Chief Information Officer

Sandia Area Federal Credit Union; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia Area FCU in Albuquerque, NM, seeks a strategic CIO to align technology with business goals and lead digital transformation, cybersecurity, and data governance across a regulated financial environment.

Reporting to the President-CEO, the CIO will build scalable systems, drive enterprise applications and CRM, develop people, and partner with executive leadership to deliver superior member service and growth.

Qualifications

• Experience leading enterprise technology strategy at a financial institution.
• Proven ability to deliver secure, scalable technology solutions.
• Strong leadership and communication with executive stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an enterprise technology strategy aligned to the credit union's goals.
• Oversee infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, BI, and CRM initiatives.
• Drive digital transformation, automation, and system integration across the organization.
• Provide governance for investments, vendors, and technology roadmap.
• Partner with executives to enhance member experience and operational efficiency.
• Build and lead a high-performing technology organization.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic technology planning

Digital transformation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Jack Henry core platforms

Job description

Where executive leadership, technology strategy, and organizational transformation drive the future.

Sandia Area Federal Credit Union (Sandia Area FCU) is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and business-minded Chief Information Officer to help lead the organization’s next phase of growth and digital transformation. Reporting directly to the President-CEO, the CIO will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for aligning the credit union's technology strategy with business strategy while building the infrastructure, systems, and organizational capabilities needed to support a digital-first future.

The CIO will provide executive leadership for the credit union's information technology, digital platforms, data strategy, and core banking environment, ensuring technology investments advance member service, strengthen operational performance, and support long-term growth. This leader will be responsible for delivering secure, reliable, and scalable technology solutions that protect member information, enable innovation, and position technology as a strategic driver of organizational success within a highly regulated financial environment.

The Opportunity

This is more than a traditional CIO role. It is an opportunity to shape the future of a respected, financially strong credit union by leading technology, developing people, strengthening operations, and partnering with executive leadership to drive enterprise-wide transformation.

Sandia Area FCU has built a reputation for exceptional member service, financial strength, and meaningful community impact. As the organization enters its next phase of growth, it is investing in the technology, data, and digital capabilities needed to support its vision of becoming a digital-first credit union while maintaining the personalized service and community relationships that define its culture.

With the technology foundation in place, the next CIO will build upon that progress by advancing enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, business intelligence, enterprise applications, and a fully integrated 360-degree CRM strategy. This leader will help create standardized, scalable processes, expand automation where it drives business value, and leverage technology to enhance both the employee and member experience.

Success in this role requires more than technical expertise. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative executive who enjoys leading change, building high-performing teams, and translating technology into practical business solutions that move the organization forward.

Culture

Sandia Area FCU is a collaborative, relationship-driven organization with a practical, roll-up-your-sleeves culture. The executive team values leaders who communicate directly, work across departments, develop strong relationships, and are willing to engage in the day-to-day realities of running the business.

This is not an environment driven by hierarchy or bureaucracy. It is a culture built on accountability, teamwork, execution, and continuous improvement. Success will require an executive who can lead organizational change, build trust, and bring people together around a shared vision for the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an enterprise technology strategy that supports the credit union's strategic plan and digital-first vision.
• Lead enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, technology operations, and business continuity while ensuring secure, reliable, and scalable technology services.
• Drive digital transformation initiatives, including enterprise data strategy, business intelligence, automation, process standardization, system integration, and a comprehensive 360-degree CRM environment.
• Provide executive leadership for technology governance, project prioritization, vendor partnerships, and technology investments, including the Jack Henry ecosystem.
• Partner with executive leadership to identify opportunities where technology improves operational efficiency, enhances member experience, and supports sustainable growth.
• Build, develop, and inspire a high-performing technology organization focused on collaboration, accountability, innovation, and service.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate is both a seasoned technology executive and a collaborative business leader. This individual brings the technical credibility to lead a modern technology organization while possessing the executive presence to influence strategy, develop people, and build strong relationships across the enterprise.

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive technology leadership experience, including executive-level responsibility leading enterprise technology strategy.
• Experience working with Jack Henry core platforms or comparable core banking systems.
• Demonstrated success leading infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, data governance, business intelligence, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience implementing and optimizing automation, process standardization, enterprise integrations, CRM strategies, and cloud-based technologies.
• Proven executive leadership with experience building secure, scalable technology organizations, developing high-performing teams, leading organizational change, and partnering across the enterprise to achieve strategic business objectives.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business recommendations.
• Experience within a credit union, financial institution, fintech, or other highly regulated industry is preferred.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary yet technology executive who wants to do more than lead IT. The successful CIO will help shape organizational strategy, strengthen leadership across the enterprise, and ensure technology serves as a catalyst for growth, innovation, and exceptional member service to help position Sandia FCU as a modern, digital-first organization.