The Vice President, Information Technology contributes to the success of Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) by directing, coordinating and evaluating all aspects of information technology for the Society, including strategic IT planning and leadership, enhancing technological capability, and assuring effective IT support for the organization. Develops and executes an IT Strategy to support the overall CZS Strategic Plan outcomes, daily operations, and organizational growth. Recommends and deploys budget and resources to maximize IT value and impact, with attention to streamlining and standardizing business processes, addressing organizational needs, and enabling efficient data-gathering and reporting for business operations, management, planning, and decision-making. Provides technology expertise and support at the most senior level to support business goals and objectives.

Primary Responsibilities:

• The VP, Information Technology will be responsible for comprehensive information technology planning, direction, management and administration of IT function; collaborating with management staff in setting short and long-term technology goals, objectives, priorities and requirements; and overseeing systems design, programming, installation, project management, and IT operations.


• Represents CZS on all senior leadership team functions related to IT serving as primary point person and resource with respect to Society information technology needs and issues including working with internal clients/sr. managers to determine the IT plan for current and future technology.


• Oversees and drives implementation of long-range technology plans, systems development initiatives, and sourcing strategies. Evaluates emerging technology platforms and trends and advocate for needed changes to assure the Society remains current and competitive and achieves maximum efficiency in operations and communications throughout the organization through technology.


• Establishes and maintains effective IT project governance processes (IT direction, prioritization and resource management) while providing strong leadership as Chair of the CZS IT Steering Committee and key member of the CZS Information Security Steering Committee. This includes formalizing and maintaining IT project request and project management processes for desired outcomes and ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place to assure the security of privileged/confidential data/information. Serves as the CZS Security Official under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA").


• Provides technical expertise in developing and maintaining a mobile and web digital strategy in conjunction with other Society departments and groups. Maintain IT infrastructure within the recommended usage / replacement cycle. Establish and maintain an efficient Help Desk function with a comprehensive tracking system and evaluation of effectiveness and time efficiencies on standard requests.


• Recommend long-range technology plans and systems development strategies. Prepare RFPs and conduct cost/benefit analysis for new systems and other major IT purchases and make recommendations. Shepherd major projects through implementation and integrate systems to support mission-critical Society business functions and technology.


• Responsible for direction and management of Information Services Department staff, budget, and operations assuring appropriate IT structure and staffing to meet organizational IT needs. Hire, supervise, develop, and evaluate well qualified, IT staff and recommends appropriate employment actions. Develop short-term and long-term objectives and support work plans for department activities. Keep manager informed through regular verbal and written progress reports and schedules of activities, including budgetary implications. Participate in organization-wide committees and working groups as assigned. Responsible for developing, managing and controlling IT Department budget and provide monthly reforecasts as requested.


• Recommend, implement, and enforce information technology standards to ensure adherence, consistency and proper operation of Society systems. Establish and maintain efficient service level agreements (SLA). Develop and recommend information technology procedures. Ensure adequate documentation for all systems.


• Keep current on new developments and products in information technology, industry standards, and pertinent regulations in the information technology industry, and assures compliance. Plans and budgets for future upgrades and organizational changes.


• Ensure organizational information security, including but not limited to authorized security levels, consistent with established Society policies and procedures. Develop and maintain technology disaster recovery plan for Information Services Department. Assist in formulation and review of technology-related Society policies and recommends needed changes.


• Other related duties to assure successful achievement of CZS goals and objectives.

Position Requirements and Specifications
The requirements for this position include the following:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or other directly related field or equivalent combination of training and/or experience required.


• Minimum 10 years directly relevant information technology management experi-ence, with 5 years at a comparable management level required, including IT staff supervision.


• Proven ability to translate business strategies and goals into information technology initiatives. Ability to identify scope and approach to initiatives and formulate short and long-term IT plans and budgets.


• Experience maintaining Microsoft solutions in a similar-sized firm including: Windows 7, Office, Windows server, Exchange, SQL server. Demonstrated individual proficiency in these applications required. Experience implementing any combination of these applications required.


• Must possess a successful track record of accomplishments, effectively leading major projects from start to finish, including planning, systems de-sign, project management, implementation, change management, and communications, and appropriate follow-up.-


• General knowledge of application development languages and tools. General knowledge of data warehousing and analytics.


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills required. Must be able to clearly communicate complexities of computer hardware and software to end users.


• Strong planning, problem-solving, analytical, organizational, and prioritizing abilities required. Must possess good figure aptitude and/or comparable budgeting experience.


• Ability to work independently and under pressure, meet deadlines, and make decisions using good business judgment required.


• Strategic, big-picture orientation, as well as tactical orientation required. Must be self-motivated, results-oriented, and confident.


• Must be able to work effectively as part of a team including Society personnel, outside consultants, and others.


• Must be able to maintain- and ensure the strict confidentiality of privileged data/information.


• Experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.


• Valid driver's license required. Illinois residents must possess a valid Illinois license within 90 days of hire. Valid out-of-state license required for out-of-state residents.

The desirable/preferred requirements for this position include the following:

• Masters degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Information Technology or a comparable field or equivalent combination of training/experience preferred.


• Experience implementing ITIL best-practice organizational framework in a similar-sized (or larger) firm, managing an IT Department, and/or serving as Chair of an IT Steering Committee desirable.


• Certified in Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) desirable.


• Experience implementing and maintaining Microsoft Sharepoint desirable.


• Experience with PCI-DSS Compliance desirable.


• Experience with point-of-sale systems a plus.


• Experience implementing and maintaining strong IT governance processes preferred.


• Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.

Additional Information
The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative Action Employer - Minorities / Women / Veterans / Disabled.