There was a time when the Chief Product Officer (CPO) asked me about my current responsibilities, and I found myself momentarily at a loss for words. This was unusual for me, as I typically like to keep everything organized and have clear, detailed answers at the ready. However, the role of a Technical Coordinator, VP of Engineering, or CTO encompasses such a wide variety of tasks that it can be challenging to neatly categorize them.
Here’s an attempt to group these responsibilities (important note: these are the activities I engage in, but this isn’t a definitive list of what every CTO must do):
1. Technical Vision
- Develop and Maintain Technical Strategy: Crafting a long-term technical roadmap for the company.
- Platform and Design Decisions: Selecting the right platforms and shaping the technical architecture.
- Tool Specification: Identifying and implementing the necessary tools and technologies.
- Project Architecture: Structuring code, databases, and overall project architecture.
- High-Level Technical Oversight: Providing a strategic view of technical operations.
- Performance Analysis: Continuously evaluating system performance.
- Security Audits: Conducting and overseeing security assessments.
- Cost Management: Identifying opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining quality.
2. Recruitment & Brand Development
- Talent Acquisition: Networking to find and attract top talent.
- Interviewing: Leading and refining the interview process.
- Training Programs: Establishing in-house training programs to develop talent.
- External Recruitment: Collaborating with recruitment agencies to find the best candidates.
- Community Engagement: Supporting and organizing conferences and meetups.
- Team Building: Facilitating activities that strengthen team cohesion.
3. Knowledge Sharing & Self-Education
- Exploring New Technologies: Staying ahead of industry trends and adopting new technologies.
- Leadership Development: Nurturing the growth of future technical leaders.
- Progress Monitoring: Tracking the progress of individual and team goals.
- Personal Development Plans: Creating and overseeing personal growth plans for team members.
- Knowledge Dissemination: Ensuring project and application knowledge is shared across teams.
- Reevaluation Procedures: Regularly assessing and updating processes and strategies.
4. Process Management
- Agile Process Implementation: Establishing and refining agile methodologies.
- Resource Management: Ensuring teams have the resources they need to operate independently.
- Roadmap Planning: Participating in the company’s long-term strategic planning.
These are the core areas I focus on, but the role of a CTO or VP of Engineering can vary greatly depending on the company and its specific needs.