Chief Development Officer

Windmill Microlending, National Director & Chief Information Officer (CIO)

This role offers the chance to be part of the leadership team of a unique, rapidly growing, charitable bank whose mission to integrate skilled immigrants into the Canadian economy has never been more urgent.

The new position of National Director & CIO was created to help Windmill meet its impressive growth objectives by leveraging technology and reducing risk.

Candidates from the private sector have a chance to do challenging work in a fast-paced, professional environment while making a powerful and much-needed contribution to Canada’s social and economic fabric.

The Role

Reporting to the CEO, the National Director & CIO will be responsible for leading a digital transformation journey that is a major pillar of Windmill’s new strategic plan.

This leader will drive the implementation and integration of business intelligence tools to improve efficiency, client service and staff satisfaction, while protecting the organization from technology and cyber risk.

Leading by example, they will promote a culture that embraces digital literacy and continuous learning.

This leadership team member will take ownership of Windmill’s portfolio of business tools and technological processes. Their primary focus will be on optimizing digital processes, enhancing internal system connectivity, identifying and onboarding new tools to support organizational needs, and anticipating and defending against cyber threats.

Working closely with the other Windmill teams and supporting their needs, National Director & CIO will help improve efficiencies, manage risk, and develop solutions that actively support Windmill’s business growth objectives.

Qualifications and Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Comprehensive expertise in cybersecurity, technical architecture, and vendor management.
• Strong understanding of Generative AI, and other emerging technologies.
• Exceptional strategic planning and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with a track record of building strong relationships across all levels of an organization.
• Demonstrated ability to drive change and lead teams in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Extensive knowledge of systems integration, business intelligence tools, and digital optimization techniques.
• Strong understanding of risk management principles, with experience in implementing effective risk mitigation strategies and protocols.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading technology initiatives in financial services is highly desirable.
• Strong leadership abilities, with a track record of building and motivating high-performing teams to achieve strategic objectives.
• Excellent project management and change management skills.
• Proficiency in French is an asset.

Experience

Given Windmill is a charitable institution that provides loans, the National Director & CIO will require an understanding of technology as it relates to financial services organizations and, ideally, to lending.

The ideal candidate has a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in information technology with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role, overseeing technology strategy and implementation within the financial services sector.

This experience in a lending environment, and extensive knowledge of industry trends and emerging technologies, enables them to develop and execute strategic technology solutions to meet Windmill’s unique needs and challenges.

Demonstrated success in leading technical teams including recruiting and retaining top technical talent and managing complex projects from conception to completion is essential.

Also important is a track record driving innovation and implementing cutting-edge technologies to facilitate growth in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Strong business acumen is also a requirement, to assure the efficient allocation of resources.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be collaborative, strategic, curious, and humble. They are energetic and empathetic, concerned about the welfare of others, and deeply motivated by Windmill’s mission and values.

Able to work both independently and collaboratively as a team player, the successful candidate will have a high degree of accountability for their team’s deliverables and as a leadership team member for the organization’s best interests.

They are curious and innovative, with a natural drive to improve how things are done while respecting the contributions of current staff.

Naturally entrepreneurial, they will relish the chance to contribute to an important and growing organization.

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