Chief Information Officer

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Location:

Chattanooga, TN (on-site 5 days a week preferred)

Position Overview

A premier, high-growth Private Equity backed organization, is seeking an innovative, strategic, and execution-focused Chief Information Officer (CIO). This executive will oversee the comprehensive enterprise Information Technology ecosystem, with a dual emphasis on scaling robust IT Operations and fortifying a mature Cybersecurity posture.

Operating within a highly centralized Microsoft and Azure ecosystem, the CIO will inherit a distributed environment and manage a blend of internal engineering talent and key third-party Managed Service Providers (MSPs). The ideal candidate will possess strong enterprise project management skills, with a proven track record of delivering complex digital transformations, modern security tool implementations, and scalable cloud infrastructure on time and within budget.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management \& Execution Leadership

• Enterprise PMO Strategy:

Establish a disciplined project management culture across the IT organization, defining clear governance, KPIs, and delivery methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Waterfall) to streamline technology initiatives.

• High-Stakes Implementations:

Serve as the executive sponsor and hands-on project leader for critical enterprise-wide rollouts, data migrations, M\&A integrations, and infrastructure modernizations.

• Resource \& Budget Tracking:

Manage complex project portfolios, aligning capital expenditures (CapEx) and operational budgets with project milestones, resource allocation, and timeline accountability.

Strategic Leadership \& Governance

• Tech Roadmap Execution:

Execute the enterprise-wide IT strategy and digital transformation roadmap, prioritizing modern cloud architecture, corporate scalability, and operational efficiency.

• Vendor \& MSP Governance:

Oversee strategic third-party partner relationships, establishing strict SLAs, KPIs, and governance frameworks for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) handling tier-1/tier-2 support and infrastructure management.

• Executive Collaboration:

Partner closely with executive leadership to align IT spend, infrastructure investments, and security initiatives with corporate revenue and growth objectives.

IT Operations \& Infrastructure (Microsoft \& Azure Ecosystem)

• Azure Cloud Architecture:

Lead the optimization, scalability, and cost management of the company’s Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure and modern SaaS application stacks.

• Modern Workplace Operations:

Drive the deployment, adoption, and management of Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and collaboration suites to support a growing, distributed national workforce.

• Process Automation:

Partner with internal delivery teams and external MSPs to optimize internal tech workflows, ensuring IT Service Desk delivery exceeds operational benchmarks for internal staff and remote users.

Cybersecurity Implementation \& Risk Management

• Tool Implementation \& Modernization:

Project-manage and deploy advanced cybersecurity tooling across the enterprise, including modern Identity \& Access Management (IAM) and Zero Trust architectures.

• SIEM \& Threat Monitoring:

Lead the implementation and operational oversight of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, ensuring real-time threat hunting, 24/7 logging, and rapid incident response orchestration.

• Mobile \& Endpoint Management:

Direct the strategy and deployment of Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions (e.g., Microsoft Intune) to secure endpoint compliance across corporate and BYOD environments.

• Data Privacy \& Compliance:

Ensure the absolute protection of proprietary data, customer financial profiles, and corporate assets while navigating complex state, federal, and industry data privacy regulations.

Required Qualifications

• Executive Experience:

10\+ years of progressive leadership experience in Information Technology, with at least 3–5 years in a senior executive capacity (CIO, VP of IT, or equivalent) managing both IT operations and advanced security programs.

• Project Management Mastery:

Demonstrated success managing large-scale, complex IT and security projects from conception to completion. Exceptional capability in resource constraint management, risk identification, and change management communication.

• Technical Acumen (Microsoft/Azure):

Deep architectural and operational expertise within the Microsoft ecosystem, specifically with Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and Azure Active Directory/Entra ID.

• Vendor Governance:

Proven track record of successfully vetting, negotiating with, onboarding, and managing third-party MSPs and MSSPs to deliver high-quality IT services.

• Security Tooling Expertise:

Hands-on executive experience overseeing the implementation of comprehensive enterprise security tools, specifically SIEM platforms and MDM solutions.

• Education \& Certifications:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Computer Science, IT, or Business). Relevant industry certifications (e.g., PMP, CISSP, CISM, or Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect) are highly advantageous.