Chief Digital Officer with a Public Utilities Company – Raleigh, NC

Role Overview for Chief Digital Officer with a Public Utilities Company – Raleigh, NC

JRG Partners is proud to partner with a forward-thinking and essential public utilities company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, in their search for a transformative Chief Digital Officer (CDO). This is a pivotal executive leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, designed for a visionary leader who can architect and execute a comprehensive digital transformation strategy. Our client is at the forefront of a critical industry evolution, recognizing that the future of reliable, sustainable, and affordable utility services is inextricably linked to digital innovation. The successful candidate will be the central force driving this change, fundamentally reshaping how the company operates, engages with its customers, and manages critical infrastructure.

As the CDO, you will be responsible for creating a cohesive digital vision that aligns with the company’s long-term strategic goals of safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction. You will champion a culture of innovation, data-driven decision-making, and digital fluency across the entire organization—from corporate functions to field operations. This role demands a unique blend of strategic acumen, deep technological expertise, and inspirational leadership. You will not only oversee the technology platforms but will also be the primary advocate for a customer-centric mindset, leveraging digital tools to create seamless, personalized, and empowering experiences for millions of residents and businesses in the Raleigh area. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on a vital community service, ensuring its resilience and relevance for generations to come.

Key Responsibilities of Chief Digital Officer with a Public Utilities Company – Raleigh, NC

The Chief Digital Officer will have a broad and impactful scope of responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Develop and Execute Enterprise-Wide Digital Strategy: You will be the architect of the company’s digital future. This involves creating, articulating, and implementing a comprehensive digital roadmap that touches every facet of the business. You will conduct thorough assessments of the current digital landscape, identify key opportunities for growth and efficiency, and define clear, measurable KPIs to track progress. This strategy must integrate emerging technologies while aligning with regulatory requirements and long-term business objectives, ensuring digital initiatives deliver tangible value and a strong return on investment.
• Champion a Superior Digital Customer Experience (CX): You will fundamentally transform how the utility interacts with its customers. This includes redesigning and optimizing all digital touchpoints, such as the company website, mobile applications, self-service portals, and communication platforms. Your focus will be on creating intuitive, accessible, and proactive customer journeys, from digital onboarding and billing to outage reporting and energy efficiency recommendations. You will leverage data and analytics to personalize interactions and provide customers with greater control and insight into their usage.
• Drive Operational Excellence through Technology and Data: You will spearhead initiatives to digitize and optimize core operational processes. This includes championing the expansion of smart grid technologies, IoT sensors, and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to create a more intelligent and responsive network. You will oversee the development of a robust data analytics platform to harness operational data for predictive maintenance, load forecasting, asset management, and outage prevention, thereby increasing grid reliability and reducing operational costs.
• Lead IT/OT Convergence and Modernization: A key challenge in the utilities sector is the integration of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT). You will develop a cohesive strategy to bridge this gap, ensuring seamless and secure data flow between corporate systems (ERP, CRM) and industrial control systems (SCADA). You will lead the modernization of legacy systems, promoting a cloud-first approach where appropriate and building a scalable, agile, and secure technology architecture for the future.
• Foster a Culture of Innovation and Digital Fluency: As a change agent, you will inspire and cultivate a culture that embraces digital innovation and continuous improvement. This involves establishing innovation hubs or labs, promoting agile methodologies, and creating programs to enhance the digital skills of employees across all departments. You will scout for emerging technologies—such as AI/ML, blockchain, and digital twins—and assess their potential application within the utility context, running pilot programs to validate their value.
• Ensure Robust Cybersecurity and Digital Risk Management: In partnership with the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), you will ensure that the company’s digital transformation does not come at the expense of security. You will help embed security-by-design principles into all digital initiatives and ensure that the organization’s cybersecurity posture evolves to meet the threats targeting critical infrastructure. This includes a focus on data privacy, regulatory compliance (e.g., NERC CIP), and building a resilient digital ecosystem.
• Provide Executive Leadership and Stakeholder Management: As a member of the executive team, you will serve as the top technology and digital advisor to the CEO and the Board of Directors. You will be responsible for communicating the digital vision, progress, and business impact to all stakeholders, including employees, investors, regulators, and community partners. You will manage the digital portfolio, oversee significant budgets, negotiate with technology vendors, and build a world-class digital team to execute your vision.

Requirements for the Chief Digital Officer with a Public Utilities Company – Raleigh, NC

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned executive with a proven track record of leading successful digital transformations in complex, asset-intensive industries.

• Educational Background: A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree (MBA or MS) is highly preferred.
• Executive Experience: A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in technology and digital leadership roles, with at least 7 years in a senior executive position (e.g., CDO, CIO, CTO, VP of Digital) with significant strategic and budgetary responsibility.
• Transformation Leadership: Demonstrable experience successfully leading at least one large-scale, end-to-end digital transformation within a complex, traditional organization. Must be able to provide clear examples of strategy development, execution, and measured business outcomes.
• Industry Knowledge: While direct utilities experience is a significant advantage, experience in other regulated, asset-heavy industries such as energy, telecommunications, manufacturing, or transportation will be strongly considered. A deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of IT/OT convergence is critical.
• Technical Acumen: Broad and deep knowledge of modern digital technologies, including cloud computing (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), data science, artificial intelligence/machine learning, IoT, enterprise architecture, and cybersecurity principles. Must be a strategic thinker who can translate complex technical concepts into business value.
• Leadership & Communication Skills: Exceptional leadership qualities with the ability to inspire, influence, and motivate teams across the organization. Proven ability to build and develop high-performing teams. Must be an outstanding communicator and collaborator, capable of effectively engaging with the Board of Directors, executive peers, regulators, and technical staff.
• Business Acumen: Strong financial and business acumen with experience managing large budgets, developing business cases, and demonstrating the ROI of technology investments. Must be commercially minded and customer-obsessed.

Benefits & Perks Offered

Our client offers a highly competitive executive compensation and benefits package designed to attract and retain top-tier talent. This includes:

• Competitive base salary and performance-based annual bonus.
• Long-term incentive plan (equity or equivalent).
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Generous 401(k) plan with a significant company match.
• Substantial paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Executive-level professional development and continuing education support.
• Relocation assistance for the ideal candidate if required.
• The opportunity to make a significant and visible impact on a mission-driven organization vital to the community.

How to Apply

JRG Partners is managing this executive search on an exclusive basis. To apply for this confidential opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience in leading digital transformation and your vision for this role. We are committed to a transparent and respectful recruitment process.

All inquiries and applications will be handled with the strictest confidence. We look forward to reviewing your qualifications and discussing how you can shape the digital future of this essential organization.