Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Chicago, IL
(On-site)

Full-Time | Executive Leadership
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer / President

The company is a privately held, long-established manufacturer in the residential and light commercial building products industry. It operates a vertically integrated model, managing production from raw material processing through finished product manufacturing and delivery. Its product lines support new construction and renovation projects and are known for quality, consistency, and reliability.

With decades of steady growth, the organization has built a reputation for operational discipline, dependable lead times, and strong relationships with builders, contractors, and partners. While the business has scaled significantly, it maintains a hands-on, craftsmanship-driven culture focused on doing work the right way and standing behind every product delivered.

The organization is seeking a hands-on, business-minded Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead enterprise-wide technology strategy and modernization. This executive will be responsible for aligning technology investments with manufacturing operations, supply chain execution, and customer experience while preserving the operational rigor and product quality the company is known for.

The CTO will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, driving scalable, secure, and practical solutions that improve production performance, delivery accuracy, data visibility, and long-term growth.

• Executive-level influence in a stable, profitable manufacturing business
   
• Opportunity to modernize systems across a vertically integrated operation
   
• Direct impact on throughput, quality, inventory, and delivery performance
   
• Strong leadership support and mandate for meaningful technology investment
   
• Culture that values accountability, craftsmanship, and execution
   

• Own and execute a long-term technology roadmap aligned with business goals and operational excellence
   
• Act as a strategic partner to executive leadership on growth, scalability, and modernization initiatives
   
• Identify and prioritize technology investments that improve efficiency and reduce waste without sacrificing product quality
   

• Improve systems supporting raw material processing, production, finishing, inventory management, and delivery workflows
   
• Lead evaluation, implementation, or optimization of ERP/MRP platforms for manufacturing, purchasing, production planning, and logistics
   
• Drive automation and digitization initiatives including shop-floor visibility, scheduling, scanning/barcoding, and real-time reporting
   

• Establish a strong operational data foundation with clear KPIs, including:
   
  • Production efficiency and yield
     
  • Order cycle time
     
  • On-time delivery
     
  • Scrap and rework trends
     
  • Inventory accuracy
     
• Deliver dashboards and executive reporting that enable faster, data-driven decision-making
   

• Enhance digital tools and touchpoints for customers and partners (ordering, quoting, job status, delivery coordination)
   
• Partner with Sales and Operations to improve quoting accuracy, lead times, and communication
   
• Support system integrations with customers, vendors, and third-party logistics providers
   

• Ensure secure, reliable IT operations across networks, systems, devices, and cloud services
   
• Establish cybersecurity standards, access controls, backup/recovery processes, and business continuity planning
   
• Manage technology vendors to ensure uptime, responsiveness, and cost efficiency
   

• Build, mentor, and lead internal technology teams and/or external partners
   
• Manage technology budgets, vendor selection, contract negotiations, and project delivery
   
• Drive accountability through clear timelines, milestones, and measurable outcomes
   

• Senior technology leadership experience (CTO, VP of Technology, Head of IT/Systems, or similar)
   
• Proven success leading technology modernization in manufacturing, building products, distribution, or industrial environments
   
• Strong understanding of ERP/MRP systems, operational workflows, and supply chain fundamentals
   
• Track record of delivering cross-functional initiatives on time and on budget, and KPIs
   
• Ability to translate business and operational needs into practical, floor-ready solutions
   

• Experience in vertically integrated manufacturing environments
   
• Familiarity with shop-floor systems, scheduling tools, barcode/scanning workflows, and inventory controls
   
• Experience with CRM, quoting/configuration tools, customer portals, and delivery tracking
   
• Exposure to lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies
   
• Knowledge of data warehousing, BI tools, and KPI reporting platforms
   

• Practical, hands-on problem solver
   
• Builder mindset with respect for craftsmanship and product quality
   
• Accountable, dependable, and execution-focused
   
• Operationally driven with strong business judgment
   
• Clear, direct, and collaborative communicator