Information Technology Applications and Systems

The Director of IT Applications and Systems reports directly to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and manages the entire lifecycle of the institution's software applications, including strategic planning, development, implementation, and ongoing support; provides leadership to align application strategy with institutional goals; coordinates and directs resources, related procurement functions, personnel and communications to meet District administrative and academic systems needs and assure smooth and efficient activities; leads and manages a team of designers, developers, and applications support personnel.

Representative Duties

• Plan, organize, control and direct operations in support of district-wide initiatives involving information technology systems; provide leadership for research, acquisition, development, design, operation, and implementation of enterprise software applications.
• Participate in the development of the District's Technology Plan that aligns with and directly supports the institution's academicand administrative objectives, providing a multi-year software roadmap that ensures that application initiatives support thestrategic direction and vision.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and key stakeholders to ensure applications meet academic and administrative needs.
• Establish effective application governance structures for prioritization, funding, and software lifecycle management to ensure that IT initiatives support institutional goals and that projects are prioritized based on their alignment with strategic objectives.
• Communicate IT application initiatives clearly to stakeholders at all levels, translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences; address and overcome resistance to change by effectively communicating the value of software technology,
• providing support, and creating a culture of collaboration.
• Oversee the assessment, evaluation, selection, design, development, implementation, integration, modernization, and management of enterprise information systems including Student Information Systems (SIS), Learning Management Systems
• (LMS), ERP and financial systems, CRM systems, and other platforms; ensure seamless integration of enterprise systemsthrough modern API strategies and middleware, reducing silos and improving data flow across academic and administrativefunctions.
• Build, motivate, lead, and evaluate the application and systems team, including design, development, and support personnel,promoting communication, establishing shared goals, and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Direct and oversee IT workforce planning and performance management; provide mentorship and technical guidance; establish standards and review staff performance; develop IT staff by coordinating staff training and development opportunities to maintain and upgrade technical skills.
• Manage relationships with software vendors and partners, including evaluating proposals and technologies, reviewing and managing contracts, and ensuring smooth integration of third-party solutions.
• Ensure the delivery of quality technology and support through effective needs assessment; interact with internal and external customers to define needs, evaluate operations, and implement improvements and enhancements.
• Direct project planning and execution, including scope, timelines, resource allocation, and deliverables; use formal project management methodologies to ensure delivery on time and within budget.
• Establish cybersecurity standards for applications to help ensure confidentiality, security, and integrity of systems and electronic information; ensure applications meet regulatory, accreditation, and institutional compliance.
• Participate in the development and maintenance of business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
• Promote modern software delivery practices, including automation, CI/CD, and security -as-code, to improve reliability, scalability, and time-to-delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement through implementation of strategies and best practices to enhance the efficiency of support processes and increase user satisfaction.
• Lead establishment of data governance frameworks to ensure data integrity, accessibility, and privacy.
• Promote use of analytics and business intelligence tools to support student success, institutional effectiveness, and strategic decision-making; work with key stakeholders to ensure that mandated IT-related records and reports to external oversight agencies are prepared and/or transmitted accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Explore emerging software technologies, assess their potential impact, and identify how to leverage them to drive innovation and growth in learning, research, and administrative functions.
• Participate in the District Technology Committee; attend and conduct a variety of meetings; attend and participate in various technology committees, conferences, seminars and in-services.

Education and Experience

• Any combination equivalent to: bachelor's degree in computer science or related field and six years increasingly responsible experience in the development, design, operation, analysis, and maintenance of enterprise software including work with technology vendors and acquisition functions.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise software initiatives at scale, including staff leadership and vendor negotiations.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socio-economic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds of Community College Students.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience in an institution of higher education, preferably a community college.
• Strong communication and technical skills. Have the capacity to mentor the team on a technical level while communicating across-departments. Strong product & project management.
• Capacity to balance ERP constraints with innovation.
• Experienced with programming languages.
• Exposure or knowledge of an ERP, preferably Banner.
• Experience in a higher education development environment.
• Incorporates DEI into their approach to managing.
• Student customer service focus.
• Familiarity with Cloud Architectures.
• Managing large budgets.

Knowledge and Abilities

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Academic and Administrative Functions: A broad understanding of the academic, research, and administrative functionsof a college and how technology supports them.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: In-depth knowledge of major ERP platforms used in higher ed and their various modules for finance, human resources, student information, and financial aid.
• Database Management: Expertise in database management systems and a strong understanding of data governance,data warehousing, and reporting tools.
• Application Development Lifecycle: A comprehensive understanding of the entire lifecycle for enterprise application development, including formal systems analysis, structured design techniques, and support processes.
• Software development methodologies (e.g., Agile, DevOps).
• Data management and governance.
• Emerging technologies, including data analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
• Cloud Computing: Knowledge of cloud-based services and architecture, preferably within higher education.
• System and application security best practices.
• Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Principles and practices of administration, supervision, and training.
• Budget preparation and control.

ABILITY TO:

• Plan, organize, control and direct operations and activities involved in the research, acquisition, development, design, operation, analysis, and maintenance of software applications.
• Coordinate and direct resources, procurement functions, personnel and communications to meet the District's software and application needs and ensure smooth and efficient activities.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned personnel.
• Plan, prioritize, and manage multiple projects simultaneously, including large scale IT projects of a complex nature, synthesizing competing and conflicting needs and priorities into cohesive plans.
• Estimate and assure adequate resources required for District technology needs and related projects.
• Meet schedules and timelines.
• Research, analyze and maintain current knowledge of new technologies to identify opportunities to enhance District operations and meet technology needs.
• Analyze new technology initiatives to determine costs and benefits of implementation.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Interpret, apply and explain laws, codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Work independently with little direction.
• Plan and organize work.
• Prepare comprehensive narrative and statistical reports.
• Direct the maintenance of a variety of reports, records and files related to assigned activities.
• Operate a computer and assigned office equipment.