Chief Technology Officer

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for innovation and the operation of technical infrastructures and applications across the enterprise, overseeing system-wide planning, development, implementation, coordination, and technical support of SWU information technology (IT) functions. This position will lead strategic initiatives that support an effective, coordinated, and efficient technology environment on the main campus and SWU Online. The CTO serves on the President’s Cabinet.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The CTO is responsible for leading technology-related strategic planning and implementing operational standards for enterprise-wide infrastructure and applications, including Jenzabar EX/EXi/JICS. The CTO will also be responsible for providing leadership, technical expertise, and support to IT and institutional effectiveness and research (IE and IR) staff.

1. Leads technology-related strategic planning by identifying and prioritizing development initiatives and setting timetables for the evaluation, development, and deployment of all technology-related services.
2. Collaborates with the appropriate partners and stakeholders to assess and recommend technologies that support SWU’s mission.
3. Ensures a secure and accurate database infrastructure that integrates sensitive data from various sources to enable data-informed, evidence-based planning and assessment.
4. Ensures that the SWU’s internal technological processes and customer-facing services comply with community expectations and applicable laws and regulations for privacy, security, and social responsibility.
5. Evaluates and identifies appropriate technology platforms for delivering online education.
6. Sets objectives and strategies for the IT department, designing service management outcomes focused on building value for our students, staff, and faculty.  
7. Oversees and leads a team of IT professionals to ensure professional development, proper deployment and operation of networking hardware, file servers, and overall uptime and availability of computing resources to users.
8. Designs, develops, and manages the technical and information infrastructure and stack of services necessary to deliver online learning at scale.
9. Selects and implements suitable technology to streamline all internal operations and help optimize their strategic benefits.
10. Leads, shapes, and implements large-scale enterprise-wide strategies and services.
11. Designs and customizes technological systems and platforms to improve customer experience
12. Plans the implementation of new systems and provides guidance to IT professionals and other staff within the organization.
13. Approves purchases of technological equipment and software and establishes partnerships with IT providers.
14. Oversees the technological infrastructure (networks and computer systems) in the organization to ensure optimal performance.
15. Directs and organizes IT-related projects.
16. Monitors changes or advancements in technology to discover ways the university can gain a competitive advantage.
17. Analyzes the costs, value and risks of information technology to advise management and suggest actions.

18. Participates with IT personnel in disaster recovery planning, development, exercises, and actual events for MySWU (JICS).
19. Participates in professional groups and organizations, including regional and national user’s group meetings and listservs to raise the university’s visibility with external entities and gain information relevant to the university’s technology environment.
20. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with all employees.
21. Participates in professional development training opportunities that keep all staff current with emerging technologies and product advancements.
22. Other duties as assigned.

About our ideal candidate 

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s degree and eight to ten years of experience in the information technology field; master’s degree preferred. Ideal candidate will have at least three years in academic uses of instructional technology and/or online preferred. Reputation for successful innovation in the field of enterprise-level technologies in support of the higher education mission preferred.
2. Exceptional project management and organization skills. Ability to solve problems and work collaboratively in a diverse group of individuals.  
3. Ability to translate vision and strategy into tactics and to build operations to support them. A thorough understanding of and broad experience with a full range of business functions and systems including strategic development and planning, business analysis, finance and budgeting, information systems and technology.
4. Highly desirable are database management and report writing experience within a Microsoft SQL Server environment. 
5. Experience with Jenzabar EX/EXi/JICS preferred.
6. Familiarity with integrated database management systems, including reporting.
7. Exposure to and understanding of web-based, mobile, and PC applications including, but not limited to, the use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

1. Mission and Lifestyle Expectations. The university is a Christian liberal arts institution in the Wesleyan-Holiness theological tradition. In light of SWU’s unapologetically Christ-centered mission, all employees are expected to embrace the university’s Statement of Faith, respect its Wesleyan heritage, and adhere to its lifestyle expectations.

2. Physical/Environmental Requirements

   1. May require occasional evening and/or weekend work.  Some overnight travel is required.
   2. Excellent organizational and communications skills are required.
   3. Requires a high level of visual acuity for work with computer hardware and software. The level of physical exertion is classified as medium as there are times when lifting up to 50 pounds is required along with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
3. Pre-employment Screening. Employment is contingent on the completion a criminal background screening.