Chief Information Officer Career Guide

Sample job description

Do you have the ability to adapt quickly? Are you great at anticipating and satisfying needs? If so, you might be the perfect fit as a Chief Information Officer.

Chief Information Officers use a combination of excellent business acumen, technical prowess, strategic thinking, and project management to manage a company’s IT and computer systems.

This invaluable position must respond quickly to trends and anticipate the technological needs of their company. They have to have great business sense, excellent people skills, and a good understanding of the limitations of the technology available.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Plan, purchase, coordinate, and manage a firm’s technology infrastructure
• Monitor related project metrics
• Directly manage IT staff
• Oversee IT operations, network administration, service desk, IT security, telephony, and related applications
• A key advisor to the President and CEO
• Liaison with external technology vendors

Education and experience

The career path for a Chief Information Officer (CIO) entails obtaining a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, IT management, or a related field; an MBA is a plus. To become a CIO, a candidate must have multiple years of experience in technology management in a strategic leadership role, preferably at a law firm.

Required skills and qualifications

• Deep and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of IT and related topics
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Experience leading and managing people
• Highly organized, and able to multitask
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Expertise in time management
• Keen attention to detail

Preferred qualifications

• 10+ years managing a team
• Strong knowledge of system infrastructure and implementation
• Understanding of budgets and business-planning
• Ability to conduct technological analyses and research
• Excellent communication, strong leadership skills, and organizational abilities

Available certifications

As Chief Information Officers work in a variety of industries, there are many institutions that offer certifications, including:

• Project Manager Professional. One of the key areas that define the success or failure of a manager, especially at the executive level, is their ability to manage a project. By obtaining this certification you demonstrate your ability to apply the best practices and methods of project management from start to finish. You’ll obtain a thorough understanding of the six domains: Initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, controlling, and finally closing. 

• Certified Information Security Manager. One of the largest threats to companies is the breach and theft of data by malicious actors. Being able to provide confidence to your employer by demonstrating your knowledge and experience with internationally recognized best practices and elite designation by obtaining this certification is as much assurance as can be provided. 

• PMI Risk Management Professional. CIOs arguably guide and make the most vital and long-term decisions for companies in the 21st century. Every year businesses put a million or billion-dollar bet on their CIOs to get their job done correctly, and that understandably comes with a bit of anxiety. By obtaining this certification, you can demonstrate your excellence in managing and mitigating risk in project management. A future employer will know you are more than capable of minimizing risk and capitalizing on opportunities.