SVP Chief Information Officer

Independent Bank • Grand Rapids, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

As the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Independent Bank you will be responsible for developing and executing the Bank’s technology strategy to enable growth, operational resilience, information security, regulatory compliance, and exceptional customer experiences. You will provide leadership for enterprise infrastructure, cloud services, information systems, technology governance, and digital modernization while ensuring investments align with business strategy and regulatory expectations. Finally, you will partner closely with technology and business leaders, including the AI Solutions team, to enable the secure, responsible, and scalable adoption of emerging technologies, supporting our mission of, "Inspiring financial independence today, with tomorrow in mind!" Some weekly travel is expected (on average, 2 - 3 days per week) as part of our commitment to both individual and team development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited university.
• 10+ years of experience managing business operations in an IT capacity.
• Demonstrated understanding of AI technologies and their enterprise applications, with experience establishing governance, infrastructure, and security controls that enable responsible AI adoption.
• Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, contract negotiation and management, and business office operations.
• In-depth knowledge of applicable laws and regulations related to IT systems in a banking environment (e.g., SOX, GLBA, FFIEC guidance, NIST, vendor risk).
• Ability to work collaboratively with all levels of employees, executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Develops clear objectives and priorities, while providing an environment that encourages teamwork, professional development and collaboration.
• Develops and presents ideas, strategies, plans, and solutions to all levels of the organization.
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal with emphasis on presentation skills.
• Achieves results that demonstrate a strong customer focus delivering exceptional value and experiences to the organization’s customers.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in a field of study relevant to this position preferred.
• Financial Institution experience

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year technology strategy aligned with the Bank’s business objectives, emphasizing modernization, scalability, resilience, and innovation.
• Partner with internal technology leaders to help establish governance for emerging technologies, including AI, machine learning, intelligent automation, and advanced analytics, ensuring responsible adoption and measurable business value.
• Lead the Bank’s cloud strategy, including SaaS, private and public cloud services, ensuring secure architecture, cost optimization, resilience, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop enterprise architecture standards that promote interoperability, cybersecurity, scalability, data governance, and long-term sustainability.
• Foster a culture of innovation by encouraging experimentation, continuous improvement, agile delivery, and adoption of modern engineering practices.
• Lead and mentor the IT team of professionals, fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and the Board on technology trends, cybersecurity, AI, digital transformation, and technology-related risks.
• Optimize support services to ensure high level user satisfaction, efficient issue resolution, and sound stewardship of human and financial resources.
• Partner with Risk Management, Audit and other areas to ensure compliance, safety and security of our information and physical infrastructure to support it.
• Partnering with the Business Continuity Manager to facilitate the development and communication of a corporate wide Business Continuity Plan and disaster recovery strategies.
• Manage relationships with vendors, service providers, and external partners critical to banking operations. Help negotiate contracts, ensure SLAs are met, and evaluate vendor performance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package.
• Flexible, paid time off.
• A knowledgeable, goal-driven, and exciting team of colleagues.
• Exposure to different areas of banking and the ability to work with leaders within the industry.
• Community-focused events and volunteer opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive