Executive IT Director

Overview

• Looking to hire an Executive Director of IT to take ownership of and manage the IT department.
• They currently have a Director of IT in place but have not been satisfied with their performance.
• The current Director may remain with the organization in another capacity.
• Jon described this as "the most important role we've hired for."
• They need someone who can provide leadership, organization, and strategic direction while remaining hands-on when necessary.

What They're Looking For

• More of an organizational leader and manager with a strong IT/technical background.
• Someone who has successfully led a team and can manage, delegate, and prioritize projects.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to advocate for additional resources, programs, and technology investments.
• Technically savvy enough to understand the environment and contribute to certain projects when needed.
• Someone comfortable getting their hands dirty rather than operating strictly at an executive level.
• Doesn't necessarily need to come from a VP or CIO-level position.
• Could be someone currently at the Director level or someone working their way toward a VP-level role.
• Open to someone coming from a larger corporation who is looking to step into a different environment.
• Industry experience is not a requirement, although wireless/technology distribution experience would be a plus.

Technical Environment & Priorities

• Currently running NetSuite, which is highly customized.
• Utilize an outside consulting firm for development work, with a few developers internally.
• Significant integration requirements with major OEMs and enterprise customers.
• Heavy use of APIs and EDI integrations.
• Looking to increase automation throughout the business.
• Ongoing integration, automation, and project work involving Samsung, Motorola, Google, and other partners.
• Needs someone who can understand the technical environment, oversee development initiatives, manage outside consultants, and coordinate internal resources.

IT Department Structure

• IT team currently consists of approximately 6–7 people.
• The Executive Director will oversee the existing Director-level resource, who would report into this position.
• HR is currently a department of one supporting all three company locations.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• IT leader with experience managing and developing a team.
• Strong organizational and project management capabilities.
• Technically knowledgeable, but not necessarily someone who needs to be the primary developer or hands-on technical expert.
• Comfortable working in a growing, mid-sized organization where processes and systems are still evolving.
• Able to balance strategic planning with day-to-day execution.
• Experience with ERP systems, integrations, APIs, EDI, automation, and managing outside development resources would be valuable.
• Someone looking for an opportunity to take ownership of an IT function and grow into a larger leadership role.

Potential Backgrounds to Target:

• IT Directors at mid-sized companies.
• Senior IT Managers ready to step into a Director/Executive Director position.
• IT leaders from technology distribution, wireless, telecommunications, logistics, or 3PL organizations.
• Leaders from larger organizations who want a more hands-on role in a smaller, growing environment.