Chief Information Officer

Information Technology

Chicago State University (CSU), founded in 1867, is the oldest public university in the Chicago Metropolitan area. CSU is known for its impressive landscape, sitting on 161 wooded acres featuring large tracts of open space and beautiful trees. The campus is located near the recently-renovated CTA95th Street station, as well as other transit systems that all provide commuter students, faculty and staff convenient access to the campus. The University’s five colleges—Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Pharmacy—offer various undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree-granting programs. The University also provides the greater South Side Chicago community with a multitude of athletic, cultural, educational and recreational activities.

Under the leadership of President Zaldwaynaka Scott, whose term began in July 2018, CSU has been committed to the processes of renewal and transformation, despite the challenges of limited institutional resources. The President’s student-centered vision focuses on the advancement of the outstanding academic programs currently in place, as well as the development of new, innovative, and relevant programs to meet the needs of employers of the twenty-first century. Top priorities for the President include an unwavering focus on sustainable enrollment growth and student success.

GREAT PEOPLE MAKE A GREAT UNIVERSITY

The Chief Information Officer’s role is to provide vision and leadership for developing and implementing information technology initiatives. The Chief Information Officer directs the planning and implementation of enterprise IT systems in support of business operations in order to improve cost effectiveness, service quality and business development. The Chief Information Officer is responsible for all aspects of the organization’s information technology and systems.

1. Strategy & Planning:

   • Participate in strategic and operational governance processes of CSU as a member of the senior management team.

   • Lead IT strategic and operational planning to achieve CSU’s goals by fostering innovation, prioritizing IT initiatives, and coordinating the evaluation, deployment, and management of current and future IT systems across the organization.

   • Develop and maintain an appropriate IT organizational structure that supports the needs of CSU mission.

   • Establish IT departmental goals, objectives, and operating procedures.

   • Identify opportunities for the appropriate and cost-effective investment of financial resources in IT systems and resources, including staffing, sourcing, purchasing, and in-house development.

   • Assess and communicate risks associated with IT investments.

   • Develop, track, and control the information technology annual operating and capital budgets.

   • Develop business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending and initiatives.

   • Direct development and execution of an enterprise-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plan.

   • Assess and make recommendations on the improvement or re-engineering of the IT organization.

2. Acquisition & Deployment:

   • Coordinate and facilitate consultation with stakeholders to define business and systems requirements for new technology implementations.

   • Approve, prioritize, and control projects and the project portfolio as they relate to the selection, acquisition, development, and installation of major information systems.

   • Review hardware and software acquisition and maintenance contracts and pursue master agreements to capitalize on economies of scale.

   • Define and communicate corporate plans, policies, and standards for the organization for acquiring, implementing, and operating IT systems.

3. Operational Management:

   • Ensure continuous delivery of IT services through oversight of service level agreements with end users and monitoring of IT systems performance.

   • Ensure IT system operation adheres to applicable laws and regulations.

   • Establish lines of control for current and proposed information systems.

   • Keep current with trends and issues in the IT industry, including current technologies and prices.

   • Advise, counsel, and educate executives and management on their competitive or financial impact.

   • Promote and oversee strategic relationships between internal IT resources and external entities.

   • Supervise recruitment, development, retention, and organization of all IT staff in accordance with corporate budgetary objectives and personnel policies.

   • Perform other related duties as assigned by the President.

• BS degree in Computer Science, Business Information Systems or related field; and at least 7 years work experience in all phases of computer operations. 

• 3+ Years’ executive level experience

• Experience directing employees in a data processing environment.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

Master’s Degree in Information Technology or related field

Certification in Advanced Information Technology

• Advanced knowledge of cutting edge technology and trends.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to analyze and solve problems.

• Ability to prioritize and organize.