Quiet Pine Den

Chief Information Officer

Grayson Search Partners

Full-time Greater Chattanooga 1 week ago

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Location: Chattanooga, TN (on-site 5 days a week preferred)


Position Overview

A premier, high-growth Private Equity backed organization, is seeking an innovative, strategic, and execution-focused Chief Information Officer (CIO). This executive will oversee the comprehensive enterprise Information Technology ecosystem, with a dual emphasis on scaling robust IT Operations and fortifying a mature Cybersecurity posture.


Operating within a highly centralized Microsoft and Azure ecosystem, the CIO will inherit a distributed environment and manage a blend of internal engineering talent and key third-party Managed Service Providers (MSPs). The ideal candidate will possess strong enterprise project management skills, with a proven track record of delivering complex digital transformations, modern security tool implementations, and scalable cloud infrastructure on time and within budget.


Key Responsibilities


Project Management & Execution Leadership

  • Enterprise PMO Strategy: Establish a disciplined project management culture across the IT organization, defining clear governance, KPIs, and delivery methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Waterfall) to streamline technology initiatives.
  • High-Stakes Implementations: Serve as the executive sponsor and hands-on project leader for critical enterprise-wide rollouts, data migrations, M&A integrations, and infrastructure modernizations.
  • Resource & Budget Tracking: Manage complex project portfolios, aligning capital expenditures (CapEx) and operational budgets with project milestones, resource allocation, and timeline accountability.


Strategic Leadership & Governance

  • Tech Roadmap Execution: Execute the enterprise-wide IT strategy and digital transformation roadmap, prioritizing modern cloud architecture, corporate scalability, and operational efficiency.
  • Vendor & MSP Governance: Oversee strategic third-party partner relationships, establishing strict SLAs, KPIs, and governance frameworks for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) handling tier-1/tier-2 support and infrastructure management.
  • Executive Collaboration: Partner closely with executive leadership to align IT spend, infrastructure investments, and security initiatives with corporate revenue and growth objectives.


IT Operations & Infrastructure (Microsoft & Azure Ecosystem)

  • Azure Cloud Architecture: Lead the optimization, scalability, and cost management of the company’s Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure and modern SaaS application stacks.
  • Modern Workplace Operations: Drive the deployment, adoption, and management of Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and collaboration suites to support a growing, distributed national workforce.
  • Process Automation: Partner with internal delivery teams and external MSPs to optimize internal tech workflows, ensuring IT Service Desk delivery exceeds operational benchmarks for internal staff and remote users.


Cybersecurity Implementation & Risk Management

  • Tool Implementation & Modernization: Project-manage and deploy advanced cybersecurity tooling across the enterprise, including modern Identity & Access Management (IAM) and Zero Trust architectures.
  • SIEM & Threat Monitoring: Lead the implementation and operational oversight of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, ensuring real-time threat hunting, 24/7 logging, and rapid incident response orchestration.
  • Mobile & Endpoint Management: Direct the strategy and deployment of Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions (e.g., Microsoft Intune) to secure endpoint compliance across corporate and BYOD environments.
  • Data Privacy & Compliance: Ensure the absolute protection of proprietary data, customer financial profiles, and corporate assets while navigating complex state, federal, and industry data privacy regulations.


Required Qualifications

  • Executive Experience: 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Information Technology, with at least 3–5 years in a senior executive capacity (CIO, VP of IT, or equivalent) managing both IT operations and advanced security programs.
  • Project Management Mastery: Demonstrated success managing large-scale, complex IT and security projects from conception to completion. Exceptional capability in resource constraint management, risk identification, and change management communication.
  • Technical Acumen (Microsoft/Azure): Deep architectural and operational expertise within the Microsoft ecosystem, specifically with Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and Azure Active Directory/Entra ID.
  • Vendor Governance: Proven track record of successfully vetting, negotiating with, onboarding, and managing third-party MSPs and MSSPs to deliver high-quality IT services.
  • Security Tooling Expertise: Hands-on executive experience overseeing the implementation of comprehensive enterprise security tools, specifically SIEM platforms and MDM solutions.
  • Education & Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Computer Science, IT, or Business). Relevant industry certifications (e.g., PMP, CISSP, CISM, or Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect) are highly advantageous.