Director, Business Operations and CIO Chief of Staff

Job Summary

The Director of Business Operations and CIO Chief of Staff serve as a strategic advisor and operational leader for the CIO organization. This role ensures alignment between IT strategy and business objectives, drives operational excellence, and fosters a high performing, engaged IT workforce. The position oversees critical functions such as IT vendor management, financial stewardship, communication strategy, IT program & portfolio management, and talent development, while acting as a trusted partner and a multiplier to the CIO in managing priorities and organizational effectiveness.

Core Competencies

•    Leadership & Influence: Ability to inspire, guide, and align teams toward shared goals.
•    Operational Excellence: Expertise in process optimization and governance.
•    People Development: Commitment to building talent and fostering growth.
•    Strategic Thinking: Connects enterprise strategy to technology and operational levers.
•    Execution Excellence: Builds processes and governance; drives accountability and outcomes.
•    Financial Acumen: Budgeting, cost optimization, investment analysis, and value tracking.
•    Change Leadership: Influences without authority; leads through transformation and ambiguity.
•    Communication: Executive storytelling; crisp synthesis; board-ready materials.
•    Decision Quality: Data-driven prioritization; structured problem-solving; risk-aware judgment.
•    Relationship Building: Trusted advisor; collaborative; integrates diverse perspectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Alignment

•    Act as a trusted advisor to the CIO, managing priorities, follow-ups, and strategic initiatives.
•    Serve as a liaison between the CIO and internal/external stakeholders to ensure seamless communication and execution.
•    Act as an extension of the CIO in select forums and escalate decisions to unblock progress.
•    Drive IT strategic planning cycles; translate CIO priorities into measurable KPIs/OKRs and operational plans.
•    Manage CIO’s operating rhythm (staff meetings, QBRs, performance reviews, governance forums).
•    Prepare briefings, executive materials and narratives, and decision memos; ensure the CIO is equipped with data-driven insights. 
•    Operationalize the IT strategy, enable its successful implementation and adoption across the organization. 

Program & Portfolio Management

•    Strategic Alignment - Ensure IT programs and projects align with organizational goals and priorities. Drive portfolio decisions based on business value and strategic impact.
•    Governance & Oversight - Establish and enforce standards, frameworks, and processes for program delivery. Monitor compliance and provide executive-level reporting.
•    Resource Optimization - Manage allocation of financial, human, and technical resources across initiatives. Optimize resource utilization to maximize ROI.
•    Risk Management - Identify and assess risks across programs and portfolios. Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
•    Performance & Benefits Realization - Track KPIs, milestones, and deliverables to ensure successful outcomes. Measure and report on benefits realization to validate business value.

Key Responsibilites Continued

IT Financial Management

•    Develop and manage IT budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting.
•    Monitor IT spend, identify cost-saving opportunities, and ensure alignment with business priorities.
•    Partner with Finance to manage forecasts and actuals to ensure quarterly annual financial targets are met.
•    Prepare and present financial dashboards and reports for CIO and leadership. 
•    Act as a trusted advisor on financial strategy, trends, and equip the CIO with financial insights to make informed strategic decisions.

Vendor Management

•    Establish and maintain strategic relationships with IT vendors and service providers.
•    Negotiate contracts, SLAs, and pricing to maximize value and minimize risk.
•    Monitor vendor performance and compliance with contractual obligations.
•    Manage delivery partner governance, including Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), performance surveys, and continuous process improvement initiatives to enhance service quality and alignment with business objectives.