Chief Technology Officer

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for LendingPoint’s technology platform ensuring 24/7 up-time reliability, scalability and security coupled with the ability to continually evolve deliver a superior, market ready client offering. The CTO is responsible for all facets of technology both customer and Internal facing. The CTO provides strategic, operational and programmatic support to the organization. The CTO leads and supervises the on-shore and off-shore team encompassing platform migration, software development, Cloud operations (AWS), AI&ML, data (Google), engineering, quality assurance, project management, IT Infrastructure and business systems.

The role includes developing platform strategy and key performance measures, establishing objectives for the development and technology operations functions and delivering results across objectives, initiatives and development projects aligned with LendingPoint’s strategic business plan and objectives. LendingPoint has both internal and external users of the platform and serves other companies, banks and hedge funds that rely on the platform for origination, payment, servicing, data and reports.

The CTO reports to the CEO and directly leads on all technology strategic, policy and tactical matters as they relate to company performance, department supervision, budgeting and control, and financial performance.
LendingPoint is keen to recruit a “hands-on” CTO who will lead, develop and inspire urgency in the technology team ensuring completeness of the current platform system migration and real-time monitoring of platform performance. The CTO will collaborate cross-functionally to execute technology strategy and influence the platform and product functionality and roadmaps; effectively on-board new business partnerships, develop project plans, resource requirements, and implementation schedules for software development initiatives ensuring consistent use of disciplined engineering practices in Agile-based development.

Critical Responsibilities:

• Oversee and lead the current platform/system migration. Ensure transactional platform scalability, resilience and security in what is a regulated environment.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to develop technology strategy, and influence the platform and product roadmaps
• Inspire and build a high-performing technology team leveraging both on-shore and off-shore capabilities. Drive the agenda around on-shore / off-shore decisions.
• Provide action orientated, effective management and leadership to the development and technology teams including career development, mentoring, and performance management.
• Build end-user enterprise B2C cloud applications – including web portals and mobile apps - with a high level of technical proficiency at speed and scale.
• Develop project plans, resource requirements, and implementation schedules for new software development projects
• Ensure consistent use of disciplined engineering practices (design, code reviews, testing practices, etc.) in Agile/Scrum/Sprints based software development projects.
• Coordinate with the C-Suite on developing long-range plans for the development group, including resource capacity planning and talent management.
• Entrepreneurial, hands-on player coach. In possession of high EQ and IQ.

Competencies & Qualifications:

• Four-year college or university degree in Computer Science, Engineering or equivalent preferred.
• Domain: Minimum ten years of progressively responsible software engineering management experience with day-to-day operations working in FinTech, Payments Transactions / Merchant Processing and / or Financial Services.
• Cloud Platform: Experience of developing transactional, scalable, resilient enterprise cloud platforms and apps. Coupled with experience of managing & delivering system/platform migration and/or implementation and/or transformation.
• Expertise in Agile development, test automation, continuous integration and platform performance / scalability.
• Leadership / High EQ: Strong leader able to inspire and instill a sense of urgency as company grows.
• Talent Magnet: Able to attract, recruit, mentor and develop high-performing on-shore and off-shore teams.
• Technical / Business Acumen: Understands the nuances / trade-offs of time, cost, completion without compromising quality.

Leadership Behaviors
Executing for Results

• The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance; tenacious and accountable in driving results.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
• A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in his/her approach to making decisions; the ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner while always taking into account what is best for the organization.

Leading Teams

• The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.
• The ability to persevere in the face of challenges and exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers.
• A leader who is self-reflective and aware of his/her own limitations; leads by example and drives the organization's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement.

Relationships and Influence

• Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
• An ability to inspire trust and followership in others through compelling influence, powerful charisma, passion in his/her beliefs, and active drive.
• Encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the team.
• Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team that generates followership beyond his/her own personality and engages others to the greater purpose for the organization as a whole.