Vice President of IT

About us:

Empower Brands was founded in 2022 as a product of the integration of Lynx Franchising and Outdoor Living Brands. Empower encompasses ten industry-leading brands across commercial and residential services: JAN-PRO, FRSTeam, Archadeck Outdoor Living, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP), Conserva Irrigation, Koala Insulation, Wallaby Windows, Superior Fence and Rail, Bumble Roofing and Canopy Lawn Care. Empower is dedicated to providing its customers with the highest quality products and services in the commercial and home services industry while simultaneously delivering its franchise owners committed personal support, tools and empowerment to pursue their own success. Empower Brands is a portfolio company of MidOcean Partners, a leading private equity firm with an excellent track record investing in successful, growth-focused franchise businesses. For more about Empower Brands, visit the company’s website at EmpowerFranchising.com.

 

Position Overview:

This is a key leadership role that will require both technical expertise and the ability to collaborate with senior executives across all departments. The Vice President of IT will play a critical role in driving Empower’s technology strategy forward, ensuring efficient IT operations, and leading cross-functional teams in various high-impact areas. This leadership role requires a seasoned IT professional with expertise in helpdesk management, overseeing complex IT projects, guiding product development and ownership, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and leveraging AI and data warehouses to improve organizational efficiency and decision-making.

 

Key Areas of Responsibility:

 

Strategic Technology Planning:

• Drive the strategic direction of IT, aligning technology initiatives with the organization’s overall business goals.
• Develop and execute the IT strategy aligned with the organization’s business objectives and growth vision.
• Lead the IT department, including recruitment, mentoring, and developing a high-performing team.
• Collaborate with other executives to ensure IT supports business needs and drives innovation.
• Continuously assess and integrate new technologies to improve operational efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

 

Team Leadership & Development:

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing IT team, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate team performance and provide coaching and development opportunities to grow talent within the department.
• Oversight of Cybersecurity, Help Desk Operations, and Data Warehousing teams to ensure IT teams are delivering technology related needs to both internal and external customers

 

Project Management & IT Initiatives:

• Oversee and manage IT projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and meet business objectives.
• Work closely with other departments to understand their technological needs and develop project plans accordingly.
• Establish clear project timelines, KPIs, and risk management strategies to mitigate potential issues. Function as the product owner for key IT-driven products and services, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define product vision, features, and requirements.
• Collaborate with development teams to ensure product delivery aligns with customer and business needs.
• Lead the development and implementation of a robust cybersecurity strategy to protect the company’s digital assets and data.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
• Stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and work to safeguard the organization’s infrastructure and data

 

Product Ownership & Development:

Cybersecurity:

AI & Data Warehousing:

• Lead initiatives to implement AI solutions and machine learning algorithms that can enhance business operations and decision-making.
• Oversee the management and optimization of data warehouses, ensuring the organization can leverage data for insightful analytics.
• Collaborate with data teams to ensure data governance, quality, and accessibility standards are upheld.

 

IT Operations & Infrastructure:

• Oversee the architecture, design, and implementation of IT systems, networks, and platforms.
• Ensure the smooth operation of all IT infrastructure, ensuring maximum uptime, scalability, and reliability.
• Manage IT budgets, resources, and priorities to optimize costs and efficiencies.
• Negotiate contracts and man