Job Description
Our ideal candidate would provide executive leadership for technology strategy, architecture, cybersecurity, and digital enablement. The person we seek will be forward-thinking, innovative, and able to motivate their team to continuously strive for success.
Cooperative Producers, Inc. (CPI) offers a diverse range of employment opportunities that span a wide variety of fields. We continuously seek enthusiastic and qualified individuals who can help contribute to the growth and success of our cooperative.
CPI is seeking a dedicated Chief Technology Officer to join our expanding team. We deeply value our employees' contributions and are committed to their professional development, engagement, and success. We recruit and retain the best people to continually deliver exceptional value.
CPI is proudly committed to our "Making Local Matter" initiative by forging enduring partnerships with local farmers and actively supporting the communities of Northern Kansas and Central Nebraska. As an employee of CPI, you will have the opportunity to make a positive impact on your community and support CPI's mission of making local matter.
What the job is: CPI is looking for someone who will be responsible for the design, implementation, and security of CPI’s network and infrastructure. This role directs and coordinates all information technology and technical operations through rigorous management and accountability to achieve optimum efficiency and growth through proactive monitoring, maintenance, and strategic planning. Furthermore, the position ensures total oversight of IT operations while maintaining strict compliance with CPI policies, internal procedures, and all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Follow the safety guidelines and safety programs established by CPI and complete safety reports and required records.
- Responsible for the efficiency of CPI’s technical operations.
- Develop and maintain CPI’s multi-year enterprise technology roadmap.
- Provide architectural oversight of core systems, integrations, data platforms, and digital solutions.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and regulatory developments for operations and competitive advantage. Sponsor and govern major technology initiatives to ensure business values and adoption.
- Own enterprise technology risk management, cybersecurity, and incident response readiness; oversee disaster recovery and business continuity strategy.
- Own the vendor portfolio. Hold software, infrastructure, and managed service providers accountable for integration, cooperation, performance, security posture, and roadmap delivery.
- Own the strategy and execution path for integrating AI and emerging technologies into CPI’s operations.
- Serve as an active member of CPI’s Senior Leadership Team. Provide regular technology performance and risk reporting to executive leadership.
- Direct and ensure day-to-day operational execution of IT service through the IT Manager.
Skills and Specifications - Strong understanding of enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, and data and analytics platforms.
- Proven ability to align technology investment with business strategies.
- Executive leadership across technology, operations, and change management.
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and vendor relationships.
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
- High level of integrity, ethics, morals and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation.
Supervisory Responsibilities Directly supervises the IT Manager and other assigned technical personnel. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning and directing work; appraising performance; and addressing complaints or resolving problems in accordance with CPI policies.
Current Technology Environment - CPI operates a diversified multi-vendor technology environment supporting grain, agronomy, energy, safety and support systems.
- Core platforms include enterprise ERP system, AGRIS, CRM and contract management (AgVend, Contango) grain and hedging systems (Hrvyst, BarChart), agronomy and field systems (FieldAlytics, Ever.Ag, Kahler, John Deere), energy billing platforms (Energy Force, Otodata, Intevacon, CMI), safety and compliance systems (DEKRA, Samsara, Limble), and transportation and logistics tools.
- CPI also relies heavily on Microsoft 365 (Power BI, Power Apps), cybersecurity platforms (CrowdStrike), document management and e-signature tools, and a variety of marketing, website, and communication platforms.
- The Chief Technology Officer is accountable for overall system architecture; technology integration; data consistency; cybersecurity; vendor performance; and ensuring these platforms collectively enable reliable operations, informed decision-making, and future scalability.
Education and Qualifications B achelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science or a related field or equivalent executive-level experience.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Required: Valid Driver’s License.
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- May be required to lift up to 15 pounds at a time.
This is a full-time employment opportunity with Cooperative Producers, Inc. CPI is not looking for managed IT services but rather to employ the right person in this position. This is not a remote position but rather it will be located onsite at our corporate headquarters in Hastings, Nebraska. Please inquire within for full job description.
CPI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment.
Job Tags
Full time, Contract work, Local area