Overview

The VP Technology is the head of information technology for the client. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the VP Technology is an executive responsible for overseeing the management, implementation and strategic development of information technology across the organization and its operating entities. The VP Technology plays a critical role in enabling the company to achieve its goals by leveraging technology and data to improve business operations and drive performance.

This is not a traditional head of IT role. Instead, it may be more accurately described as a CIO, IT advisor, and management consultant to multiple companies. The VP Technology has a broad mandate across the organization's operating entities including technology strategy, project governance, IT standards, enterprise architecture, vendor contract negotiation and licensing, partner management, and cybersecurity. The largest companies in the portfolio have an existing IT leader ranging from Manager IT to VP IT, and the VP Technology provides mentoring to these individuals if and when needed.

Responsibilities

The VP Technology is responsible for

· Technology strategy across the organization, including all 24 portfolio companies, to determine where and how the companies should be investing in technology as a group.

· Cybersecurity across the entire organization, encompassing policy, processes, and technical services. This includes oversight of platforms such as MFA and MDR, Chairing the Cybersecurity Council, intervention for major incident responses, educating business leaders and technology staff, and more.

· Enterprise architecture and planning.

· Vendor contract management and negotiations that leverage economies of scale across 20+ portfolio companies in the business for software products and IT services related to marketing, e-commerce, sales, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, and more.

· Vendor/partner management for enterprise software suppliers, hardware companies, and IT recruitment firms.

· Oversight of technology roadmaps for all operating entities that align with corporate strategy. Deployment of project governance processes and standards across all portfolio companies, as well as oversight of critical programs such as ERP implementations.

· Technology investment oversight such as driving Microsoft enterprise software agreement adoption across the portfolio companies.

· Mentoring and coaching about ten IT leaders employed by the portfolio companies as required.

· Assist IT leaders in the portfolio companies with the recruitment and sourcing process for IT talent.

· Assist the M&A team with due diligence on prospective portfolio company acquisitions, helping to identify IT risk areas and how much IT investment is needed.

· Organize annual events that provide IT and business leaders with ongoing learning and development opportunities.

Qualifications

· 20+ years of information technology industry experience including at least 10 years of experience leading corporate IT operations with a proven track record in large-scale digital transformation initiatives.

· Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in Computer Science, Business or a related field.

· Strategic thinker experienced with developing information technology strategies for both medium and large companies that support the corporate business objectives.

· Excellent spoken and written English language communication skills.

· Strong listener who is adept at understanding competing agendas, building consensus, and rapidly moving issues forward in a constructive manner.

· Confidence, but not arrogance, plus persistence to advocate for and drive enterprise solutions across the operating entities through engagement and collaboration to create consistent technology solutions and leverage licensing discounts.

· Understanding of complex organizational dynamics that come with 24 portfolio companies across numerous industries, each with its own CEO and varying levels of IT sophistication.

· Strong leadership skills.

· Experience across a range of company sizes, such as a $2 billion revenue business like the client, but also a $50 million revenue business like some of the smaller portfolio companies.

· Strong cybersecurity knowledge and experience.

· Knowledge of and experience employing enterprise architecture.

· Experience negotiating enterprise-level vendor agreements and managing the relationship with key partners and suppliers.

· Experience establishing project governance standards.

· Experience overseeing large, critical programs.

· Experience recruiting, mentoring and coaching IT leaders at Manager, Director and VP levels if needed.

· Able to travel to Winnipeg for IT leadership events and company leadership meetings as required, typically 2-3 times per year.

· An “inside/outside” perspective is an asset, meaning someone who has been an in-house IT executive, but has also worked in the consulting or IT services industry, so has been on both sides as a customer and a vendor.

· Experience assisting with M&A due diligence is an asset.

· An MBA or relevant advanced degree is an asset.

Location

The VP Technology can live anywhere in Canada, with a preference for Vancouver or Winnipeg where the client has corporate offices. The VP Technology may work remotely 1-2 days per week.

Reporting Relationships

The VP Technology reports to the CFO. The VP Technology does not have any direct reports but provides mentoring and coaching as needed to about ten IT leaders in some of the organization's operating entities ranging from Manager, IT to Vice President, IT.

Compensation

Compensation for the VP Technology role includes a base salary and a discretionary bonus. The annual salary is $195,000 plus a bonus of up to $35,000. The role includes extended health and other benefits, plus employee discounts at some portfolio companies.

Encor Partners

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