The ideal candidate will be driven, never satisfied with the status-quo, hungry for results and ready to roll up their sleeves to achieve desired outcomes. In short, we are looking for a ‘servant-leader’ whose measure of success will be equally measured through collaboration and the creation of high performing (internal and external) teams as well as the delivery of results aligned to the corporate strategy.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Oversee the technological infrastructure of the organization to ensure optimal performance and alignment with business priorities
- Independently analyze current IT infrastructure and strategize and prioritize solutions.
- Develop, monitor, and manage department budget to meet or exceed operational and long-term targets; initiate and manage adjustments to the budget to assure balanced operations.
- Plan the implementation of new systems and provide training and guidance to all users.
- Evaluate systems and business needs to recommend technology that advances internal operations through improved efficiencies and effectiveness.
- Manage vertically and cross functionally, leveraging leadership relationships to meet established deadlines, IT projects and initiatives.
- Effectively communicate with all levels of the business and the IT department.
- Assist in the continued implementation and improvement of the technology portfolio.
- Partner, collaborate, and engage with leadership/stakeholders on IT initiatives/projects.
- Provide a 24/7 IT ecosystem and infrastructure that supports operations.
- Set expectations and manage, coach, and develop team members to ensure that they maximize their performance and continuously develop their capabilities and experience whilst demonstrating the behaviors needed to embed a collaborative, high performing, consumer-oriented, and commercially aware working environment.
CRITICAL COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS
Critical Thinking
This individual must be intellectually sharp and use critical thinking to make or influence decisions while demonstrating outstanding business judgement. They will be comfortable creating the new and the different.
Results-Oriented
The new Vice President of Information Technology must be performance-driven and able to provide measurable results. The successful candidate will be resourceful, action-oriented, as well as a flexible and decisive Vice President who establishes clarity in the midst of distractions to produce results in a timely fashion. Hands on roll-up-the-sleeves mentality to keep all aspects of the business moving forward.
Communication
This individual should possess very strong communication, listening, and persuasion skills, to truly partner with the management team. They must be an adept writer as well as be comfortable, dynamic, and an effective presenter in front of both external and internal audiences including employees, senior management, and customers and vendors. A willingness to engage in a broad range of topics and discussions across all constituents is necessary.
Strategic Agility
This individual must be intellectually sharp and clearly capable of thinking on their feet while demonstrating outstanding business judgment. The Vice President of IT will possess the analytical skills to improve overall productivity and elevate the company’s IT efforts as a point of differentiation in the marketplace. This person must not only embrace change, but be entrepreneurial in nature, creating and altering this road map along the way. This position will be expected to be wearing a lot of different hats within the IT department.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field preferred.
- 7+ years of substantive experience in IT in a variety of key disciplines.
- 7+ Years of IT management experience, information systems management, and project management.
- Deep knowledge of IT systems and infrastructure, business, and technical acumen in all aspects of IT, exceptional project management skills, strong collaboration skills, strong leadership and communication skills and a solid understanding of data analysis.
- Resilient, dynamic, ability to think on one’s feet and operate effectively under pressure
- Creative problem solving
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Title: Managing Director Email: blayton@comharpartners.com Direct: (239) 345-4050 Mobile: (847) 722-4180
Title: Director
Email: mlayton@comharpartners.com
Direct: (312) 313-8454
Mobile: (224) 805-9369
