What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Technology Officer position at UFCU?
University Federal Credit Union (UFCU) is investing in enterprise technology that enables growth, resilience, and digital transformation. As part of this journey, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Technology Officer (Vice President, IT) to lead the strategy, modernization, and operational excellence of UFCU’s technology foundations.
Reporting to the EVP, the CTO is responsible for building a secure, scalable, cloud-enabled, AI-ready technology ecosystem that powers world-class member experiences, operational efficiency, and UFCU’s growth ambitions. This executive will drive the adoption of advanced technologies—including AI/ML, cloud, automation, and cyber resilience—ensuring our technology stack is designed for agility, scalability, and resilience.
The CTO will lead enterprise infrastructure, platforms, networks, cybersecurity, technology operations, and enablement of data-driven, automated, and digital capabilities. This is a critical leadership role, instrumental to UFCU becoming one of the nation’s most digitally advanced and member-centric financial institutions.
Essential Functions
Enterprise Technology Strategy & Leadership
Driving Member Obsession
Ensuring the internal or external customer’s perspective is a driving force behind strategic priorities, business decisions, organizational processes, and individual activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs; promoting and operationalizing customer service as a value.
Driving organizational and cultural changes needed to achieve strategic objectives; catalysing new approaches to improve results by transforming organizational culture, systems, or products/services; helping others overcome resistance to change.
Translating strategic priorities into operational reality; aligning communication, accountabilities, resource capabilities, internal processes, and ongoing measurement systems to ensure that strategic priorities yield measurable and sustainable results.
Motivating increased employee effort by communicating a compelling view of the organization’s purpose and its future state in a way that helps others understand the importance of their contributions and feel how outcomes will be different when progress is achieved. Establishing systems and processes to attract, develop, engage, and retain talented individuals; creating a work environment where people can realize their full potential, thus allowing the organization to meet current and future business challenges.
Reporting to the EVP, the CTO is responsible for building a secure, scalable, cloud-enabled, AI-ready technology ecosystem that powers world-class member experiences, operational efficiency, and UFCU’s growth ambitions. This executive will drive the adoption of advanced technologies—including AI/ML, cloud, automation, and cyber resilience—ensuring our technology stack is designed for agility, scalability, and resilience.
The CTO will lead enterprise infrastructure, platforms, networks, cybersecurity, technology operations, and enablement of data-driven, automated, and digital capabilities. This is a critical leadership role, instrumental to UFCU becoming one of the nation’s most digitally advanced and member-centric financial institutions.
Essential Functions
Enterprise Technology Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and execute UFCU’s enterprise technology strategy aligned to business growth, digital transformation, and operational resilience.
- Architect a future-ready, AI-powered, cloud-first technology environment designed for agility, security, scalability, and speed.
- Serve as an executive advisor on emerging technologies—including AI/ML, RPA, intelligent automation, cloud platforms, and infrastructure innovation.
- Lead the modernization of UFCU’s enterprise platforms, networks, data centers, and technology operations.
- Build and operate secure, scalable, hybrid-cloud environments leveraging Azure and on-premises technologies.
- Lead the design and modernization of infrastructure, software-defined networks, and enterprise platforms supporting core banking, digital channels, and member services.
- Ensure enterprise-wide performance, availability, and disaster recovery readiness across all technology platforms.
- Drive automation, self-healing infrastructure, and observability across UFCU’s technology landscape.
- Partner with Digital, Data, and Product teams to enable intelligent, AI-powered platforms that enhance member experiences and operational efficiency.
- Integrate AI/ML, RPA, and intelligent automation into UFCU’s technology stack to drive speed, scale, and cost efficiency.
- Lead proof-of-concept pilots for emerging technologies with a focus on rapid iteration and enterprise adoption.
- Champion continuous improvement, human-centered design, and innovation across technology teams.
- Oversee enterprise cybersecurity architecture, threat defense, and proactive risk management in partnership with Information Security leaders.
- Embed zero-trust principles, advanced threat detection, and incident response capabilities.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks including NCUA, FFIEC, NIST, and other applicable standards.
- Lead the IT components of enterprise risk, business continuity, and disaster recovery programs.
- Optimize technology performance, reliability, and efficiency across infrastructure, platforms, and operations.
- Establish and manage SLAs, KPIs, and performance dashboards to ensure world-class service delivery.
- Drive vendor management, sourcing strategy, and contract governance to optimize technology investments.
- Foster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, and operational rigor.
- Build, mentor, and retain a high-performing IT organization with expertise across cloud, infrastructure, platforms, automation, and security.
- Develop future technology leaders through coaching, succession planning, and professional development.
- Collaborate across executive leadership, business units, and external partners to achieve enterprise outcomes.
- Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and business ethics codes
- Complete required regulatory training as assigned.
- Maintain strict adherence and compliance to all laws, rules, regulations, and internal controls specific to your role, including the Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, USA Patriot Act, OFAC, and Fair Lending regulations.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
- 15 years of progressive technology leadership, with at least 5 years in a senior IT executive role within financial services, banking, fintech, or similarly regulated environments.
- Proven track record leading enterprise infrastructure, cloud transformation, AI/ML enablement, automation, and cybersecurity initiatives at scale.
- Deep expertise in building secure, scalable, hybrid-cloud environments (AWS, Azure), software-defined networks, core platforms, and modern enterprise technology ecosystems.
- Advanced knowledge of cloud-native platforms, AI/ML integration, RPA, intelligent automation, and scalable infrastructure.
- Strong understanding of cybersecurity frameworks, threat defense, and risk management in regulated industries.
- Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale technology modernization, digital platform enablement, and operational excellence.
- Visionary leader with exceptional communication, collaboration, and executive presence.
- Experience embedding DevOps, Agile, automation, and continuous improvement practices.
- AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Professional Certification
- ITIL v4, PMP, or equivalent service management certification
- Cybersecurity certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or equivalent
- AI/ML or automation credentials are advantageous
Driving Member Obsession
Ensuring the internal or external customer’s perspective is a driving force behind strategic priorities, business decisions, organizational processes, and individual activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs; promoting and operationalizing customer service as a value.
- Sets the standard for a compelling member experience, ensuring members are the #1 driving force behind the organization's direction, strategy, and decision-making.
- Builds a culture that values members and keeps their needs at the heart of all decisions.
Driving organizational and cultural changes needed to achieve strategic objectives; catalysing new approaches to improve results by transforming organizational culture, systems, or products/services; helping others overcome resistance to change.
- Sets the standard for driving organizational and cultural changes needed to achieve strategic objectives.
- Builds a culture that inspires people to challenge assumptions, embrace diverse perspectives, and make use of data and insights in generating novel solutions.
Translating strategic priorities into operational reality; aligning communication, accountabilities, resource capabilities, internal processes, and ongoing measurement systems to ensure that strategic priorities yield measurable and sustainable results.
- Sets the standard for the organization’s resolute drive towards operational excellence.
- Builds a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous learning and improvement, where ideas for improvement can grow, while continuing to deliver on determined goals.
Motivating increased employee effort by communicating a compelling view of the organization’s purpose and its future state in a way that helps others understand the importance of their contributions and feel how outcomes will be different when progress is achieved. Establishing systems and processes to attract, develop, engage, and retain talented individuals; creating a work environment where people can realize their full potential, thus allowing the organization to meet current and future business challenges.
- Sets the standard in leadership, motivating increased employee effort by communicating a compelling view of the organization’s purpose and its future state in a way that helps others understand the importance of their contributions.
- Builds a culture where people can realize their full potential, thus allowing the organization to meet current and future business challenges.
