Senior Director, Technology Leader

Independence Pet Group•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Independence Pet Holdings is seeking a Senior Director to lead technology strategy and execution across a multi-brand business unit. The role is responsible for consolidated technology roadmaps, project tracking, budgeting, delivery, communication, and change management. Working closely with senior and executive leadership, the Senior Director will align technology execution with business outcomes, prioritize initiatives, measure return on investment, and move environments toward companywide standards. The Senior Director will shape long-term technology direction and ensure that technology investments are scalable, future-ready, cost-effective, and aligned with business growth. The role partners across technology and business functions to turn strategic objectives into actionable plans, oversee a portfolio of projects, monitor performance and financials, and address portfolio risks. It also supports mergers and acquisitions through technology assessment and integration planning. The position calls for an experienced, collaborative leader who can influence stakeholders across business units and geographies, including onshore and offshore teams. The role requires limited travel within the United States to major hubs. Compensation varies by location and the position is eligible for an annual bonus.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in project management, strategy, communication, and operations in technology-driven global organizations.
Proven ability to devise and operationalize technology strategy across multiple operating entities.
Experience driving internal development teams and external partners to deliver business outcomes using agile methodologies.
Strong understanding of technology project lifecycles, portfolio management, and best practices for delivering large-scale technology initiatives.
Strong understanding of financial management, including budgeting, ROI analysis, and investment prioritization for technology projects.
Experience with vendor management in an outsourced or managed-service environment.
Exceptional analytical skills, including the ability to track and report on roadmaps, business cases, and ROI.
Strong leadership and ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams across different geographical locations.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex information effectively to senior executives and stakeholders.
Proven ability to lead and manage onshore and offshore teams, ensuring collaboration and execution across locations.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
Limited U.S. travel to major hubs is required.
Commitment to integrity and accountability; adaptability; collaborative leadership; strong organization, initiative, attention to detail, and time management; and a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a mergers and acquisitions or private equity environment.

Responsibilities

Partner with technology leaders and executives to define and communicate long-term technology roadmaps aligned with company goals and market opportunities.
Plan technology investments to ensure they are scalable, future-proof, and capable of supporting business growth and transformation.
Identify emerging technologies and industry trends, advise leadership on their potential business impact, and shape the technology roadmap.
Develop and maintain comprehensive technology roadmaps aligned with current and future business needs.
Plan and prioritize technology initiatives across the organization, allocating resources in line with strategic goals.
Work with business units to understand their objectives and translate them into actionable technology plans and solutions.
Oversee the technology project portfolio, ensuring alignment with business outcomes and appropriate resource allocation.
Evaluate project performance, track key performance indicators, and adjust plans to support timely delivery and strategic alignment.
Identify portfolio risks and collaborate with project managers and business leaders to mitigate or resolve them.
Foster collaboration between technology and business units, including Product, Operations, Marketing, and Sales.
Act as a liaison between technical and non-technical teams and communicate technology strategy and priorities to senior business leaders.
Drive integration of technology initiatives so systems and processes work cohesively toward business objectives.
Work with Procurement and Finance to develop and manage the technology budget and allocate resources to strategic priorities.
Analyze the financial impact of technology initiatives and recommend investment and cost-optimization strategies to maximize return on investment.
Develop metrics and performance indicators to track technology initiatives and investments.
Provide strategic updates to the CTO, executive leadership, and stakeholders, communicating progress, risks, and outcomes using data and analytics.
Use reporting and metrics to refine strategy and drive continuous improvement.
Support the CTO and leadership team in mergers and acquisitions by evaluating technology synergies, assessing integration opportunities, and providing strategic guidance.
Lead integration planning to align acquired technologies with the broader organizational strategy.
Lead change-management activities and communications to support technology project adoption and effective returns on investment.
Keep stakeholders across the portfolio of companies informed about developments and engaged with the impacts of technology projects.
Lead and manage onshore and offshore teams, including cross-cultural communication and coordination, performance management, resource allocation, and risk management.