Vice President of IT

Rain For Rent•Bakersfield, CA

1d•$200,000 - $260,000•Onsite

About The Position

The VP of Information Technology is accountable for partnering with the Company’s executives and business leaders to guide strategy and execution at Rain for Rent. Through a balance of strategic and tactical hands-on leadership, the VP of IT is responsible for directing the information and data integrity of Rain for Rent for all Information Technology functions of the organization. This includes all data centers, networks, technical service centers, artificial intelligence applications, security functions, production scheduling functions, help desks, communication networks (voice and data), application development including mobile applications, systems operations and maintenance, and other business-facing technology. At Rain for Rent, we move water—every day. As the leading provider of temporary liquid handling solutions, we’re recognized for our systems engineering expertise, cost-effective problem solving, and the high value we deliver to organizations facing critical liquid management challenges. Our experienced teams, supported by skilled engineers, are continually redefining what customers expect from a liquid handling provider. We design innovative equipment and harness cutting-edge technology to meet the demands of the toughest environments. From water handling and irrigation to temporary liquid storage, our solutions consistently exceed customer expectations for quality and service. We are committed to completing every project safely, efficiently, on time—and done right the first time. Rain for Rent employees take great pride in being part of a family-owned company with a rich and enduring legacy. For over 91 years, we’ve delivered consistent, high-quality products and services to our customers. With more than 70 locations across the U.S., Canada, and the UK, Rain for Rent remains committed to excellence. Honesty and integrity are at the core of everything we do. Our dedicated team strives to exceed expectations through exceptional service and unwavering quality. The role leads an IT organization of approximately 32 team members, including at least three Director-level direct reports (Infrastructure, Project Management Office, and Enterprise Applications), and holds accountability for an annual technology/platform spend of approximately $12.1M across roughly 330 vendor contracts. A central mandate of this role is to build and mature a distinct Information Systems (IS) capability – focused on business intelligence, automation, data quality, and customer experience – that complements the organization's existing strength in infrastructure and operational IT. The VP of IT is responsible for maintaining the integrity of all electronic records of Rain for Rent and enabling a high-performing IT organization that drives technology excellence, business enablement, innovation, and operational reliability through strong leadership and accountability. This role drives IT performance through strategic leadership, technology innovation, budget alignment, and disciplined execution of initiatives that support business growth and shareholder value. This critical leadership position drives change through relationship building, technical innovation, agile leadership, stakeholder alignment, and continuous improvement, ensuring successful adoption of strategic initiatives and sustainable business results.

Requirements

BS in Information Technology, Business Systems, or related fields.
Must have demonstrated hands-on and strategic experience in leading a customer service focused Informational Technology function in a large to mid-size corporation for a minimum of ten (10) years.
Demonstrated experience owning a technology budget of $10M+ and managing an IT organization of 25+ employees and contractors.
Must have proven leadership, excellent communication, and interpersonal skills in successfully implementing large-scale IT projects including ERP system expansion or upgrades.
Must have had budgetary responsibilities to help set the direction for an organization with regard to processes and supportive infrastructure, including zero-based or value-justified budgeting approaches.
Must have experience operating in a cloud based and mobile environment.
Must have experience in developing solutions and roadmap for Applications and/or IT projects that are deficient and not aligned with the business.
Must have held positions that involved the use of new technologies that were aligned with the growth and needs of an expanding organization including: artificial intelligence, cloud-based and digital solutions, data integrity and IT security.
Model accountability, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and continuous learning while fostering a culture of personal growth, resilience, and high performance.

Nice To Haves

Advanced or MBA degree desired.
Appropriate software and hardware certifications with regard to more advanced applications.
Prior rental industry and rental software experience is useful but not required.
Experience building or scaling a distinct Information Systems (IS), business intelligence, or data/analytics function within a broader IT organization strongly preferred.
Experience negotiating and managing performance-based vendor contracts and SLAs across a large, multi-vendor technology portfolio (100+ vendors) is a plus.
Customer web portals and/or emerging technologies (i.e., iPhone / iPad or Android apps) experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide overall management and definition of all technology and communication activities within US and international locations.
Provide leadership role in the day-to-day operations of the Information Technology functions. Serve as “go to” technology leader working closely with Senior Executives and business leaders throughout the organization.
Manage vendor performance and relationship health across a large portfolio (100+ vendors), including negotiating performance-based contracts, SLAs, and scorecards.
Implement IT Asset Management (ITAM) tooling and reporting to give real-time visibility into licenses, renewals, usage, and cost drivers.
Provide direction as to the organization's growth through internal growth and external acquisition. Provide reliable technical assessments of potential acquisitions.
Lead and manage the integration of technology-based activities (solutions) into the corporate strategy.
Monitor new technologies, assess their potential to utilize including business case justifications and champion recommendations in partnership with the CFO.
Provide project/portfolio leadership in the development and selection of projects to ensure that they are aligned and add value to the company.
Promote the company's reputation and integrity to capture and maintain valuable data systems.
Other duties as assigned in support of the operation.
Partner with the CFO and business leaders to lead the Organization's digital transformation.
Own and are accountable for the IT/IS annual technology budget (approximately $12.1M), driving a shift toward zero-based, value-justified budgeting rather than legacy rollovers.
Build and lead a distinct Information Systems (IS) function – within or alongside traditional IT operations – focused on business intelligence, automation, data quality, and customer experience.
Provide input on the strategic direction of the IT organization, assuring it to meets the future needs of the company.
Leverage technology, strategic vendor partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration to enhance organizational effectiveness, drive innovation, and create sustainable competitive advantage.
Lead technology strategy by delivering a business-aligned roadmap, strengthening cybersecurity and operational resilience, and leveraging emerging technologies to drive innovation, competitive advantage, and sustainable growth.Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to define goals, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.