The Opportunity
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the new Chief Technology Officer will assume day-to-day responsibility for Data Republic’s technology strategy and operations. The CTO role is ownership of the full technology roadmap, and you will lead a team of ~20 reports out of ~50 (full time equivalents) total employees, based in Sydney.
Introduction to Data Republic
We believe that when data can flow securely between individuals, organizations and governments, wiser decisions can be made and better outcomes delivered for both business and society as a whole.
The problem? Data exchange can be too legally complicated, risky and time-consuming.
That’s why, in 2014, our founders Paul McCarney and Danny Gilligan set out to change the way organisations exchange data - to make it safer, more secure and more scalable.
Today, our technology and ‘private-by-design’ ecosystem connects organisations to the data they need to solve their most pressing business problems.
We’re proud to say that we’re backed by some big names (Westpac Reinventure, NAB Ventures, ANZ, Qualgro VC and Qantas Loyalty), but that doesn’t stop us from being a team that cares about start-up hustle, big ideas and sharing a beer on a Friday.
The role of the Chief Technology Officer;
As part of an aggressive growth strategy, the business requires an entrepreneurial and high growth Chief Technology Officer with a proven background in devising a technology roadmap to scale an enterprise SaaS businesses. As CTO, the primary goal is architecting and executing on the technology strategy and ensuring it is aligned with the overall business objectives. This will also involve building strategic partnerships to ensure it is achieving maximum efficiency and growth in the marketplace. The position requires a visionary leader with significant collaboration and influence across the technology function to maximise growth opportunities and cement Data Republic as an industry leader.
The role requires an in-depth blend of people leadership, business acumen and being technically savvy across engineering, product and data. It requires an ability to aggressively build a high performing technology function in a fast-paced sector that provides value to both clients and consumers. Data Republic will be a high-profile, fast-growing, emergent business that requires a leader who is highly agile, while also quality-focused.
To thrive as a Chief Technology Officer, you must be a prudent manager and an inspiring leader. The ideal candidate will have a business mindset and will be able to see the “big picture” in a variety of settings. The goal is to drive the company’s development and guide it towards long-term success.
You will be an experienced and efficient strategic leader with an entrepreneurial drive, excellent people skills, business acumen and exemplary work ethic, who is able to maintain control of diverse technology operations.
Key components and responsibilities;
- As part of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) the CTO is responsible for leading, developing and implementing the overall technology roadmap
- Developing and executing a high-quality technology strategy to meet short-term/long-term business objectives
- Ensuring alignment with ELT and Board of Directors; across the technology, product, marketing, sales and finance functions with key stakeholders; Chief Executive Officer, Chief Product Officer, Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Strategy Lead
- Establish the company’s technology vision and lead all aspects of the company’s technological development and outsourced partner selection and management.
- Identify opportunities and risks for delivering the Company’s services as an Enterprise SaaS business including identification of opportunities for innovation and assessment of marketplace obstacles and technical hurdles to the business success
- Identify technology trends and evolving social/consumer behavior that may support or impede the success of the business
- Evaluate and identify appropriate technology platforms (including content management systems web application frameworks, cloud-based infrastructure solutions and the deployment stack) for delivering the company’s services
- Lead strategic planning to achieve business goals by identifying and prioritizing development initiatives and setting timetables for the evaluation, development and deployment of all technology services
- Participate as a member of the leadership team in establishing governance processes of direction and control to ensure that objectives are achieved, risks are managed appropriately and the company’s resources are used responsibly and securely, particularly in the areas of software development, outsourced vendor management, office networks and computers, and telecommunications
- Work in a consultative fashion with other members of the Leadership Team to assess and recommend technologies that best support the Company’s organizational needs
- Establish a governance process that protects the Company’s customer data and meets government, regulatory and customer expectations with respect to customer information privacy
- Direct development and execution of an enterprise-wide information security plan that protects the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the Company’s data.
- In conjunction with business analytics, oversee the architectural design of the Company’s data warehouse, data availability and selection of appropriate BI tools
- Direct development and execution of an enterprise-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plan from a technology perspective
- Communicate the Company’s technology strategy to investors, management, staff, partners, customers, the FinTech/IT community and external stakeholders
Previous experience and requirements;
- Team Leadership - Proven experience as Chief Technology Officer in leading an enterprise software technology business
- Strategic Thinking - Experience in developing and executing technology roadmap and implementing a company vision. Anticipate future trends and consequences to be able to map out a clear vision for the strategy in five years’ time.
- Functional Expertise - Strong understanding of enterprise software and/or the data market and how to execute a strategy to develop and scale a technology platform. Familiarity with diverse and complex business functions including product, technology, marketing and sales
- Results Focus - In-depth knowledge of engineering best practice, product development, data governance and general management best practices. Evidenced through a history of delivering performance that stands out in the market, specifically in continually improving the operations and profitability of a business.
- Problem-solving – Via clean communication, stakeholder management and public speaking skills. Analytical abilities with good knowledge of data analysis and KPIs
- Collaboration & influencing - skills that will allow her or him to establish rapport quickly, and to demonstrate credibility and enthuse others to work with her or him over the long term.
- Team leadership - demonstrated by the ability to attract, lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team. Accountable, driven, organised, attention to detail, adaptive, resourceful, high-impact and passionate individual with a growth mind-set
Why join Data Republic?
- A small company with big ambitions - It's a great time to join Data Republic. We are funded by some of Australia's largest companies, and we're having a lot of success. Joining at an early stage, you will get the chance to grow with the company and the opportunities that arise. We are now actively engaged in six countries globally across four continents, which is driving our growth.
- A great place to work - We're based at Sydney Startup Hub near Wynyard, along with hundreds of other start-ups working from our own private office within Stone & Chalk Fintech Hub. We're fostering a company culture that cares for each other and ensures work-life balance - we want your talents, not a pound of flesh. We also want to ensure that data is used for social good around the world, which is driven by The Minerva Collective.
- An industry on the cutting edge - The data economy is booming, and the technology we are delivering is on the leading edge of this new economic sector. We're working closely with business and government to make Sydney the seat of the global data economy.