About The Role
The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is a senior executive leader responsible for defining and executing the institution's enterprise-wide technology strategy in alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and risk appetite. Reporting to the Chief Experience Officer, the CIO oversees a team of ~150 and serves as a key advisor to executive leadership and the Board, ensuring that technology enables growth, operational efficiency, security, resilience, and an exceptional customer experience across all banking and financial services offerings.
The CIO will serve as a strategic technology leader capable of driving modernization, advancing digital transformation, and enabling innovation while maintaining disciplined governance and operational stability. This includes evolving the bank's core platforms, strengthening data and analytics capabilities, elevating cybersecurity posture, and ensuring that technology investments deliver measurable business value. The CIO will foster a culture of accountability, agility, and continuous improvement, positioning the bank to compete effectively in a rapidly changing financial landscape.
This is a Corporate position that is located in Kalispell, MT. All compensation offers are analyzed individually and take into consideration multiple factors including but not limited to geographic location, years of experience, and educational background.
Key Responsibilities
Technology Strategy & Leadership
• Develop and execute a multi-year enterprise technology strategy aligned with the institution's strategic plan, growth initiatives, and regulatory environment.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CXO, CEO, executive leadership team, and Board on technology trends, opportunities, and risks affecting the financial services industry.
• Ensure technology investments deliver measurable business value and outcomes, strong ROI, and appropriate risk management.
• Demonstrates gravitas and credibility with senior leadership, the Board, and regulators. Communicates complex concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Embed a customer-first mindset in technology decisions. Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging solutions that enhance client experience and operational performance.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to peers and business leaders. Collaborate across the organization to ensure technology decisions support enterprise priorities. Communicate complex concepts clearly to executives, Board members, and regulators, demonstrating executive presence and strategic acumen.
Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance
• Oversee the design and implementation of comprehensive cybersecurity, data protection, and resilience programs to safeguard customer and institutional data.
• Ensure compliance with applicable banking and financial regulations (e.g., FDIC, OCC, FFIEC, PCI DSS, SOX, GLBA, and state regulatory requirements).
• Establish and maintain incident response, business continuity, and disaster recovery plans aligned with Board-approved risk appetite.
Cloud, Operations, & Infrastructure
• Oversee enterprise IT architecture, core banking systems, applications, cloud platforms, networks, and data infrastructures to ensure reliability, scalability, and performance.
• Ensure the stability and resiliency of mission-critical systems supporting customer-facing and internal operations.
• Establish strong IT governance, controls, and performance metrics across the technology organization.
Digital Transformation, Innovation, & Emerging Technology
• Partner with business leadership to ensure the success of digital banking initiatives and infrastructure modernization programs, including online and mobile platforms, payments, data analytics, automation, and AI.
• Work with business leaders to evaluate and responsibly adopt emerging technologies such as AI, advanced analytics, and fintech partnerships to enhance competitiveness and customer experience.
• Foster a culture of innovation while maintaining sound risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies that can enhance customer experience, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen risk management.
IT Cost Optimization and Vendor Management
• Manage overall IT budget and cost optimization decisions, balancing financial benefit, time to value, technical and organizational risk, and investment requirements.
• Work with business leadership to manage relationships with technology vendors, fintech partners, and service providers to ensure value, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
• Partner closely with business leaders to deliver technology solutions that support revenue growth, efficiency, and risk controls.
• Ensure all major technology vendor contracts are properly vetted and negotiated before seeking final approval.
People Leadership
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing technology leadership team and workforce which prioritizes strong alignment and collaboration with the business.
• Build talent pipelines, succession plans, and workforce strategies aligned with evolving technology and banking industry needs, balancing technical acumen with banking industry knowledge and experience.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
About You
Professional Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, with significant senior leadership experience in banking or financial services.
• Demonstrated expertise in core banking systems, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, enterprise architecture, and digital transformation.
• Strong executive communication skills with experience presenting to Boards and regulators.
• Proven ability to balance innovation with risk management in a highly regulated environment.
Experience and Preferred Attributes
• Experience leading technology strategy in a regulated financial institution.
• Business-first mentality, prioritizing business alignment and collaboration over technology-only perspectives.
• Brings curiosity and creativity to introduce emerging technologies, automation, and digital solutions that enhance customer experience and operational performance.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of banking industry products and processes, demonstrating an ability to align technology with banking business strategy.
• Collaborative leadership style with a customer- and risk-focused mindset.
• Demonstrated experience managing a large IT budget and portfolio of mission critical systems, vendors and partners.
• Proven capability to manage complex technology environments with a focus on reliability, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Skilled at driving disciplined delivery and measurable outcomes.
• Attracts, develops, and retains top-tier technology talent. Coaches long-tenured leaders, addresses skill gaps, and creates a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
What We Offer
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: Starting salary is dependent upon relevant experience and may vary based on the geographic location of the position. We offer an extensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Coverage is available to employees and their eligible dependents in accordance with our written plan documents. You may also be eligible for a health savings account option, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a health rewards program, a retirement savings plan, including 401(k) and Profit-Sharing plans, short and long-term disability benefits, education and training benefits, and discounts on banking products and services. We also offer a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) plan and paid holidays. PTO accruals begin at .0745 per hour worked for our part time employees up to a maximum accrual of 240 hours per year for certain Full-Time employees. PTO accruals are dependent on position, status (Full time or Part time), and years of experience in accordance with our PTO policy. Most Full-Time employees are also offered 6 paid holidays and Part Time employees are offered pro-rated paid holidays. In addition, employees in Utah and Nevada may be eligible for pay for certain state recognized holidays. Visit our website for more details. Check it out!
No Recruiters or unsolicited agency referrals please.
