Chief Information Officer

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University is highly regarded for its graduate and undergraduate programs in education, the arts, and applied social sciences. Lesley fosters a highly creative environment in which innovative ideas thrive, theory is integrated with practice and its 7,000 students and 87,000 alumni are empowered to improve and enrich communities.

We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, life, and long-term-disability insurance. In addition, we offer generous amounts of vacation and holiday time, as well as a tuition remission policy that enables employees to expand their knowledge and skills.

Job Description:

Lesley University seeks a forward thinking Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead and unite its technology efforts and drive innovation throughout the University.  Lesley is a community that integrates theory and practice in its teaching and the 550 faculty and staff and 7000 students live and breathe social justice and creativity. The CIO is a valuable partner working across the University working with individuals both inside and outside the academic structure to ensure connectivity throughout the school.  He/she leads the digital strategic vision to integrate across the Lesley ecosystem and community. This leader must bring visionary thinking and a proven track record of results, which may require forging a new path and having close collaboration with key stakeholders to constructively challenge current practice, conventional wisdoms and accepted ways of doing things.  The CIO reports to the Chief Financial Officer and serves as the co-chair of the University-wide Technology Council or its equivalent.   Areas supervised include Technology Support Services, such as the Help Desk and Classrooms and Labs, Enterprise Applications and Servers, Network and Telecom Infrastructure, Audio Visual Services, Web Technology Services and other event-related technology support. The CIO works very closely with eLIS, the Academic Technology department of the University and the Business Intelligence unit in the Provost's office.

Essential Functions:

Planning and Policy Development

• In conjunction with the President, Provost, VP of Strategy and Implementation and the CFO, helps define the strategic vision to bring Lesley into the digital age.

• Helps to lead the execution of technology strategy for multiple technology platforms, partnerships, and external relationships in alignment with the University's Strategic Plan.

• Recommends changes to software applications based upon analysis of their efficacy for all users.

• Gathers and analyzes changing requirements of users and develops effective and feasible ways to satisfy user requirements.

• Continually reviews business processes in the University either to provide more effective use of current tools and in anticipation of a potential future replacement of the University's ERP system which is currently Colleague, a unit within Ellucian.

• Establishes technical standards and ensures adherence to them for all University operations.

• Develops personnel and financial resource strategies aligned with technology implementation plans.

• Functions effectively and collegially within the CFO's office as a member of the University's senior management team.

Budgets and Contracts

• Approves, coordinates and controls all projects related to selection, acquisition, development and installation of major information systems.

• Provides advice on evaluation, selection, implementation and maintenance of information systems, ensuring appropriate investment in strategic and operational systems.

• Evaluates systems to measure their success.

• In conjunction with other members of the IT team and the head of procurement oversees all hardware and software acquisition and maintenance contracts, soliciting involvement and participation of other management team members as appropriate.

• Ensures compliance with accessibility and data security requirements.

• Develops and monitors the approved operating and capital budgets for the IT department.

• Manages relationships with major vendors for sales, service and support of all information systems and technology.

• Maintains problem logs, documenting system errors or defects. Serves as the primary contact to software, hardware and network-related vendors, consultants, and partners.

Operations Oversight

• Ensures that all information systems and networks operate according to internal standards, external accrediting agency standards, regulatory agencies and legal requirements.

• Manages training resources that provide support for all users, faculty, staff, alumni and employees and students.

• Develops and maintains system recovery plan in the event of power failure, damage to system, etc.

• Oversees and manages correction of any system failures.

• Oversees the development, maintenance, and communication of systems documentation, policies, standards and procedures.

• Oversees and evaluates system security, privacy and back up procedures. Oversees periodic assessments including PCI DSS and cybersecurity controls (e.g. NIST or CIS 20).

• Responsible for Project management for all IT related projects.

• Supervises the development and maintenance of user documentation, including complete user manuals, FAQs and on-line help files.

• Communicates plans, policies, standards and technology trends throughout the organization.

• Works closely with eLis and web services to make sure efforts are coordinated and not duplicative.

• In conjunction with assistance from the Provost's Office, co-leads the Technology Council.

• Oversees Technology Support Services, Networks and Infrastructure, Enterprise Applications and Services.

• Oversees IT department and coaches IT leadership on handling of personnel matters for over 20 staff plus work study students.

Data Governance and Analytics

• Desire to build a thoughtful, data-driven collaborative and agile approach to technology enabled process improvements across the University.

• Ability to create a comprehensive data strategy for Lesley by developing a robust institutional model that maximizes the opportunity from both structured and unstructured data that ensures the highest quality data governance to ensure security and privacy.

• Experience in implementing and using a data warehouse including data extraction, data cleaning, formatting, validation, reorganization, summarization and supplementation with data from multiple internal and external sources.

• Familiarity with various tools for general university use in such areas as mind mapping, reporting and knowledge management.

• Ability to do periodic skills assessments within the IT organization to identify gaps in expertise and proactively address resource limitations through on-going education and cross-training in order t0 provide the necessary data that can be relied on for decision making.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business Management or a related field.

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, effective presentation skills and experience serving as ambassador of technology on campus.

• Demonstrable skills in budget preparation and monitoring, with the ability to set and manage priorities that are aligned with the University's goals, as well as experience in negotiating with vendors and contractors.

• Must be grounded in technology and have the demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret technology and market trends as a foundation for technology roadmaps and experienced in setting and managing priorities in alignment with a company's goals and strategic plan.

• Significant experience which clearly demonstrates increasing responsibilities managing and supporting information systems and information technology, as well as exposure to outsourced solutions and support of in-house information and communication systems in a multi-campus environment.

• Technical knowledge including; computer and network operating systems, enterprise applications, system interfaces and API's, data storage models, database systems, programming, hardware and peripherals, telephone systems and services, voice and data communications infrastructure, cybersecurity controls and relevant technologies.

• Technically proficient in LAN and WAN design, implementation, and operation, office productivity software programs, systems design and development process, including requirements analysis, feasibility studies, software design, programming, pilot testing, installation, project management, evaluation and operational management; and business process analysis and redesign.

• Demonstrated skills must include the ability to lead, build, motivate and manage a top tier technology team in a multi-ethnic/multi-cultural environment.

• Customer service centric with excellent listening skills with the capacity to relate to and collaborate with the university user community, emphasizing customer service based on a clear understanding about how each sector can and should rely upon technology to enhance productivity in their area while negotiating and diffusing conflict.

• Must be authorized to work in the United States; if you hold a visa, your visa status must allow you to work at Lesley University.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree.

• At least ten years of increasing managerial experience and responsibility.

• Direct management of a major department within an IT operation in higher education.

Additional Information:

Salary Grade 32: $149,785 - $193,223

Applications received by November 21, 2018 will be guaranteed full consideration.

Background checks are required for all positions.

Lesley University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to increasing the diversity of the university community and the curriculum. Candidates who believe they can contribute to this goal are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions:

A cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for three references must be included for full consideration.

Applications will be reviewed upon the establishment of an appropriate pool of candidates.