Vice President, Digital Health and Chief Information Officer (CIO)

As a key member of the senior leadership team, the Vice President, Digital Health and Chief Information Officer (CIO) provides the vision and strategic direction for information and digital technologies across Hamilton Health Sciences. Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Chief Administration Officer, the VP and CIO serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Executive Team, clinical leadership, and medical staff, shaping enterprise‑wide digital transformation in one of Ontario’s largest and most complex healthcare organizations. Externally, the CIO represents HHS in collaboration with government partners, sector leaders, community stakeholders, McMaster University, and the broader public, advancing digital innovation and strengthening system integration across the region.

The VP and CIO provides enterprise-wide leadership for the Digital Health Plan (DHP), delivering on strategic priorities while effectively navigating financial pressures. Operating in a demanding, fast‑paced environment with extremely tight deadlines, the VP and CIO establishes IT portfolio goals and oversees HITS strategic and operational planning to achieve business objectives by fostering innovation, prioritizing digital initiatives, and coordinating the evaluation, deployment, and management of current and future technology systems across the organization.

The role has direct accountability for all information and communication functions in both proactive planning and in rapid response situations, and leads the development of strategies that sustain and strengthen the HHS technology environment. A core responsibility includes facilitating meaningful engagement with internal stakeholders, and external partners to define business and systems requirements for new technology implementations, ensuring solutions are aligned with organizational needs, including strategic digital partnerships with other hospitals.

The VP and CIO identifies opportunities to leverage technology to enhance process efficiency, cost‑effectiveness, internal controls, and user experience, including identifying and championing opportunities for automation and AI.  Duties also include overseeing the development and maintenance of the operating and capital budgets for the HITS division, as well as managing the reporting Directors responsible for business continuity planning, business recovery, maintaining essential services, scheduling, quality assurance, asset procurement planning, and inventory reconciliation. Current portfolios include HITS Infrastructure Services and Solutions, HITS Client Services, HITS Informatics, HITS Medical Informatics, Strategic Digital Partnerships, Telecommunications, Biomedical Technologies, and the HITS eHealth Office. The VP and CIO directs the leadership team to ensure appropriate resources are in place to effectively manage the portfolio of projects and services.

Consideration will be given to candidates who have the optimal combination of the following experience, leadership and personal qualities.

• Undergraduate degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field and master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive senior leadership experience managing information systems and services and cross functional technical teams. Experience in a complex, multi-site healthcare organization preferred. 

• 5 years as a Director

• Strong knowledge of available digital health technologies (e.g., health information management systems).

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Strong knowledge and experience of the IT industry

• Strong Knowledge and experience in Digital Health and transformation

• Strong analytical and decision-making skills

• Financial acumen

• Proven ability to problem solve and manage large scale projects

• Proven ability to manage budgets and staff

• Strong understanding of Healthcare practices and processes