Role Overview for VP, Infrastructure & Security with a Large Retailer – Minneapolis, MN
JRG Partners is proud to represent a premier, large-scale retailer in their search for a visionary and strategic Vice President of Infrastructure and Security. This executive leadership role, based at their corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, MN, is a cornerstone of the company’s technology leadership team.
You will be entrusted with the critical responsibility of shaping and executing the vision, strategy, and operational excellence of the entire technology infrastructure and cybersecurity landscape. In a rapidly evolving retail environment where technology is the primary driver of customer experience and business efficiency, your leadership will directly impact the company’s competitive advantage, operational resilience, and brand reputation.
As the VP, Infrastructure & Security, you will command a significant portfolio encompassing all on-premise data centers, a multi-cloud environment, enterprise networking, unified communications, and end-user computing. You will also be the organization’s senior-most leader for information security, tasked with protecting valuable corporate and customer data against an ever-changing threat landscape.
This role demands a unique blend of deep technical expertise, strategic business acumen, and inspirational leadership. You will lead a large, multi-disciplinary team of talented engineers, architects, and security professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer (CIO), you will serve as a key advisor to the executive team, translating complex technical concepts into business-centric strategies and ensuring technology investments deliver maximum value and security.
Key Responsibilities of VP, Infrastructure & Security with a Large Retailer – Minneapolis, MN
Strategic Planning & Vision
Develop, articulate, and execute a comprehensive multi-year technology roadmap for all infrastructure and security services. This includes defining the future state architecture for cloud, data centers, networks, and security platforms, ensuring tight alignment with the company’s strategic business objectives, growth plans, and digital transformation initiatives.
Infrastructure Operations & Modernization
Lead the design, implementation, and 24/7 operation of a highly available, scalable, and resilient IT infrastructure. This includes managing enterprise data centers, overseeing a hybrid/multi-cloud strategy (AWS, Azure, GCP), and ensuring the performance and reliability of all network services, servers, storage, and database systems. You will champion modernization efforts, driving automation, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and site reliability engineering (SRE) principles to enhance efficiency and agility.
Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership
Architect and manage a comprehensive, enterprise-wide information security program to safeguard critical assets. Your responsibilities will include developing and enforcing security policies, managing a world-class Security Operations Center (SOC), leading incident response efforts, and overseeing threat intelligence, vulnerability management, and penetration testing programs. You will ensure the organization’s security posture is proactive, adaptive, and capable of defending against sophisticated cyber threats.
Compliance & Risk Management
Establish and maintain a robust governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) framework. Ensure adherence to all relevant legal, statutory, and regulatory requirements, including PCI DSS, SOX, CCPA, and GDPR. You will be responsible for conducting regular risk assessments and implementing controls based on industry best practices, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, to mitigate risks to an acceptable level.
Team Leadership & Talent Development
Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing organization of infrastructure and security professionals. Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture that attracts, retains, and develops top talent. Champion professional development, provide clear direction, and empower your teams to innovate and excel in their respective domains.
Financial & Vendor Management
Develop and manage the annual operating (OpEx) and capital (CapEx) budgets for the infrastructure and security departments, ensuring fiscal responsibility and maximizing the return on technology investments. Oversee all vendor relationships, negotiate favorable contracts, and hold partners accountable to stringent Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure the delivery of high-quality services.
Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
Own and mature the enterprise’s IT disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity planning (BCP). This involves regularly testing and updating DR plans, ensuring critical systems can be recovered within defined Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs), and minimizing disruption to business operations in the event of a major incident.
Executive Collaboration & Communication
Serve as the primary infrastructure and security advisor to the executive leadership team and board of directors. Effectively communicate complex technical issues, risks, and strategies in clear, business-oriented terms. Build strong partnerships with leaders across all business units to ensure technology solutions meet their needs and enable their success.
Requirements for the VP, Infrastructure & Security with a Large Retailer – Minneapolis, MN
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree (e.g., MBA, MS in Information Security) is strongly preferred.
Executive Leadership Experience
A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in technology, with at least 8-10 years in a senior leadership capacity (Director or VP level) managing large, complex infrastructure and security functions for a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
Industry Expertise
Direct experience within the retail industry is highly desirable. A deep understanding of the unique technological and security challenges of a large retail environment—including POS systems, e-commerce platforms, supply chain logistics, and PCI DSS compliance—is a significant asset.
Technical Acumen
Extensive hands-on and strategic knowledge across a wide range of technologies. This must include deep expertise in public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), modern network architecture (SD-WAN, SASE), virtualization, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), data center management, and enterprise storage solutions.
Cybersecurity Expertise
Proven experience in building and leading a modern cybersecurity program. Must possess a strong understanding of security frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001), threat modeling, incident response, SIEM, endpoint protection, and identity and access management (IAM) solutions.
Professional Certifications
Advanced industry certifications are highly regarded. Relevant certifications include Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), or advanced cloud architecture certifications.
Transformational Leadership
Demonstrated success in leading large-scale technology transformation projects, such as cloud migrations, data center consolidations, or security program overhauls. Must be a change agent with the ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement.
Business & Financial Acumen
Strong financial management skills, including experience developing and managing large, complex budgets. The ability to build compelling business cases for technology investments and to articulate the value of infrastructure and security to non-technical stakeholders is essential.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to investing in their leaders and provides a highly competitive and comprehensive rewards package, including:
Executive Compensation
A competitive base salary, a significant annual performance-based bonus, and a long-term incentive plan (equity/stock options).
Comprehensive Health & Wellness
Premier medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents, along with wellness programs and flexible spending accounts (FSA/HSA).
Retirement Savings
A generous 401(k) retirement plan with a substantial company match to help you plan for your future.
Paid Time Off
A flexible and generous paid time off (PTO) policy, including vacation, sick days, and numerous paid company holidays.
Professional Growth
A dedicated budget for continuous learning, including executive coaching, attendance at industry conferences, and support for advanced certifications.
Relocation Support
A comprehensive relocation package is available for the ideal candidate and their family.
Employee Perks
Substantial employee discount on all company products, access to on-site amenities, and various corporate partnership discounts.
How to Apply
This is a retained search being conducted exclusively by JRG Partners. If you are a transformative technology leader with a passion for building resilient infrastructure and world-class security programs, we encourage you to apply. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on a beloved retail brand.
To be considered for this confidential opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter. For more information or to explore other executive opportunities, please visit JRG Partners’ Technology Executive Search practice page. We look forward to connecting with you.
