Chief Information Officer (CIO SVP/IT)

Designworks Talent•Bellevue, WA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Our client is a rapidly growing, well-funded technology company at the forefront of the artificial intelligence industry. As the U.S. business continues to scale, they are building the enterprise infrastructure, leadership team, and operating systems required to support significant growth. This is a unique opportunity for a builder-oriented CIO to join during a formative stage and design the technology organization and enterprise systems environment from the ground up. The CIO will serve as the senior technology executive responsible for the company's enterprise technology strategy, business systems, IT operations, architecture, governance, and technology spend. Working closely with the CFO and executive leadership team, this leader will establish a modern, scalable technology environment across a growing, multi-entity organization. This is not a traditional CIO role focused on maintaining a mature IT organization. The company is looking for an entrepreneurial technology executive who can build, simplify, automate, and create an enterprise technology function designed for the future. A major focus will be developing an AI-native approach to enterprise technology, including evaluating emerging AI-enabled platforms, implementing automation and agentic workflows, and determining where internally developed solutions can create an advantage over traditional enterprise software. The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable discussing enterprise architecture with technical teams, ERP strategy with Finance, vendor negotiations with Procurement, and technology investment with the executive team.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in enterprise technology, business systems, IT, or a related leadership discipline.
Significant experience leading technology organizations through periods of rapid growth and organizational change.
Demonstrated experience developing enterprise architecture and technology operating models.
Deep expertise with ERP and core enterprise business platforms.
Experience leading at least one full-cycle ERP selection and implementation.
Experience applying AI, automation, or intelligent workflows to enterprise business processes.
Strong understanding of the emerging AI-native enterprise software landscape.
Demonstrated success rationalizing application portfolios and reducing technology costs.
Strong knowledge of IT general controls, SOX readiness, and public-company technology governance.
Experience managing systems integrators and large-scale implementation programs.
Bachelor's degree in technology, business, or a related field required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in AI, cloud infrastructure, data centers, hyperscale technology, or another highly scalable and capital-intensive technology environment is strongly preferred.
Builds rather than maintains. You enjoy creating teams, systems, and processes from the ground up.
Thinks strategically but operates hands-on. You can establish the long-term vision while diving into the details necessary to make it happen.
Is AI-forward. You understand the potential of AI and automation and know how to distinguish meaningful opportunities from hype.
Values simplicity. You favor modern, interoperable technology environments over unnecessary complexity and legacy architecture.
Is commercially minded. You understand technology investment, vendor economics, and the importance of measurable ROI.
Has strong executive presence. You can influence senior leaders and make difficult enterprise-wide technology decisions.
Moves with urgency. You are comfortable operating in an environment where priorities evolve quickly and there is no established playbook.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the enterprise technology strategy and target architecture.
Establish standards across ERP, HRIS, procurement, service management, planning, reporting, and other core business systems.
Create a unified technology roadmap across multiple entities and business functions.
Establish integration, identity, master data, and data-flow standards.
Balance enterprise-wide standardization with the flexibility required by individual business units.
Develop an AI-native strategy for enterprise systems and business processes.
Evaluate AI-native enterprise platforms alongside established technology suites.
Identify opportunities to leverage AI, automation, and agentic workflows across Finance, Procurement, HR, IT, and other functions.
Establish a practical make, buy, or partner framework for emerging technology capabilities.
Build a lean, composable, API-first environment that can evolve as technology changes.
Build the enterprise technology organization, operating model, and capabilities from the ground up.
Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing technology team.
Establish clear accountability, governance, delivery standards, and operating rhythms.
Partner with business leaders to ensure technology enables — rather than slows — growth.
Provide executive leadership with clear visibility into technology priorities, risks, investments, and performance.
Lead ERP strategy, selection, implementation, integration, and stabilization.
Rationalize existing applications and eliminate redundant platforms and vendors.
Establish a comprehensive inventory of applications, contracts, licenses, and technology spend.
Develop and manage the enterprise software vendor strategy.
Lead major systems integrators and implementation partners to successful outcomes.
Own enterprise IT service delivery, end-user technology, and service management.
Establish appropriate IT general controls, access management, and segregation-of-duties processes.
Partner with Security on enterprise systems security, data protection, and third-party risk.
Establish the governance and control environment required to support future public-company standards.
Ensure appropriate separation of systems, data, and access across the U.S. organization and related entities.
Establish technology budgeting, cost transparency, and financial accountability.
Identify opportunities to reduce redundant technology and ongoing operating costs.
Lead software negotiations, renewals, and vendor management in partnership with Procurement.
Treat technology as a strategic investment with measurable business outcomes.