Virtual Chief Information Officer
The Virtual Chief Information Officer is the technical strategist who fills the technology leadership gap in a client's environment. The vCIO owns the client's technology strategy and roadmap, sets direction, and translates technical reality into business decisions leadership will act on. Where a client has no technology leadership of its own, the vCIO is that leadership. Where a client has some, the vCIO supplements it.
-
Own the technology roadmap. Accountable for the client's technology plan and the strategic direction it represents.
-
Set direction. Work with the client to decide where the environment should go and in what order, aligned to their business goals.
-
Translate risk. Turn technical findings into business terms: what is threatened, what it costs, and why it matters now.
-
Lead executive engagement. Serve as the client's trusted technology advisor at the leadership level and run the strategic conversation.
-
Guide investment and budget planning. Provide leadership during IT budget and technology investment planning.
-
Shape discovery into strategy. Incorporate the technical discovery and assessment produced by the delivery team into the roadmap as priorities and direction.
-
Surface strategic opportunity. Identify, through the roadmap, where technology can reduce cost, reduce risk, and advance the client's business, and shape those opportunities for the account team to act on.
-
Keep the picture current. Maintain an understanding of the client's environment and business so the roadmap stays relevant as both change.
Communication and presence
-
Conveys complex technical matters in clear business terms, in writing and in person.
-
Articulate, composed, and credible in front of an executive team.
-
Holds a point of view; can tell a client a direction is wrong and be believed.
Business acumen
-
Connects technology decisions to business outcomes, risk, and cost.
-
Leads budget and investment conversations at the leadership level.
Technical literacy
-
Technically grounded enough to know what to ask, judge what comes back, and earn the trust of engineers.
-
Not required to be the deepest specialist; depth is supplied by the technical delivery function.
Leadership and collaboration
-
Builds trusted-advisor relationships with client leadership.
-
Works collaboratively across the delivery team and promotes a sense of ownership over client outcomes.
Organization
-
Prioritizes effectively, manages time well, and drives roadmaps to completion.
Required
-
Bachelor's degree in business, information systems, or a related field.
-
10+ years in IT or cybersecurity, including meaningful time in a leadership, management, or strategic advisory capacity.
-
A technical foundation combined with business or management experience; comfortable advising executive stakeholders.
-
Demonstrated experience building technology roadmaps and leading IT strategy and budget planning.
-
Working knowledge of the compliance landscape (HIPAA, PCI DSS, CJIS, CMMC, GLBA) and its business impact.
Preferred
-
Experience in an MSP or MSSP environment.
-
Familiarity with security platforms and managed services sufficient to advise on them, rather than to operate them.
-
Industry-specific experience relevant to assigned clients.
Information systems
Proficient with Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and SharePoint. Familiarity with RMM software, EDR/MDR solutions, professional services automation, and IT documentation platforms is a plus.
Position details
-
Supervisory responsibility. This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.
-
Work environment. Work is generally performed in a climate-controlled office or remote setting.
-
Travel. Minimal travel; no overnight travel should be expected.
-
Physical demands. Able to lift 25 pounds. The role involves extended periods of sitting and may occasionally require bending, lifting, and driving.
-
Hours. Full-time, five eight-hour days (40 hours) per week, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, with a one-hour lunch.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
