Chief Technology Officer

Chief Technology Officer job description

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) leads the organisation’s technology vision, strategy, and execution to drive innovation, scalability, and operational efficiency. This executive role is responsible for architecting the future technology landscape, overseeing product engineering, and ensuring compliance with New Zealand regulatory and cybersecurity standards.

Typical Chief Technology Officer duties

Key responsibilities of a CTO include:

Defining and delivering technology strategies that align with business goals and support long-term growth

Overseeing product development, software engineering, and systems architecture

Ensuring alignment with the NZ Privacy Act, ISO 27001, and relevant government cybersecurity frameworks

Evaluating emerging technologies and leading the adoption of scalable, secure, and modern platforms

Building and leading cross-functional technology teams across infrastructure, development, DevOps, and architecture

Partnering with executive leadership to embed technology into core business models and innovation initiatives

Managing technical risks, debt, and system resilience while enabling continuous improvement

Driving engineering excellence, agile delivery, and high-quality software development practices

Overseeing technical vendor selection, licensing, and outsourcing partnerships

Chief Technology Officer job qualifications and requirements

A degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field is required. Executive certifications in cloud, architecture, or cybersecurity are advantageous.

Requirements include:

10+ years’ experience in senior technology leadership roles, including at least 5 years at an executive level

Proven experience leading product and technology strategy in fast-paced or complex environments

Deep knowledge of software architecture, development lifecycles, and cloud-native platforms

Strong understanding of New Zealand-specific data protection, digital compliance, and security requirements

Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing technical teams and deliver innovative solutions

Excellent stakeholder engagement, commercial insight, and strategic planning skills

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Salary for Chief Technology Officer

250000 - 350000

25th percentile

250000

The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is building necessary skills.

50th percentile

280000

The candidate has moderate experience in the role, meets most requirements or has equivalent transferable skills, and may also have relevant certifications.

75th percentile

350000

The candidate has extensive experience and advanced skills for the role, and may also have specialised certifications.

Salary range based on three percentiles The starting salaries represent gross yearly salaries. They do not include bonuses, benefits or KiwiSaver.

Projected salaries for related positions

Job title

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

IT Manager

135000

150000

175000

Head of IT

160000

180000

200000

Head of Data

180000

200000

230000

Software Development Manager

180000

200000

230000

Head of Product

160000

180000

200000

Chief Information Officer

250000

280000

350000

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Our starting salary projections come from a detailed, multistep process that ensures our numbers accurately reflect the marketplace. They’re based on real compensation data for job candidates our recruiters have matched with companies across the country.

The Salary Guide from Robert Half is the original. We’ve been publishing salary forecasts since 1950, and our guide has served as a trusted source for employers, job seekers, industry associations, government and educational institutions, and national and local media.