Executive Vice President, Technology

Position Summary: The Executive Vice President, Technology (EVP Technology), serves as AKC’s senior technology executive, a strategic partner to the CEO, and a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Reporting directly to the CEO, the EVP Technology leads enterprise technology strategy, cybersecurity, digital transformation, data and AI initiatives, and technology operations to support AKC’s mission, customer experience, and long-term growth. This role is responsible for modernizing a complex technology environment, including heavily customized legacy technology, moving AKC towards a smaller set of connected, configurable platforms, driving innovation, and delivering secure, scalable, and integrated technology solutions that enable business performance and future organizational success. Primary Job Duties: Technology Strategy & Innovation • Define and execute the enterprise technology vision and roadmap. • Own and drive enterprise architecture and technology standards across all business units • Lead digital transformation, AI adoption, and technology modernization initiatives. • Align technology investments with business strategy and growth objectives. Business Leadership • Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team. • Partner with leaders across the organization to deliver technology solutions that drive business results. • Champion the use of data, analytics, and emerging technologies. Cybersecurity & Risk Management • Lead enterprise cybersecurity, risk management, and compliance programs. • Ensure business continuity, disaster recovery, and incident response readiness. Technology Operations • Deliver reliable, secure, and high-performing technology services. • Oversee IT operations, budgeting, resource planning, and service excellence. Vendor & Strategic Partnerships • Lead technology sourcing, contract negotiations, and vendor management. • Build strategic partnerships that support innovation and operational efficiency. People Leadership • Build, develop, and lead a high-performing technology team. • Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Required Skills, Specialized Knowledge and Competency Requirement: A demonstrated record of successfully leading enterprise-wide technology transformation, including modernization of legacy technology environments, applications, infrastructure, architecture, data and/or cybersecurity. Experience developing and executing an enterprise technology strategy that is directly aligned with organizational strategy, business objectives and customer needs. Experience leading a significant technology modernization agenda, including the ability to assess technical debt, establish a future-state architecture, prioritize investments and execute a multi-year transformation roadmap. Experience leading delivery through vendors, SaaS, and managed-service partners in a blended model Experience establishing trusted enterprise data and data governance Experience inheriting and transforming complex or fragmented technology environments, with demonstrated success improving reliability, scalability, security, integration and organizational effectiveness. Significant experience leading technology organizations, including building high-performing teams, developing technology leadership talent and establishing clear accountability and operating discipline. Experience establishing effective technology governance, including enterprise architecture, portfolio prioritization, investment governance, technology standards, risk management and decision rights. Strong financial and commercial acumen, including responsibility for substantial technology budgets, technology investment decisions, vendor negotiations, contract management and optimization of technology spend. Experience partnering with executive leadership and Boards of Directors to communicate technology strategy, investment priorities, enterprise risk and transformation progress in clear business terms. Strong understanding of modern technology architectures, including cloud and hybrid environments, enterprise applications, integration, data platforms, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. Experience working effectively with Product, Data, Business and Operations leaders in an integrated business-and-technology operating model. A demonstrated ability to lead organizational and cultural change, including navigating resistance, establishing new ways of working and creating organizational alignment around transformation. A track record of delivering measurable business outcomes, not simply technology implementations. This is a hybrid position that requires a minimum of 3 days per week in our Raleigh NC office.