Our Company
More than a utility company, Unitil provides energy for life.
Our work helps keep homes comfortable, businesses thriving and communities connected. Unitil is an investor-owned public utility proudly serving Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We are dedicated to delivering energy to our customers safely and reliably.
Unitil is committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the differences among all of our employees, customers, suppliers and the communities in which we live and conduct business. The continued success of Unitil is enhanced through initiatives that promote diversity and value our employees.
Take advantage of a comprehensive benefits package.
Unitil offers competitive salaries, a consumer-driven health plan, dental and vision coverage, flexible work, company-paid holidays, a, robust, highly competitive retirement plan and educational assistance.
*Note: Benefit offerings may differ between union and non-union employee groups.
Position Purpose
The Vice President (VP) of Information Technology (IT) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) will direct technology strategy and operations for our 600-employee utility, overseeing the digital infrastructure required to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable electric, gas, and water distribution service to approximately 220,000 customers across Northern New England. Beyond traditional IT responsibilities, this position requires a specialized focus on safeguarding Operating Technology (OT), integrating OT with IT frameworks, and serving as an executive sponsor for the Company's enterprise-wide Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Work and Asset Management (WAM) implementation. The position will build out the IT/OT footprint for the Company's new water distribution business unit, establish a mature data analytics foundation, and manage an AI adoption roadmap that prioritizes safety, data privacy, and ethical compliance.
This role requires a highly innovative and collaborative leader who can partner with business unit executives and clearly defend technology programs to external stakeholders. The CIO will work across functions throughout the Company to implement and manage information and operating technologies. The CIO ensures the resiliency and compliance of IT/OT environments with all NIST, NERC CIP, Sarbanes Oxley and other information technology standards and regulations. These enterprise-wide solutions must remain available, resilient, secure and effective to successfully operate the Company's business units. The CIO also is responsible for the strategic implementation of digital technologies, including data analytics, automation, AI, and machine learning capabilities, and demonstrating the cost-efficiency and prudence of associated investments to senior management, and state and federal regulators.
Principal Accountabilities
% of Time
Major Accountability
60%
IT Strategy & Planning
Lead the planning, development, and monitoring of IT/OT roadmap to support the Company's long-term strategic plan; drive the strategic alignment and secure integration of Operational Technology and Information Technology networks across gas, electric, and water segments.
Monitor industry drivers and emerging needs/interests among key stakeholders to identify future trends and opportunities informing IT strategies; ensure strategies are well-communicated and translated into actionable and quantitative plans for work units/functions.
Define, develop, and execute the Company's comprehensive AI and data analytics strategy spanning both corporate (IT) and operational (OT) environments.
Align IT risk management with enterprise-wide risk management.
Oversee implementation of the IT Governance Framework.
Create and implement a strategy for the deployment of information security technologies, processes and compliance.
Establish data governance frameworks to break down data silos across gas, electric, and water segments, creating a single source of truth for enterprise reporting.
Collaborate with Customer Service leaders to modernize billing systems, enhance the Customer Information System (CIS), implement customer-centric website applications, and deploy AI tools that improve customer satisfaction.
Work with Finance leadership to ensure the ERP system optimizes capital planning, financial reporting, budgeting, and asset depreciation tracking for regulatory filings.
Partner with Electric, Gas, and Water Operations leaders to align IT/OT delivery with physical field operations, engineering needs, and supply reliability.
20%
Acquisition, Development / Implementation & Deployment
Define and communicate corporate procedures, policies, and standards for the organization for acquiring, implementing, securing and operating new network systems, equipment, software, and other technologies.
Approve, prioritize, and control projects and the project portfolio as they relate to the selection, acquisition, development, implementation, and installation of systems.
Assess and communicate risks associated with technology-related purchases.
Review hardware and software acquisition and maintenance contracts and pursue master agreements to capitalize on economies of scale.
20%
Operational Management & Leadership
Oversee general operations of the department and provide leadership and direction for Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Telecommunications, and Operations Technology functions.
Oversee performance objectives and overall IT budget using metrics based on overall business objectives.
Provide executive oversight for all daily IT operations, ensuring 99.9% uptime for core business systems, networks, and cloud infrastructure.
Direct the corporate helpdesk, desktop support, and technical operations teams to provide exceptional, responsive service to employees across all offices and field centers.
Oversee technical staff in accordance with corporate budgetary objectives and personnel policies.
Ensure processes, procedures, equipment and software operation adheres to applicable laws, regulations, and standards.
Oversee the implementation of the IT security strategy in coordination with the Chief Information Security Officer.
Serve within the Incident Command Structure for IT / Cybersecurity incidents.
Qualifications
Education:
Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent 4-year technical degree.
Advanced degree required, i.e. an MBA, or equivalent supplemental training.
Experience:
15+ years' experience in a utility environment including technical management experience and progressively higher levels of responsibility.
Demonstrated experience with IT systems and IT management at a senior level with a sequence of increasing responsibilities in diverse business settings
Experience in strategic planning, execution, and policy development
Extensive knowledge of data processing, hardware platforms, enterprise software applications, and outsourced systems
Proven experience testifying, preparing testimony, or directly interacting with state utility commissions or federal regulators (FERC/NERC) to support capital expenditure approvals.
Excellent understanding of project management principles and a track record of successful large project implementations.
Experience developing and deploying enterprise data architectures, business intelligence (BI) strategies, or AI/ML initiatives.
Unitil is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
