VP, Information Technology & CIO

Unitil Service Corporation•Hampton, NH

1d•$205,804 - $231,530•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President (VP) of Information Technology (IT) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) will direct technology strategy and operations for Unitil, a 600-employee utility serving approximately 220,000 customers across Northern New England. This role oversees the digital infrastructure for electric, gas, and water distribution services. Key responsibilities include safeguarding Operating Technology (OT), integrating OT with IT frameworks, and leading the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Work and Asset Management (WAM) systems. The position will also develop the IT/OT infrastructure for a new water distribution business unit, establish a data analytics foundation, and manage an AI adoption roadmap with a focus on safety, data privacy, and ethical compliance. The CIO must be an innovative and collaborative leader capable of partnering with business executives and communicating technology programs to external stakeholders. This role ensures the resiliency and compliance of IT/OT environments with NIST, NERC CIP, Sarbanes Oxley, and other relevant standards and regulations. The CIO is responsible for the strategic implementation of digital technologies, including data analytics, automation, AI, and machine learning, demonstrating the cost-efficiency and prudence of investments to senior management and regulators.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent 4-year technical degree.
Advanced degree required, i.e. an MBA, or equivalent supplemental training.
15+ years’ experience in a utility environment including technical management experience and progressively higher levels of responsibility.
Demonstrated experience with IT systems and IT management at a senior level with a sequence of increasing responsibilities in diverse business settings.
Experience in strategic planning, execution, and policy development.
Extensive knowledge of data processing, hardware platforms, enterprise software applications, and outsourced systems.
Proven experience testifying, preparing testimony, or directly interacting with state utility commissions or federal regulators (FERC/NERC) to support capital expenditure approvals.
Excellent understanding of project management principles and a track record of successful large project implementations.
Experience developing and deploying enterprise data architectures, business intelligence (BI) strategies, or AI/ML initiatives.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, development, and monitoring of the IT/OT roadmap to support the Company’s long-term strategic plan.
Drive the strategic alignment and secure integration of Operational Technology and Information Technology networks across gas, electric, and water segments.
Monitor industry drivers and emerging needs/interests among key stakeholders to identify future trends and opportunities informing IT strategies.
Ensure strategies are well-communicated and translated into actionable and quantitative plans for work units/functions.
Define, develop, and execute the Company’s comprehensive AI and data analytics strategy spanning both corporate (IT) and operational (OT) environments.
Align IT risk management with enterprise-wide risk management.
Oversee implementation of the IT Governance Framework.
Create and implement a strategy for the deployment of information security technologies, processes and compliance.
Establish data governance frameworks to break down data silos across gas, electric, and water segments, creating a single source of truth for enterprise reporting.
Collaborate with Customer Service leaders to modernize billing systems, enhance the Customer Information System (CIS), implement customer-centric website applications, and deploy AI tools that improve customer satisfaction.
Work with Finance leadership to ensure the ERP system optimizes capital planning, financial reporting, budgeting, and asset depreciation tracking for regulatory filings.
Partner with Electric, Gas, and Water Operations leaders to align IT/OT delivery with physical field operations, engineering needs, and supply reliability.
Define and communicate corporate procedures, policies, and standards for the organization for acquiring, implementing, securing and operating new network systems, equipment, software, and other technologies.
Approve, prioritize, and control projects and the project portfolio as they relate to the selection, acquisition, development, implementation, and installation of systems.
Assess and communicate risks associated with technology-related purchases.
Review hardware and software acquisition and maintenance contracts and pursue master agreements to capitalize on economies of scale.
Oversee general operations of the department and provide leadership and direction for Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Telecommunications, and Operations Technology functions.
Oversee performance objectives and overall IT budget using metrics based on overall business objectives.
Provide executive oversight for all daily IT operations, ensuring 99.9% uptime for core business systems, networks, and cloud infrastructure.
Direct the corporate helpdesk, desktop support, and technical operations teams to provide exceptional, responsive service to employees across all offices and field centers.
Oversee technical staff in accordance with corporate budgetary objectives and personnel policies.
Ensure processes, procedures, equipment and software operation adheres to applicable laws, regulations, and standards.
Oversee the implementation of the IT security strategy in coordination with the Chief Information Security Officer.
Serve within the Incident Command Structure for IT / Cybersecurity incidents.