Head of IT

Join the leader in collaborative licensing and help us advance inclusive and efficient new patent licensing approaches to drive innovation globally. Via Licensing Alliance is dedicated to accelerating global technology adoption, fostering participation, and generating return on innovation with balanced IP licensing solutions for innovators and manufacturers of all sizes around the globe. Via administers dozens of patent licensing programs in audio, video, broadcast, power, and more for a variety of technologies, consisting of 25,000 patents in over 130 countries, with nearly 100 current patent holders and over 3,000 current licensees.

Via Licensing Alliance, a subsidiary of Dolby Laboratories, is an independently managed company owned by industry-leading participants with over 25 years of intellectual property licensing leadership. We are the world's largest patent pool administrator. We aggregate patents around key innovations and offer licensing solutions that give companies streamlined access to standardized technologies. For decades, we have served as a trusted bridge between our licensors and licensees, driving a strong and efficient IP licensing environment that yields better products and technologies for people around the world.

The Head of IT role is based in Denver, Colorado. This senior leadership role is responsible for setting and executing Via’s technology strategy and leading the technical organization across software engineering, application architecture, cloud infrastructure, IT operations, end-user technology, contractors, vendors, and external technology partners. This leader will own the technical direction for Via’s internal and external technology platforms, including application modernization, scalable architecture, secure software delivery, data and integration strategy, infrastructure reliability, production support, and operational resilience.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, technically credible leader who can engage deeply with engineers, architects, infrastructure teams, security partners, and business stakeholders to design and deliver practical, scalable, and secure technology solutions. This role requires strong technical judgment, current knowledge of modern software development practices, cloud platforms, DevOps, system integrations, and enterprise architecture, along with the ability to build and mentor high-performing technical teams. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable shaping long-term technical strategy, reviewing architecture decisions, guiding engineering execution, troubleshooting complex issues, and communicating technology risks and tradeoffs to executive leaders. This hybrid role is required to work onsite in the Denver/Greenwood Village office three days per week (Tuesday-Thursday).

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead Via’s enterprise technology strategy, architecture roadmap, and technical operating model across software engineering, cloud infrastructure, data platforms, integrations, IT operations, and end-user technology.
• Provide technical, operational, and people leadership for the IT organization, including software developers, technical leads, systems analysts, infrastructure and support resources, contractors, vendors, and external partners.
• Lead the design, development, modernization, and support of Via’s internally developed and enterprise technology platforms, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, reliable, maintainable, and aligned with long-term technical direction.
• Establish strong architecture practices across applications, integrations, data flows, infrastructure, identity/access management, security, and cloud environments, ensuring sound technical decisions and appropriate documentation.
• Drive software engineering excellence across SDLC, Agile delivery, DevOps, CI/CD, code quality, automated testing, release management, technical documentation, and production readiness.
• Oversee the modernization, maintenance, and technical support of key platforms and tools, including PortLA, WebLA, QlikView, Dynamics CRM, Microsoft 365 applications, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Power Platform, .NET-based applications, and other enterprise or internally developed applications.
• Lead evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies, platforms, engineering tools, automation capabilities, AI-enabled productivity tools, and cloud services, with clear assessment of technical feasibility, scalability, security, maintainability, and business value.
• Partner with business leaders across Royalty Services, Accounting, Finance, Legal, Licensing, Program Management, Operations, and other functions to translate business needs into technically sound solutions while maintaining appropriate architectural standards and delivery discipline.
• Guide development teams from technical discovery and solution design through development, testing, deployment, monitoring, incident response, enhancement planning, and ongoing support.
• Collaborate with enterprise architecture, information security, infrastructure, compliance, internal audit, external audit, project management, and functional stakeholders to deliver full-stack technical solutions that support near-term priorities and long-range business goals.
• Establish and maintain IT engineering standards, technical policies, procedures, documentation expectations, systems administration practices, change management processes, security controls, and operational runbooks.
• Build and maintain resilient production support models, including application and infrastructure monitoring, performance management, incident response, root-cause analysis, escalation practices, disaster recovery planning, and service reliability metrics.
• Ensure technology solutions and development practices comply with applicable security, SOC 1, SOX, audit, data governance, access control, and quality requirements, including timely documentation and support for compliance reviews.
• Develop and manage IT operating budgets, capital expenditures, vendor relationships, and technology investments with a focus on technical capability, reliability, security, scalability, and responsible financial stewardship.
• Provide clear executive-level updates on technology strategy, architecture decisions, project status, technical risks, cyber and operational risks, staffing coverage, budget considerations, system performance, and critical incidents.
• Promote a technically strong and service-oriented IT culture that balances engineering discipline, operational excellence, customer service, accountability, documentation, continuous improvement, and secure delivery.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field required; advanced technical degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive technology experience, including leadership across software engineering, application architecture, cloud-based platforms, infrastructure, IT operations, enterprise applications, and end-user technology in a complex environment.
• 10+ years of people leadership experience with a demonstrated ability to build, coach, and lead high-performing technical teams, including developers, technical leads, systems analysts, infrastructure resources, contractors, and vendor partners.
• Strong hands-on technical credibility and judgment across modern software development, full-stack application concepts, system architecture, cloud architecture, integrations, APIs, data platforms, automation, DevOps, and secure systems delivery.
• Demonstrated experience leading application modernization, technical roadmaps, architecture decisions, cloud migration or optimization, systems implementation, production support models, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience with Microsoft technology ecosystems, including Microsoft 365, Azure, Power Platform, Dynamics CRM, .NET-based applications, identity and access management, and related enterprise tools; experience with analytics, reporting, workflow automation, and AI-enabled productivity tools preferred.
• Strong understanding of SDLC, Agile delivery, DevOps, CI/CD, automated testing, ITIL practices, change management, quality assurance, release management, technical documentation, security, compliance, and audit readiness.
• Demonstrated ability to assess technical tradeoffs, review solution designs, guide engineering teams, resolve complex technical issues, and ensure systems are scalable, reliable, secure, and maintainable.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity principles, access controls, infrastructure security, secure application development, vulnerability management, incident response, disaster recovery, business continuity, and data governance.
• Proven ability to partner with executive leaders and cross-functional stakeholders to translate business priorities into practical, secure, scalable, and well-governed technology solutions.
• Strong communication, executive presence, and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts, risks, options, and recommendations clearly to business leaders, executive management, and Board-level audiences.
• Experience managing IT budgets, vendor relationships, service providers, software licensing, cloud services, and technology investments with a focus on technical value, risk mitigation, reliability, and operational discipline.
• Knowledge of SOC 1, SOX, internal controls, audit processes, data governance, and secure application development practices preferred.
• Experience with IP licensing, patent licensing, royalty management, financial systems, or other complex transaction-based business processes preferred.

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible work options, including a 9/80 schedule for U.S. employees with every other Friday off—more than 26 three-day weekends each year.
• Competitive compensation, including base salary and bonus opportunity.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus Health Savings Account contributions.
• 401(k) plan with a 50% company match on the first 6% of eligible pay contributed on a pre-tax or Roth basis.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Generous holiday, vacation, and sick leave.
• Maternity, child bonding, and family care leave programs, as well as short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Programs and resources that support your physical, financial, and social well-being.
• Social activities, including team events and onsite gatherings, all-company updates, and retreats.
• Catered weekly lunches, plus snacks and drinks when working in the office.
• Temporary remote work options for eligible employees, with approval, for up to 30 calendar days (20 workdays) in a 12-month period from a location other than their designated office or home location.
• Tuition reimbursement program.

The Denver Area base salary range for this full-time position is 170,000 - $234,000 and can vary if outside of this location. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, competencies, experience, market demands, internal parity, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range and perks and benefits for your location during the hiring process.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Via is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our success depends on the combined skills and talents of all our employees. We are committed to making employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, marital status, family status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.