Head of IT

The Head of Information Technology serves as a reliable point of contact for internal stakeholders and is committed to maintaining the long-term sustainability of the business. Operating within an environment governed by Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and high regulatory standards, this individual ensures that all work is conducted with strict adherence to quality protocols, ethical integrity, and scientific rigor. As a collaborative member of the team, this individual champions a Patient-First philosophy, ensuring that every deliverable meets the highest professional standards.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Head of IT is a hands-on, scrappy leader who begins as a team of one and builds a lean IT function. The role leads applications, infrastructure, data management and integration, cybersecurity, and AI and automation innovation to align IT strategy with business growth and clinical research capabilities. The role is based within our clients offices, with flexibility for remote work balanced with travel to sites in FL, TN , and MA as required. The position works with agility in close, cross-functional partnerships and delivers value to internal stakeholders and patients alike.

As our client continues to expand through both organic and acquisition-driven growth, the Head of IT will play a critical role in developing the technology foundation required to support a multi-site, geographically distributed organization. This leader will be responsible for establishing repeatable integration capabilities, evaluating technology environments of acquired organizations, rationalizing systems and applications, and accelerating the realization of acquisition synergies through thoughtful technology consolidation and modernization, * Oversee and optimize the full applications portfolio supporting clinical, research, and business operations.

• Design, manage, and scale a largely cloud-based IT infrastructure, including networks and servers, to support organizational growth and high availability.
• Establish data governance practices that ensure data quality, security, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead data integration initiatives to unify systems, streamline workflows, and strengthen analytics capabilities.
• Implement and maintain a robust cybersecurity program to protect sensitive patient, research, and business data.
• Evaluate and deploy AI and automation solutions that improve operational efficiency and research productivity.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to prioritize IT projects and deliver impactful solutions.
• Manage external technology vendors and service providers to ensure value and service quality.
• Develop and manage the IT budget, ensuring cost-effective technology investments.
• Build, mentor, and grow a lean IT team while developing the future IT organization and its core in-house capabilities.
• Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and responsiveness to business needs.
• Design and implement an IT operating model that balances internal capability building with strategic outsourcing; evaluate, select, and manage third-party providers for efficient delivery of commodity IT services while strengthening mission-critical capabilities in-house.
• Lead the technology due diligence, integration planning, and post-acquisition technology consolidation efforts for acquired (M&A activity) organizations. Partner with executive leadership to assess technology platforms, infrastructure, applications, data assets, cybersecurity posture, and vendor relationships of acquisition targets.
• Develop and execute integration roadmaps that rationalize overlapping systems, standardize processes, and migrate acquired businesses (M&A activity) onto our client’s technology platforms where appropriate. Balance speed of integration with business continuity, ensuring minimal disruption to clinical operations, research activities, employees, sponsors, and patients.
• Establish a scalable M&A technology integration playbook to support our clients ongoing inorganic growth strategy, including governance, data migration standards, application rationalization frameworks, cybersecurity assessments, and integration success metrics.
• Drive enterprise architecture decisions that support scalability across a growing portfolio of clinical research sites, ensuring acquired entities can be efficiently integrated while preserving critical business capabilities and local operational requirements where necessary.
• Develop organizational structures and talent strategies to recruit, retain, and develop in-house IT professionals, fostering technical expertise, leadership development, and scalability for future needs.
• Continuously assess the mix of in-house and outsourced resources to optimize cost, performance, and alignment with business priorities and strategic objectives.

• Hands-on technical credibility and the ability to engage effectively at both tactical and strategic levels; a willingness to roll up one’s sleeves.
• Strong knowledge of applications, infrastructure, cloud environments, data management, systems architecture, and data integration approaches.
• Strong understanding of interoperability standards, including HL7 and FHIR, with appreciation for clinical research data needs.
• Ability to establish data governance, protect sensitive information, and apply cybersecurity frameworks in regulated environments.
• Knowledge of AI, machine learning, and automation technologies, with the ability to apply these innovations to practical processes.
• Strong project prioritization, budget management, vendor management, stakeholder management, communication, and strategic planning skills.
• Ability to build scalable operating models, make sound internal-versus-outsourced resourcing decisions, and lead organizational transformation.
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, hands-on, and results-driven approach; comfort operating in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Strategic perspective on technology’s role in business outcomes, a patient-first mindset, and commitment to continuous learning and professional development., * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Proven experience in IT leadership roles managing applications, infrastructure, cloud environments, data, and security; experience within healthcare or clinical research is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience building and leading teams, managing technology vendors, and delivering technology projects on time and within budget.
• Demonstrated experience with cybersecurity frameworks and compliance requirements, including HIPAA and GCP.
• Proven experience in data integration, systems architecture, and interoperability standards, such as HL7 and FHIR.
• Track record of applying AI, machine learning, or automation technologies to real-world processes.
• Proven experience in organizational design, building and scaling IT teams, and managing outsourced partnerships effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate third-party vendors and balance internal capability development with cost-effective outsourcing of non-strategic IT services.
• Track record of defining and implementing operating models that optimize the allocation of internal and outsourced IT resources to meet organizational goals.
• Demonstrated aptitude for executive leadership and organizational transformation, with ambition to grow toward a CIO role.
• Experience leading technology due diligence and post-merger integration activities, including application rationalization, data migration, infrastructure consolidation, cybersecurity assessment, and operating model integration.
• Demonstrated success developing scalable technology platforms and integration frameworks that support acquisition-driven growth and multi-site operations.

Your growth and well-being are our priority. Our comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees includes medical, dental, and vision options, supplemental insurance plans, 401(k) with immediate employer match, generous paid time off, and paid holidays. Most notably, we support a healthy work-life balance through a four-day work week, consisting of 10-hour shifts from Monday through Thursday. Fridays are reserved only for critical business needs or administrative tasks; otherwise, they are your chance to kick-start your weekend.