To Apply https://mfbn.org/career-opportunity/
We encourage individuals with transferable skills and experience to apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Priority screening will begin on Monday, September 14, for initial review for consideration; however, the position will remain open until it is filled. Your cover letter should describe your interest in joining Montana Food Bank Network, how your experience has prepared you to build and lead a technology function in a small, mission-driven organization, and your approach to modernizing systems, supporting users with varying levels of technical expertise, and thoughtfully leveraging emerging technologies such as AI and automation. Please also highlight an example of a significant technology implementation or transformation you have led and the impact it had on the organization.
Position Summary
The Chief Technology & Information Officer leads MFBN's technology operations, enterprise systems, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, automation, and technology-enabled innovation.
This is a hands-on, build-and-run position with an unusual opportunity to shape MFBN's technology environment from the ground up. MFBN is not seeking an executive to oversee a large technology staff. We are seeking a technology professional who can build the system and support the people using it.
The CTIO will assess existing systems and processes, establish technology standards and architecture, strengthen cybersecurity, improve integration between business systems, introduce practical automation and AI, manage external technology partners, and develop a long-term roadmap for the organization.
At the same time, this person will be MFBN's primary internal technology resource. They must be willing and able to troubleshoot an employee's computer, configure a new workstation, resolve an application or access problem, teach an employee how to use a system, and provide patient assistance to employees with varying levels of technology proficiency.
With a staff of approximately 25, relationships matter. The CTIO will know the people using MFBN's systems, understand how their work gets done, and have the opportunity to design technology around real operational needs rather than from a distance.
The ideal candidate will see MFBN's current environment not simply as a list of systems to maintain, but as an opportunity to build a thoughtful, secure, integrated, and user-friendly technology ecosystem that can support the organization for years to come.
Organizational Context
Montana Food Bank Network is a statewide nonprofit organization serving communities and Network Partners across Montana. We are a small organization with a significant statewide mission, and our technology environment reflects both the opportunities and challenges that come with operating a lean organization.
The CTIO serves as a department of one, supplemented by external vendors and technology partners when specialized expertise or additional capacity is needed.
This structure requires a different kind of technology leader. The successful candidate must be comfortable operating at both the strategic and highly practical levels; developing the systems and technology strategy MFBN needs for the future while personally supporting the everyday technology needs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Technology Strategy, Architecture & Modernization
- Assess MFBN's existing technology environment and establish a practical roadmap for modernization.
- Develop a coherent technology architecture across MFBN's applications, infrastructure, devices, data, security, and business processes.
- Identify fragmented, duplicative, outdated, or manual processes and develop sustainable solutions.
- Establish standards for system configuration, integration, documentation, access, ownership, maintenance, and replacement.
- Evaluate whether existing technology should be improved, integrated, replaced, or eliminated.
- Build technology practices and infrastructure that can scale with MFBN as organizational needs evolve.
- Maintain an inventory and lifecycle strategy for technology assets, applications, licenses, and systems.
- Balance long-term system design with immediate operational needs.
Hands-on IT Operations & Employee Support
The CTIO is MFBN's primary internal technology resource and must personally provide day-to-day technology support.
- Troubleshoot hardware, software, network, printer, application, account, access, and connectivity issues.
- Configure and deploy computers, mobile devices, peripherals, and other technology.
- Administer employee accounts, permissions, licenses, groups, and system access.
- Support employee onboarding, position changes, and offboarding from a technology perspective.
- Maintain computers, conference-room technology, printers, phones, and other workplace technology.
- Diagnose technology problems and coordinate escalation to external vendors when necessary.
- Maintain accurate documentation of systems, configurations, credentials, procedures, assets, and recurring issues.
- Develop simple self-service resources and instructions for common employee technology needs.
- Prioritize support requests based on business impact and communicate clearly with employees regarding resolution.
Technology Accessibility & Employee Enablement
MFBN employees bring different levels of comfort and experience with technology. The CTIO must meet employees where they are.
- Provide patient, respectful, judgment-free technology assistance.
- Translate technical concepts into clear, practical language.
- Help employees understand not only how to use technology, but how it can make their work easier.
- Develop short trainings, guides, demonstrations, and other resources based on employee needs.
- Recognize when a technology problem is actually a process, training, communication, or system-design problem.
- Design solutions around the people who will use them rather than expecting employees to adapt to unnecessarily complicated technology.
- Build employee confidence and organizational technology literacy over time.
- Gather feedback from employees to identify recurring technology barriers and opportunities for improvement.
Enterprise Systems & Business Process Improvement
- Serve as the organizational owner and technical administrator for MFBN's core technology environment.
- Lead one-time and organization-wide technology projects from initial assessment through implementation, stabilization, and closeout.
- Develop project scope, requirements, timelines, budgets, implementation plans, testing protocols, and measures of success for technology initiatives.
- Develop a strong understanding of how each MFBN department operates and how information moves between functions.
- Partner directly with employees and department leaders to map workflows and identify technology and process improvements.
- Reduce unnecessary spreadsheets, duplicate data entry, disconnected systems, and manual workarounds.
- Design sustainable integrations and workflows between systems where appropriate.
- Establish clear ownership and documentation for critical organizational systems.
- Ensure technology solutions support operational needs rather than creating unnecessary complexity.
- Evaluate new applications and platforms based on usability, interoperability, security, cost, supportability, and organizational value.
Artificial Intelligence, Automation & Innovation
- Develop MFBN's practical strategy for responsible use of artificial intelligence and automation.
- Identify repetitive or inefficient work that could appropriately be automated or augmented by AI.
- Work directly with employees to understand their workflows before recommending technology solutions.
- Pilot AI and automation solutions that produce measurable operational value.
- Establish appropriate organizational standards and guardrails for generative AI and emerging technologies.
- Educate employees on appropriate, effective, and responsible use of approved AI tools.
- Evaluate AI solutions for accuracy, privacy, security, accessibility, cost, bias, and organizational risk.
- Monitor emerging technologies and distinguish useful innovation from technology trends that do not provide meaningful value to MFBN.
Cybersecurity & Technology Risk
- Own MFBN's cybersecurity program and establish security practices appropriate to the organization's size and risk.
- Administer identity and access management, multifactor authentication, endpoint protection, email security, patching, backups, and related safeguards.
- Establish and maintain technology and information-security policies.
- Conduct periodic access reviews and security assessments.
- Coordinate cybersecurity awareness and employee training.
- Maintain incident-response, business-continuity, and disaster-recovery procedures.
- Coordinate cybersecurity incidents and external technical resources when necessary.
- Support cybersecurity insurance, audits, and compliance requirements.
- Ensure vendors with access to MFBN information or systems receive appropriate security review.
Data, Reporting & Integration
- Improve the reliability, accessibility, consistency, and usefulness of organizational data.
- Establish clear sources of truth for critical organizational information.
- Develop or improve integrations between systems to reduce duplicate entry and manual reconciliation.
- Partner with departments to improve dashboards, reports, and business intelligence.
- Establish practical data governance and system ownership standards.
- Help leaders and employees make better use of existing organizational data.
Vendor, Budget & Technology Management
Because MFBN operates with a department-of-one model, effective external partnerships are essential.
- Determine what technology capabilities should be maintained internally and what should be supported through external partners.
- Manage technology vendors, consultants, managed service providers, contracts, renewals, and service relationships.
- Escalate specialized issues appropriately while maintaining internal ownership of the outcome.
- Evaluate technology purchases and negotiate or support vendor selection.
- Develop and manage the annual technology budget.
- Evaluate total cost of ownership and organizational return before recommending investments.
- Maintain appropriate licensing and eliminate unnecessary or duplicative technology expenses.
Success Indicators
· Think strategically while remaining willing and able to perform hands-on technical work.
· Build rather than simply maintain.
· Be energized by creating structure where structure does not yet exist.
· Be comfortable moving between executive-level strategy and frontline employee support.
· Demonstrate humility and patience when supporting employees with limited technology experience.
· Avoid using technical knowledge as a barrier between IT and employees.
· Ask questions and understand the business process before prescribing a technical solution.
· Communicate technical risks and opportunities in plain language.
· Prioritize solutions based on organizational and mission impact.
· Know when to personally solve a problem and when specialized external expertise is needed.
· Document systems and decisions so organizational knowledge does not reside with one individual.
· Approach change thoughtfully and recognize that successful technology transformation depends on employee adoption.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Although this position does not initially supervise a traditional IT department, the CTIO is an organizational leader.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Demonstrated Ability to:
- Independently administer and troubleshoot an organizational technology environment.
- Support Windows-based endpoints and modern cloud-based business applications.
- Advanced experience administering Microsoft 365 or comparable enterprise productivity environments.
- Advanced experience administering Microsoft Active Directory
- Experience with ERP systems, Microsoft Dynamics Experience highly preferred
- Manage users, permissions, identity, access, devices, applications, and security controls.
- Troubleshoot technology issues from initial employee report through resolution.
- Understand networks, endpoints, cloud services, cybersecurity, integrations, APIs, and enterprise applications.
- Experience with Cisco and Meraki products is desirable.
- Evaluate and improve business processes using technology.
- Implement and support automation and emerging AI technologies.
- Manage external technology vendors and service providers.
- Manage multiple competing technology priorities independently.
- Develop clear technical documentation and operating procedures.
- Explain technical concepts to individuals with little or no technical background.
- Train employees with varying levels of technology proficiency.
- Develop trusted working relationships throughout an organization.
- Identify long-term system solutions rather than repeatedly addressing symptoms.
Working Environment
Work is performed primarily in an office environment and requires the routine use of standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, printers, and other office technology. The position requires occasional lifting and carrying materials weighing up to 50 pounds, walking throughout the facility, as needed to perform assigned duties. This position is based on-site at Montana Food Bank Network and is not eligible for remote work. The regular work schedule is Monday through Friday. Montana Food Bank Network supports flexible work schedules; however, employees are expected to maintain consistent work hours and be present during established core business hours. Specific work schedules will be established by the supervisor based on operational needs. Effectively communicate with others verbally and in writing, including by phone, e-mail, or in person.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in information technology, information systems, computer science, cybersecurity, business technology, or a related field; and six or more years of progressive experience in a similar position and/or performing similar tasks.
OR
An equivalent combination of education, technical training, certifications, and directly related professional experience that provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to successfully perform the position.
Pay: $101,000.00 - $118,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person
