This candidate will be a world-class Technology leader who can provide executive leadership and strategic direction for Shutterstock’s global Technology organization in our newly matrixed and shared support organizational model.  The CTO will play a critical role in the growth of the Company by building and delivering products that surprise and delight customers and have a materially positive impact on the business. They will be an integral member of the Executive team.  

This leader must have the market savvy and technical acumen to effectively partner both internally and externally, driving both strategy and execution, to ensure success as a global Creative AI-powered platform across divisions.

They will be responsible for leading the Technology organization to drive innovation and best practices across the organization, as well as chairing the Product Development Council to collaborate with various divisions in assessing business needs and aligning technology initiatives with strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities

Vision

• Communicate and deliver a technology vision, strategy and roadmap; that allows for faster product innovation, operational efficiency, and commercialization of core software.

• Collaborate with the executive leadership team and the Board to set overall strategic direction and lead the company through increasing scale-up and ongoing operations.

• Lead the Technology organization, ensuring the implementation of best practices and guiding all divisions in adopting innovative solutions and methodologies.  

• Lead the Product Council, comprising representatives from various divisions to prioritize product development initiatives and ensure alignment with market needs and business objectives.

• Provide visionary leadership and clear strategic direction to architects, engineers, and technology professionals, advancing the use of technology to revolutionize design and delivery processes. 

• Drive innovative expansion, positioning SSTK at the forefront of AI technologies while staying ahead of industry trends and emerging markets to drive growth and competitive advantage.

• Align AI initiatives with business objectives and define how AI can drive growth and competitive advantage.

Cross-Divisional Collaboration

• Collaborate with division leaders to identify technological needs and opportunities for synergy, ensuring that technology initiatives are effectively integrated into operational workflows.

• Serve as a bridge between the Technology organization and all divisions, translating technical concepts into business value and ensuring technology solutions meet the diverse needs of the organization.

• Facilitate discussions and decision-making processes that balance innovation with practical execution, driving consensus on product roadmaps and timelines. 

• Promote knowledge sharing, training and development initiatives to enhance technical skills across the organization, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.

Operations

• Drive increased productivity across teams by leveraging best-in-class processes

• Optimize shared services to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery across all divisions.

• Responsible for scaling infrastructure and capabilities to meet current and anticipated future demands.

• Transparently, proactively, and clearly communicate with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring that development priorities and options are understood. Use a team approach to solve problems with peers and leverage networks to gain market insight and access.

• Responsibility for execution of Product roadmap.

Culture

• Cultivate an environment to retain, engage, inspire, and influence our architects and engineers.

• Responsible for a technology structure that can continue to scale, mobilize quickly and pivot when needed. 

• Develop and lead innovative, actionable, vision-driven initiatives. 

• Lead change management across a diverse global company.

Qualifications

• Senior Executive experience, presenting to board level.

• Successful track record leading world-class engineering organizations for innovative, reputable, high-growth companies.

• Entrepreneurial nature with a proven ability to operate in a fast-paced growth environment with rapidly evolving priorities.

• Recent experience focused on AI, machine learning, and data-intensive platforms.

• Ability to provide a high-level technology perspective; capable of looking at a multitude of technical projects and articulating a cohesive execution path around technology initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with leaders to develop and execute plans and influence direct and indirect reports and peers within a matrix organization.

• A visionary attitude, a creative approach to problem solving, and a natural appetite for complex and ever-shifting requirements.

• Possess a passion for pioneering new technologies through leading-edge solutions.

• Analytical, data- and metrics-driven, focused on quantifiable goals and outcomes.

• Leads by example to foster an inclusive and diverse work environment.

• Transformational leader that can evangelize Shutterstock’s vision and strategy.

• Solid understanding and responsibility of finances within a technology function. 

• 10+ years of experience in engineering roles, including 10+ years in a technology leadership role/s.

Critical Leadership Capabilities

• A hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy. Agile and comfortable adapting to different environments.

• Courageous innovator: creative and resourceful in overcoming barriers and unexpected roadblocks

• An authentic leader who intuitively engenders an inclusive environment, enabling the business to reach its ambitious goals

• An intellectually curious and humble leader with a high degree of compassion, able to engage, enable and inspire others

• Diversity of thought and experience, continually seeks new perspectives and feedback, takes an inclusive approach

• High personal standards of ethics and integrity towards employees, stakeholders, and customers

• High levels of learning-agility with a real interest in developing relationships with progressive businesses, combining a ‘technology / digital-first’ approach

• Entrepreneurial and comfortable with ambiguous and change-led environments; self-confident with an authentic style that gravitates to championing change.

• Eager to seek a challenge and expand frontiers; brings a visionary approach. Sets and meets a high bar of goals and principles.

• Servant leadership mentality: deeply committed to serving and listening to others. Natural ability to build strong relationships and enable collaboration through empathy and authenticity.

Education

Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred, preferably with concentration in computer science, engineering, or other technical field.

At Shutterstock, we are committed to providing competitive pay and benefits that are in line with industry standards. The compensation package offered may vary depending on employment experience, skills, and knowledge. You may also be eligible for our generous benefits package including health, wellness and financial benefits. Compensation ranges for candidates in locations outside of the location(s) below may differ based on the cost of labor, market, and additional factors.

The pay range for this position is below:

    • 400,000 - 450,000 per year in New York

Note: Commission-eligible roles are expressed as on-target earnings (base and commission). Non-commission roles are expressed as base salary only but are also eligible for annual incentives.

Shutterstock Values

We are one team collectively focused on creating an unrivaled experience for our Customers and Contributors. Our Values represent the mindset of the employee who will thrive at Shutterstock.  If you are passionate about what you do, and want to become part of a cutting-edge technology company building industry leading products, please apply.

Shutterstock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Suitably qualified and eligible candidates are encouraged to apply  regardless of age, color, disability, national origin, ancestry, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Shutterstock ensures that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.  Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence,[email protected].

The referenced salary range is based on the Company’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level.