Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Farmer's Fridge Careers - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Senior

Chicago, IL

About the position

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) will lead the technology strategy and operations at Farmer's Fridge, focusing on scaling the technology infrastructure to support growth and operational efficiency. This role involves making strategic decisions regarding technology solutions, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring the successful adoption of new technologies across the organization. The CIO will work closely with cross-functional leaders and manage a lean IT team to drive innovation and collaboration within the company.

Responsibilities

• Align technology initiatives with broader business goals to support operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
• Lead the assessment of buy vs. build decisions, favoring external solutions while maintaining the capacity to build mission-critical systems in-house.
• Oversee the design and implementation of scalable IT infrastructure to meet current and future business needs.
• Integrate various technology platforms to ensure efficient data flows across departments such as manufacturing, supply chain, and customer service.
• Ensure data governance, security, and compliance across all business operations.
• Select and manage third-party technology vendors to ensure long-term value and efficiency.
• Oversee outsourcing initiatives to align with business objectives and deliver efficiency without compromising quality.
• Drive change management efforts to ensure seamless technology adoption and minimal disruption to business operations.
• Champion collaboration across teams to ensure technology supports all business functions effectively.
• Develop and implement training programs to maximize user adoption of new systems.
• Collaborate with departments to ensure technology solutions improve efficiency and performance.
• Lead technology projects that address specific business challenges and operational needs, ensuring timely and budget-compliant delivery.
• Build and lead a high-performing IT team capable of executing the company’s technology strategy.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the technology team.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in senior technology leadership roles, ideally within tech-enabled manufacturing, food, CPG, or a related field.
• Proven success in leading complex, multi-domain business operations with a strong track record of scaling technology teams.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to communicate and inspire team members from the production floor to the Board of Directors.
• Extensive experience with buy vs. build decisions, with a strong preference for leveraging third-party solutions while maintaining the ability to build critical internal systems.
• Expertise in systems integration, data infrastructure, and vendor management, including outsourcing and long-term vendor relationships.
• Track record of successfully managing organizational change to support the adoption of new technologies.
• Experience in food manufacturing, CPG, or fulfillment is preferred, with a deep understanding of how technology can drive operational excellence and growth.

Nice-to-haves

• Familiarity with multi-department budget management, including managing large IT-related P&L.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company match and immediate vesting.
• Paid sabbatical program after four years of service.
• Daily Farmer's Fridge meal and office snacks.
• Encouragement of business transparency through monthly town hall meetings and weekly financial updates.
• A fun and passionate work environment that values input and collaboration.