VP, Technology (Remote)

General Summary
The VP, Technology is responsible for making executive technology decisions on behalf of the company, including managing the technology budget and aligning technological investments with the company vision and needs. This role will oversee the enterprise architecture foundation and architecture review in a matrixed reporting environment. In addition, this role will lead IT infrastructure and operations, platform and QA reliability engineering, networking, and database administration focused on continuously improving and evolving capabilities in line with best practices and the company’s progression. The VP, Technology needs to be a strategic thinker, effective communicator, influencer in areas without direct reporting relationship and expert in technological development. 

Reports to:  SVP, CIO

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
•    Align the company’s technology resources with the organization’s short- and long-term goals 
•    Ensure technological resources meet the company's short and long-term needs. 
•    Serve on the senior IT Leadership team to align technology goals to other departmental and organizational objectives 
•    Create and implement technology strategies by partnering with peers and CIO. 
•    Lead Architecture Review Board and outline goals for research and development. 
•    Create roadmap and timelines for all technological technical debt. 
•    Make recommendations to the CIO to help make informed executive decisions on behalf of the company's technological requirements. 
•    Act as a mentor to architecture team members. 
•    Maintain a consumer-focused outlook and aid in the delivery of IT projects to market. 
•    Manage technology budgets and time frames. 
•    Stay on top of technology trends and developments - bring trends and recommendations forward to IT leadership and cross functional business leaders
•    Ensure all technology practices adhere to regulatory standards. 
•    Identify what technologies can be used to improve the company’s products and services 
•    Lead teams supporting company’s network, telephony, server, database, storage, backup, and desktop assets, performance and preventive maintenance in all on-premise and hosted environments, and other functions. 
•    Operationally accountable for ensuring the availability, integrity, and security for all IT systems and infrastructure. 
•    Oversees service level agreements on IT systems and infrastructure, including agreeing these with the relevant stakeholders.
•    Manage service transition, identifying and implementing continuous improvements by evolving services.
•    Cultivate and establish strategic and practical direction for the department from a process and tooling perspective related to demand management, solution delivery and deployment, and operational support. 
•    Craft and implement, in collaboration with leaders and stakeholders, “Build” and “Run” solution centers and their components, the outlined standards and tooled processes will ensure reliable, repeatable, secure, and effective solution delivery and support. 
•    Present reports on the company’s technology status, goals and progress to the CIO 
•    Create and collaborate on high-level KPIs for IT department 
•    Directly leads and influences the work of others to ensure on-time and on-budget completion of IT/business initiatives.
•    Prioritizes demands, flexes resources, and effectively navigates cross-team dependencies. 
•    Hires, trains, develops, and retains high performing teams. 
•    Cultivates effective vendor relationships.

Required Skills and Competencies

Required Skills:
•    Strong service and results delivery skills – action oriented and customer service focused
•    Knowledge of and experience in the planning and delivery of operational and technical architectures and designs in the domains specified
•    Knowledge of latest technological advances that could benefit company 
•    Knowledge of all functions and roles withing IT department 
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
•    Organization and time-management skills 
•    Multitasking skills 
•    Ability to manage large budgets effectively. 
•    Knowledge of best information security practices 
•    Excellent leadership skills 
•    Ability to influence cross function department leaders and cross functional business leaders
•    Ability to meet deadlines under pressure 

Competencies
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP – Deliberately communicates overall business strategy and connects it to the work of the functional team. Anticipates future trends and implications accurately. Leverages market knowledge to anticipate, capitalize on and drive change. Articulate credible pictures and visions of possibilities that will create sustainable value. Creates competitive and breakthrough strategies that show a clear connection between vision and action. Is willing to champion an idea or position despite dissent or political risk. Tackles tough issues, sharing sensitive messages or unpopular points of view effectively. Influences inside and outside of functional area for positive impact on business performance. Owns the development of successors and individuals who have potential for further development. 

LEADING & MOTIVATING – Serves as a champion and driver of DSW Values and culture. Attracts and selects the best talent to meet current and future business needs. Motivates and inspires others through rewards, authentic connections and meaningful recognition. Fosters diversity and an inclusive workplace where individual differences are valued and leveraged. Seeks new ways to evolve and challenge self. Develops team through delegation, challenges outside of the comfort zone and effective coaching and feedback. Shares ideas in a compelling manor that gains commitment. Champions change for positive impact on business results.

MANAGING FOR RESULTS – Establishes models and enforces accountability. Gets the most out of available resources and secures rare resources others cannot get. Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders. Persists in accomplishing objectives. Pushes the team to elevate goals as results are achieved. Transforms functional area to achieve maximum results. Seizes opportunities and connects business insights to increase profit and revenue. 

Qualifications

Experience:
•    10 - 15 years working in a technological role. 
•    10 years of managerial experience. 
•    Advanced technological skillset and a demonstrated history with technology. 
•    Exceptional team management skills. 
•    Excellent verbal and written communication. 
•    Ability to delegate efficiently. 
•    Extensive industry knowledge with an eye towards the future

Preferred Qualifications:
•    Master's degree in computer science or related field preferred. 
•    MBA preferred. 

Education:
•    Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field.