Director, Technology Strategy & Governance (CTO Chief of Staff)

Vaco
$180,000.00 - $230,000.00 / yr
401(k), retirement plan
United States, Texas, Austin
Nov 12, 2025
Vaco is partnering with a rapidly growing financial firm to hire a strategic operator who will serve as the primary organizational and execution partner to the CTO. This role sits at the center of technology decision-making-driving priorities, governance, clarity, and operational discipline across digital, data, cloud, and cybersecurity portfolios. Role Overview You will run the operating cadence of the technology organization, align cross-functional priorities, mature governance processes, and ensure executive leadership has clear, actionable information. This role blends strategy, operations, governance, and executive enablement, and is ideal for someone who has worked closely with CIO/CTO leadership. Key Responsibilities Strategic Alignment & Operating Cadence Translate the CTO's vision into structured roadmaps, priorities, and decision frameworks. Run the leadership cadence: planning cycles, QBRs, weekly reviews, and offsites. Produce executive- and board-ready materials that connect strategy, progress, risk, and investment. Coordinate alignment across digital, data, infrastructure, security, and product teams. Governance & Portfolio Prioritization Maintain the enterprise technology portfolio: intake, prioritization, resourcing, and dependency management. Establish governance standards that reinforce clarity, accountability, and transparent decision-making. Develop KPIs/KRIs to track operational performance, maturity, and regulatory posture. Provide structured analysis on trade-offs across run/grow/transform initiatives. Financial & Investment Oversight Lead annual planning and budget alignment with Finance. Consolidate CapEx/OpEx requests, track spend, and manage variance and forecast reporting. Deliver insights that inform investment decisions and vendor optimization. Risk, Regulatory, & Vendor Coordination Support compliance with SEC, FINRA, SOC 2, cybersecurity, and internal audit requirements. Partner with Security, Risk, and Compliance to maintain audit readiness and documentation. Assist with vendor governance-performance scorecards, renewals, contracts, and risk assessments. Maintain consistent charters, timelines, and reporting across major initiatives. Leadership Enablement Anticipate organizational needs and proactively remove blockers for the CTO and senior leaders. Facilitate workshops and alignment sessions across teams. Mentor leaders on communication clarity, prioritization, and execution discipline. What You'll Bring 8-15+ years in technology strategy, IT governance, Chief of Staff roles, or enterprise PMO/portfolio leadership. Experience working directly with CIO/CTO-level executives. Strong understanding of modernization initiatives, cloud (Azure preferred), security, and data practices. Outstanding executive communication and synthesis skills. Familiarity with governance and risk frameworks (NIST, SOC 2, ISO, ITIL). Financial acumen across budgeting, forecasting, and portfolio reporting. Bachelor's required; MBA/Master's preferred. Why This Role Direct partnership with the CTO and senior leadership team. Build and operationalize a modern governance and prioritization model. Shape major modernization efforts across Azure, security, data, and digital platforms. High visibility and meaningful influence in a scaling organization. Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law. Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com . Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal. By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal. Privacy Notice Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies. California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here. Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here. Residents of all other states may access our policies here. Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here. Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here. Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: the individual's skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certification requirements; office location and other geographic considerations; other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.