Chief Information Officer (CIO)

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the President, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the University serves as a strategic thought partner to the President and senior leadership, driving the university’s digital transformation, technological innovation, and IT infrastructure. This role is responsible for aligning technology initiatives with the institution’s academic, research, and administrative goals while ensuring a secure, reliable, and forward-thinking digital environment. The CIO is responsible for cultivating an environment at the University that values the effective use of technology to manage business processes and communication systems that best support the needs of students, faculty, and staff of the University. The CIO works collaboratively with members of the administration, faculty, and staff to develop the information technology strategic plan and provide leadership for the delivery of services in academic computing, distance learning, network/computer systems infrastructure, security, and the University ERP system.

The CIO shall:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:                   

·       Develop and execute a comprehensive IT strategy that supports the university’s mission and long-term objectives

·      Provide an institutional perspective on technology requirements for new and existing initiatives, programs, buildings, and processes to align required staff, hardware, and software resources appropriately

·      Lead digital transformation initiatives that leverage emerging technologies to enhance teaching & learning, research, and operational efficiency

·      Drive continuous improvements in academic technology, student information systems, and administrative applications to improve the user experience and institutional effectiveness

·      Oversee all aspects of IT governance, cybersecurity, and data privacy, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and industry best practices

·      Ensure that policies and practices relating to security, access, and usage of all information systems are in accordance with university policies and applicable laws

·      Foster partnerships with faculty, staff, and students to ensure that technology solutions meet the diverse needs of the university community

·      Coordinate with the vice presidents, deans, and directors to ensure technology infrastructures serve the needs of the institution business operations and academic program delivery and support.

·      Ensure university data requirements are identified and included in enterprise application requirements to leverage data analytics capabilities and extract valuable insights to inform strategic decision-making required for institutional growth

·      Manage IT budgets and resource allocation, optimizing investments in technology infrastructure and services

·      Oversee the development, execution, and management of the people, processes, resources, and security of the university information technology enterprise including networks, on-premise and cloud-based servers, storage, backup systems, and desktop infrastructure following industry best practices

·      Supervise all information technology units including network & systems, MIS, information security, telecommunications, desktop & client support, and helpdesk.

·      Build and lead a high-performing IT team, promoting professional development and collaboration across departments

·      Establish and communicate short- and long-range department goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures for all reporting areas

·      Foster a culture of accountability, dependability and user-friendly approaches in all technology services areas that are customer centered to provide quality service to students, faculty, and staff

·      Ensure installations, upgrades, maintenance and monitoring of the University ERP system and associated applications are coordinated with all functional areas of the institution

·      Enhance cybersecurity policies, risk management strategies, and disaster recovery plans to protect university assets and sensitive information

·      Communicate effectively to the campus at large about major technology initiatives, software and hardware standards, upgrades, and outages

·      Represent the university in external partnerships, collaborations, and consortia to leverage best practices and emerging trends in higher education technology

·      Establish and maintain working relationships with information technology resource and services vendors

·      Serve as an advisor to the President and executive staff for university technology and technology infrastructure.

·      Serve on committees as assigned

·      Other duties as delegated by the President

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

·       Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field

·      Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in IT management

·      A proven track-record of hands-on and managerial experience in information technology systems, networks, and security in on-prem and cloud-based applications/platforms

·      Experience leading innovative digital transformation initiatives, managing complex IT projects, and aligning IT resources with strategic organization plans

·      Demonstrated ability to collaborate and effectively communicate change initiatives to diverse stakeholders

·      Excellent communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills

OTHER PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND JOB REQUIREMENTS:

·      Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field

·      IT management experience at an institution of higher education

SALARY:  Salary Band: A310

To view salary schedules visit: https://www.athens.edu/human-resources/salary-schedule-tables/

Salary will be Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

To apply or view details, visit https://jobs.athens.edu

Review of applications will begin as soon as possible and remain open until filled.

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION:

Located in historic Athens, Alabama, Athens State University offers junior and senior-level coursework to community college graduates and transfer students holding sufficient credits from other institutions. Approximately 3,000 students each semester have selected Athens State because of its neighborly environment where over 50 majors and degree programs are offered, with courses taught by a supportive and exceptional faculty. Approximately 95% of the students are enrolled in at least one online course. The typical student is a working adult who commutes. Recently, the University was named the Most Affordable College in Alabama by The Best Schools, as well as a 2024 Great College to Work For by ModernThink. Athens State offers undergraduate degree programs in Liberal Arts, Teacher Preparation, and Business. The University employs more than 392 full and part-time employees with approximately 88 full-time faculty members in three colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, and College of Education. 83% of the full-time faculty members hold a terminal degree. Athens State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Athens, Alabama is located in North Alabama equidistant between Nashville, TN and Birmingham, AL. Athens is home to several events and festivals that have been featured as the Southeast Tourism Society’s “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” including the Athens Storytelling Festival and the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention.