Chief Information Officer

Job ID: 1594 Location: San Diego, CA Type: Permanent Key Skills: Organizational development, employee evaluations, training, hiring, .NET, Web, global IT, project management.

Description:
The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is responsible for developing and implementing IT strategy that will support and leverage the operational aspects of an international electronic data service business. This position will report directly to the Chief Operations Officer and be part of the senior management team.

The CIO is a business strategist, IT functional strategist, implementation leader, technology advocate, and change agent, ensuring data integrity and technology support for all business operations and to enhance the organization's ability to accomplish its mission. The position works collaboratively and regularly with senior management, internal and external stakeholders, substantial numbers of customers, and peers to apply the most relevant cost effective technology to accomplish the company's mission.

The successful candidate will have strong business acumen along with the ability to understand and interpolate business initiatives into sound processes and reporting instruments. The CIO will provide leadership and develop a reliable, accountable and effective technology team. The ability of this individual to interact with other disciplines within the business is essential to his/her success.

Responsibilities:
- Control and direct the operation of an IT department with 60 to 80 employees and build a strong cohesive team.
- Leads strategic planning, development, and evaluation of the information and technology systems of the organization.
- Leads the execution of technology strategy for network infrastructure, technology platforms, enterprise and desktop applications, hardware and security.
- Reviews and evaluates organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning, etc., and makes recommendations for improvement.
- Facilitates communication between staff, management, customers, and other technology resources within the organization to ensure an effective approach to planning, budgeting and implementing technology solutions.
- Provides leadership and guidance to the IT team and holds it accountable for building and supporting reliable systems.
- Establishes IT policies, standards, procedures for the organization that support efficient operations and effective business operations.
- Ensures a 24/7/365 accessible and effective set of core business systems upon which the organization depends globally.
- Establishes technical standards and ensures adherence to them for product development and organization operations. Ensures the security, privacy and regulatory compliance of all systems, including mobile and portable technology.
- Develops and coordinates plans and policies, resources, and mission as well as goals, vision, and expectations of the department by meeting with company managers and directors to determine needs and challenges.
- Audits and reviews systems and practices to ensure compliance with procedures, regulations and standards.
- Evaluates software and hardware products for possible purchase. Meets with vendors on new and existing products, evaluates usefulness and cost of products and makes recommendations.
- Determines the resources needed to plan and implement IT applications. Discusses requirements with end users and provides software suggestions and recommendations to users to help them understand potential limitations and challenges.
- Supervises subordinate personnel including: hiring, determining workload and delegating assignments, training, monitoring and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary actions.
- Provides consultation, makes recommendations, gives appropriate advice, and/or facilitates decisions.
- Creates and manages a professional development program for Information Technology employees.
- Conducts training needs assessments and recommends training programs.

Requirement:
- Principles, theories and practices of organizational development.
- Principles of administrative organization and methods of control.
- Supervise others by assigning/directing work; conducting employee evaluations, staff training and development, taking appropriate disciplinary/corrective actions, making hiring/termination recommendations, etc.
- Establish objectives and specify the strategies and actions to achieve these objectives.
- Provide technical and policy leadership and direction.
- Create, maintain and improve an organization's culture and/or climate.
- Strategic planning for staffing, computer hardware and system architecture.
- Knowledge of best practices for enterprise computing.
- Develop and/or measure program outcomes.
- Communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, in writing and verbally; and be open-minded and always listen to information presented.
- Make a decision or solve a problem by using logic to identify key facts, explore alternatives, and propose quality solutions.
- Read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- A Master's degree(MBA) is required. A Bachelor's degree in Business and Technology Management, Computer Science or a closely related field is also required.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in software development, systems administration, or related field with 7 years in an executive-level position.
- Experience successfully managing technology in organizations going through technology changes. Successful track record in transforming an organization's technology from a legacy state to a highly functional up-to-date environment.
- Experience building and managing a complex, sophisticated and fully functional network infrastructure, Microsoft .NET environment and web infrastructure from the ground up.
- Exceptional skills in Project Management, System Analysis, System Development, Architecture and foundational technologies such as networking, communications, system platforms, etc.
- Experience should also include exposure to both shared and outsourced solutions, as well as support of in-house information and communication systems in a multi-site client-server environment.
- Thorough understanding of modern software, systems and methodologies.
- Experience with global IT infrastructure.
- Demonstrable expertise in facilitating the process of clarifying organizational strategies and translating them into appropriate technology applications.
- Demonstrable ability to build, motivate and lead effective teams of IT professionals.
- Strong interpersonal skills with excellent clarity of communications, strong leadership and negotiation skills.
- Strong knowledge of and experience with software licensing agreements and technology products and services with a well defined return of investment.
- Excellent interpersonal, team building and communication skills.