Chief Technical Officer's Job Profile
Role of chief technical officers in an organization is that of primary interpreter of the operational technology decisions and issues. These professionals look after needs of an organization. They are also required to design and recommend suitable technology solutions for supporting directives and policies issued by Chief Information Officer.
The job of chief technical officer is a coveted and specialized job with many responsibilities. All the important technical and scientific decisions of an organization are dealt by the chief technical officer. Responsibility of supervising the technical staff of a company is also on his shoulders. He looks after different processes that involve industry specific technology. Chief technical officer dabbles in development activities and research at times.
The responsibilities of these professionals differ on the basis of the size of company they are working for. In small companies, the job responsibilities involve specific technical responsibilities like IT security and IT solution delivery and in big companies he looks after liaising, PR, strategy planning and business development. He plays a vital role in creation of technological vision for an organization.
In general, the task of chief technical officer is held responsible for design, architecture, operational integrity, maintenance and security across IT industry. He has to deliver the IT solutions with focus on the technical trouble solving. In a nutshell, the role of chief technological officer includes strategic innovation, assessing and monitoring new technologies, media relations, marketing, acquisitions, mergers and building the company culture.
Skills Required
Since these chief technical officers are executives, they should have great leadership skills. They should be able to work with a bunch of people efficiently because they have to deal with employee issues and also explain them technology requirements of the company. They should be patient and competent to give their best even under stressful conditions. They have to keep their cool and have problem solving skills. Apart from interpersonal skills, these officers should be from educational background along with relevant experience. Vision related to the internet technology, strategic planning abilities along with efficiency to meet the business objectives within the deadlines.
Aspiring chief technology officers should have an understanding of the latest technology and should have a vision for taking the business to higher levels of success. They should have the ability to mix the use of the contemporary technology with the goals of the company to achieve better results. They need to be highly efficient with their work as they have to act as bridge between program areas and technologists. They need to have an understanding of details of the program areas for making proactive, disciplined and detailed IT investments.
Many employers prefer candidates with some experience in professional education settings along with demonstrated specialization in technology. They have to be good with handling people as a major part of their jobs involve clients servicing: servers, networking and user support. They should have strong facilitation, analytical and leadership qualities for carrying out their jobs. They have to interact with people constantly so their communication skills should also be good. Apart from all these skills, they should be focused towards their jobs.
Academic Qualifications and Training
The basic educational requirements include a bachelor's degree in some technology related subject or business. A lot of employers also ask for a master's degree in the related field. Relevant experience is an added advantage for the candidate. Experience in implementing, developing, operating in complex environment lets the candidate learn a lot about their job. CTO certification, degrees in the business related fields and demonstrated expertise is preferred too.
Job Prospects and Salary
The job prospects of the chief technical officers are average. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S, there is a little growth expected in this field. The advent of new companies will require candidates for the post of chief technical officer. So the candidates should be skilled enough to get the job in the competitive market. You can aim for the top level executive positions that are high in salary and prestige.
If you are able to make your way through the top, you will get lucrative salaries. Salary is dependent on many factors like location, size of the company and education of the candidates. The median salary annually is around $85,320. Commitment to their work is an essential for all those who are aspiring to become chief technical officer's job position.
