Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Hollybank Trustees Ltd; Loughrea; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Glanua in Ireland seeks a Chief Information Officer to lead technology transformation, overseeing IT, Data & Analytics and AI from Loughrea, Co. Galway. The role shapes the IT strategy, drives AI adoption, and aligns initiatives with business priorities to create a competitive, digitally enabled organisation.

The CIO will champion cybersecurity, data governance, BIM adoption and regulatory compliance across Ireland and the UK, reporting to the CEO and Board.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field.
• 7–10 years ICT experience with 3–5 years in a senior leadership/management role.
• Experience leading digital transformation programmes.
• Experience managing ICT budgets and multi-year capital/operational plans.
• Experience with vendor management and procurement processes.
• Experience working with boards or senior executive teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the technology transformation strategy across the organisation, aligning IT with business objectives.
• Lead AI adoption across estimating, delivery, design/BIM, back-office and client service; establish governance for data and platforms.
• Oversee IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, data protection and BIM standards adoption across multiple sites.
• Manage technology budgets, vendor relationships and procurement while balancing innovation with cost discipline.
• Report to CEO/Board on technology performance, risk, investment priorities and transformation progress.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, data protection (GDPR) and safety standards across all locations.

Skills

ICT leadership

Digital transformation

Cybersecurity

Data & Analytics

AI strategy

Vendor management

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Education

Third level degree in Computer Science/IT

Job description

Location: On site / Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: IT | Management & Senior Appointments
Salary: Negotiable salary

About Glanua

Glanua is an industry leader in providing innovative and sustainable engineering solutions to design, build, operate and maintain critical water and wastewater infrastructure across Ireland and the UK. We are a trusted provider to the municipal and industrial sector where our clients include Ireland and the UK’s largest water utilities, Uisce Éireann (formally Irish Water), Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Affinity Water.

Glanua is passionate about solving today’s environmental challenges and delivering a decarbonised and sustainable world. We know that to build successful creative teams we need a diverse workforce that can deliver new innovative ways of thinking. We provide an environment where you will have the freedom to develop and grow to your full potential. We champion our core values of Respect, Collaboration, Accountability, Integrity, Excellence and Safety in everything we do.

We have a talented team of 600+ people across Ireland and the UK and are rapidly expanding our workforce across several disciplines to meet our ambitious growth plans.

Role Purpose

The Chief Information Officer is a transformation-focused leadership role, tasked with reimagining what technology makes possible for the Company. Beyond running reliable IT data functions, the CIO will be responsible for the Group’s IT Strategy, the organization’s technology vision and roadmap.

The CIO will be responsible for aligning IT initiatives that support business objectives ambitious, forward-looking technology vision that positions the Company as a leading-edge, digitally enabled business within construction, engineering and energy and will drive the practical adoption of AI across every function to create a genuine competitive advantage.

The CIO sits on the Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CFO, and leads a multidisciplinary technology function spanning IT, Data & Analytics and AI.

Key Responsibilities

Technology vision and transformation

• Set and own an ambitious, multi-year technology and digital transformation strategy that moves the Company from good IT foundations to genuine competitive edge.
• Proactively scan the market and industry for emerging technologies, digital construction trends and AI capabilities, and translate the credible ones into a practical roadmap.
• Champion a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, challenging legacy ways of working across projects, operations and back-office functions.
• Position the Company as an early, credible adopter of new technology relative to sector peers, using this as a differentiator with clients and in bids.
• Develops the organization’s technology vision and roadmap. Aligns IT initiatives with business objectives.
• Leads IT departments and technology teams. Coordinates with other executives and departments.

AI adoption and utilisation

• Define and lead the Company’s AI strategy, identifying high-value use cases across estimating, project delivery, design/BIM, back-office and client service.
• Build the data, platform and governance foundations required to deploy AI safely, responsibly and at scale.
• Lead pilots and scaled rollout of AI tools that measurably improve productivity, accuracy, safety or client outcomes, with clear success metrics.
• Upskill leadership and teams across the business to use AI and data effectively, building broad digital and AI literacy, not just capability within the technology function.

Core technology leadership

• Lead, develop and manage the technology function, including the IT manager, BIM & Digital Lead, Data & Analytics Lead.
• Oversee core IT infrastructure, systems, cyber security and data protection across all office and project locations.
• Drive adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) standards and best practice across projects and sectors, and connect BIM data into wider analytics and AI initiatives.
• Own the Company’s data and analytics capability, ensuring reliable, well-governed data underpins both day-to-day decisions and future AI use cases.
• Own the Data Protection and data Management governance across the global organisation.
• Manage technology budgets, vendor and partner relationships, and procurement of hardware, software and digital services, balancing innovation investment with cost discipline.
• Ensure technology and information systems meet health & safety, regulatory and client compliance requirements.
• Partner with the CFO, COO and CPO to embed technology and AI into finance, operations, people and commercial processes.
• Report to the CEO and Board on technology performance, transformation progress, AI adoption, risk and investment priorities.

Cybersecurity and Risk Management

Protects organizational data and systems from cyber threats. Ensures compliance with regulations and security standards.

Budgeting and Cost Control

Manages IT budgets and technology investments. Evaluates cost-effectiveness of IT projects.

Our Values

At Glanua, our values shape how we work together and how we serve our clients. We act with Respect towards our colleagues, clients and communities, and believe in the power of Collaboration to deliver the best outcomes for our teams and projects. We hold ourselves to a high standard of Accountability, taking ownership of our commitments, and act with Integrity in every decision we make. We pursue Excellence in everything we do, continuously improving how we design, build and operate, and we place Safety at the centre of our culture, ensuring the wellbeing of our people is never compromised. As HR Director, you will play a central role in embedding these values across the organisation as Glanua continues to grow.

Qualifications

• Third level degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Information Technology, or a related discipline

Experience

• Minimum of 7 to 10 years' progressive experience in ICT roles, including at least 3 to 5 years in a senior leadership or management position
• Demonstrated experience leading digital transformation programmes
• Experience managing significant ICT budgets and multi-year capital or operational plans
• Proven track record managing teams, including recruitment, performance management, and development of staff
• Experience with vendor and contract management, including procurement processes
• Experience developing and implementing ICT strategy aligned to organisational goals

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, data protection legislation (GDPR), and risk management frameworks
• Knowledge of current and emerging technology trends (cloud computing, AI, data analytics, cybersecurity)
• Understanding of business continuity and disaster recovery planning
• Awareness of relevant regulatory and compliance requirements for the sector

Other

• Eligibility to work in Ireland
• Postgraduate qualification (MBA, MSc in a relevant field)
• Experience specific to the construction/ engineering sector
• Experience working within, or reporting to, a board or senior executive team
• Track record of managing outsourced or shared services arrangements
• Experience with agile delivery methodologies
• Experience managing multi-site or multi-jurisdictional ICT operations
• Track record of driving innovation or leading digital culture change within an organisation

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be proactive and resourceful, with the confidence to operate comfortably in a business that is growing quickly across multiple sites, divisions and jurisdictions. They will be a hands-on leader who can build a function from the ground up, with tangible examples of having scaled an HR team or operating model to support business growth. Strong relationship-building skills are essential, with the credibility to manage effectively both upwards to the Board, and downwards through the SLT and other stakeholders across the business. The role also calls for genuine commitment to continuous improvement, sound judgement under pressure, and the ability to represent Glanua confidently as it builds its reputation as an employer of choice across the water and wastewater sector.