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Business Unit Chief Information Officer NEW

Houston, Texas
Sysco
Job Summary:

The Business Unit CIO is responsible for aligning technology strategy with business objectives, ensuring that IT capabilities effectively support and drive enterprise and business unit goals for three or more business units with combined $10B+ in annual revenue across multiple geographies and cultures. This role exists to bridge the gap between technology and business, enabling innovation, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage through strategic Technology investments. The Business Unit CIO leads technology governance, strategic transformations, and risk management while fostering collaboration between Technology and business stakeholders. Ultimately, the position ensures that technology delivers measurable business value, supports growth, and enhances overall organizational agility.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Technology Strategy & Business Alignment – Develop and execute a Technology strategy that aligns with the business unit’s objectives and overall enterprise goals, ensuring technology investments drive business value.
  • Transformation & Innovation – Lead the adoption of technologies, automation, and digital solutions to enhance efficiency, competitiveness, and customer experience.
  • Governance & Risk Management – Adhere to policies, compliance frameworks, and cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks, protect data, and ensure regulatory adherence.
  • Operations & Service Delivery – Oversee infrastructure, applications, and support services to ensure reliability, scalability, and performance meet business needs.
  • Financial Management & Cost Optimization – Manage Tech budgets, control costs, and drive efficiency in technology spending to maximize ROI and support business growth.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration & Business Partnership – Engage with executives, department leaders, and external partners to ensure Technology solutions effectively support business strategies and operational needs.
  • Talent Development & Leadership – Build and lead a high-performing Technology team, fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and strategic problem-solving.
  • Enterprise Integration & Standardization – Ensure technology solutions align with enterprise-wide architecture, data strategy, and security standards while supporting unique business unit requirements.

Education Required:

Bachelor’s Degree – A degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Finance or a related field

Education Preferred:

Bachelor’s Degree – A degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Finance or a related field

Experience Required:

A strong mix of business acumen, technology expertise, and leadership skills is critical for success in this role, including:

  • Extensive IT Leadership (10+ years) – Progressive experience in IT leadership roles, including Senior Director or VP of IT or CIO roles, with a track record of driving technology strategy and execution.
  • Strategic Business & IT Alignment (8-10+ years) – Proven ability to align IT initiatives with business goals, define and drive transformation programs, and enable value through technology investments.
  • Enterprise & Business Unit IT Management (8-10+ years) – Experience managing IT applications, and partnership with enterprise operations, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and compliance within a business unit or enterprise-level environment.
  • Technology Governance & Risk Management (5-10 years) – Strong background in partnering with IT governance, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation teams to protect business assets and ensure adherence to enterprise standards.
  • Stakeholder Engagement & Executive Leadership (5-10 years) – Experience working closely with C-suite and senior executives, translating technical initiatives into business value and influencing decision-making.
  • Digital Transformation & Innovation (5+ years) – Leadership in modernizing IT ecosystems, implementing cloud solutions, automation, and emerging technologies to enhance agility and competitiveness.
  • Financial & Vendor Management (5+ years) – Experience in IT budgeting, cost optimization, and vendor negotiations, ensuring cost-effective technology investments and partnerships.
  • Change Management & Organizational Leadership (5+ years) – Expertise in leading IT organizations through mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and cultural transformations to drive business agility and efficiency.

Experience Preferred:

Preferred experiences position a Business Unit CIO to not only manage Tech effectively but also drive enterprise-wide transformation and innovation, and experiences would include:

  • Global or Multi-Business Unit Leadership – Experience managing IT strategy across multiple geographies or business units, ensuring scalability, standardization, and alignment with enterprise goals.
  • Mergers, Acquisitions, and Integrations – Hands-on experience leading IT due diligence, system integrations, and post-merger technology harmonization to maximize synergies and minimize disruptions.
  • Cloud, AI, and Emerging Technologies – Proven track record of modernizing IT landscapes by leveraging cloud computing (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics to drive digital transformation.
  • Industry-Specific IT Leadership – Experience in Foodservices Distribution
  • Agile & DevOps Transformation – Experience implementing Agile, DevOps, and product-centric IT operating models to improve delivery speed, collaboration, and innovation.
  • Board-Level & Investor Communications – Experience presenting IT strategy, risks, and digital investments to boards, and senior executives, demonstrating how technology drives business value.
  • Operational & Financial Optimization – Strong background in cost management, IT financial planning, and vendor negotiations, ensuring technology investments deliver measurable ROI and cost efficiency.

Technical Skills and Abilities:

A successful Business Unit CIO must combine technical expertise with exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic thinking to drive meaningful business outcomes.

Strategic Thinking & Vision

  • Ability to anticipate future technology trends and align them with long-term business objectives.
  • Capable of balancing short-term operational needs with long-term innovation and growth strategies.

Executive Communication & Influence

  • Strong ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, business-relevant language for non-technical stakeholders.
  • Experience in presenting to senior executives and leaders, influencing decision-making.
  • Skilled in storytelling and persuasive communication to gain buy-in for technology initiatives.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) & Relationship Building

  • High self-awareness, empathy, and adaptability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships.
  • Strong ability to foster collaboration between Technology and business teams, ensuring alignment and partnership.
  • Skilled at managing resistance to change, addressing concerns, and building trust across the organization.

Leadership & Team Development

  • Ability to inspire, mentor, and develop high-performing IT teams, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
  • Strong delegation skills, ensuring teams are empowered to make decisions and take ownership.
  • Skilled in navigating organizational dynamics, resolving conflicts, and promoting a positive work environment.

Change Management & Resilience

  • Ability to lead organizations through transformation, uncertainty, and disruption with confidence and stability.
  • Skilled in helping employees and stakeholders adapt to new technologies, processes, and business models.
  • High tolerance for ambiguity, able to make decisions and pivot quickly in fast-changing environments.

Negotiation & Persuasion

  • Strong ability to negotiate with vendors, partners, and internal stakeholders to achieve optimal technology investments.
  • Skilled at balancing competing priorities, building consensus, and driving alignment across different business units.

Customer-Centric Mindset

  • Deep understanding of end-user experience, customer needs, and market demands to ensure IT delivers business value.
  • Ability to advocate for technology solutions that enhance customer engagement, satisfaction, and business growth.

Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking

  • Ability to quickly assess complex challenges, identify root causes, and develop strategic solutions.
  • Skilled at balancing risk, cost, and innovation when making technology decisions.
  • Strong analytical mindset to leverage data-driven insights for decision-making.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Influence

  • Ability to bridge IT with finance, operations, marketing, and other business functions, ensuring alignment and efficiency.
  • Skilled in working across global teams, diverse cultures, and decentralized business units.

Adaptability & Continuous Learning

  • Open to new ideas, emerging technologies, and evolving business models.
  • Willingness to learn from failures, iterate on strategies, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing digital landscape . click apply for full job details

Job Overview