Virtual Chief Information Officer
Purpose
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.
Responsibilities
- 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.
Competencies and qualities
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.
Education, experience, and certifications
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.