Director for IT - Information Systems

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Established in 1908, James Madison University is a comprehensive public institution offering undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs to more than 20,000 students. JMU is regarded as one of the finest regional universities in the nation and has been continuously cited in U.S. News and World Report, Changing Times and Money Magazine as an outstanding public university. Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. Known for its livability, diversity, local food, arts and natural surroundings, this Virginia Main Street community is a great place to live and work.

James Madison University is seeking an experienced, highly motivated and customer-service focused individual to lead Information Technology’s Information Systems department. This critical IT department is responsible for the oversight, management and support of the university’s enterprise applications. The areas of responsibility include development and application support, application infrastructure and application security for systems such as Content Management, Finance, Human Resources, Identity and Access Management, Imaging, ITSM, Office365, and Student Administration.

The Director is responsible for working with IT senior management to develop the strategy for information systems by setting vision in alignment with the strategic plans of IT, Administration and Finance and the University. The successful candidate will provide leadership and management while ensuring continuous improvement of enterprise application services. Reporting to the CIO/Assistant Vice President for Information Technology, the Director for Information Systems is a university administrative and professional position.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Supervise, develop, recruit and retain Information Systems staff.
• Direct, manage and oversee the enterprise applications.
• Develop, communicate and implement support services for applications in conjunction with IT and other areas of the university.
• Collaborate and build strong relationships with other IT directors, IT staff and key stakeholders from across the university.
• Provide leadership for technology projects involving technology staff from IT and across the university.
• Work with IT technology procurement and assist in the analysis and vetting of third-party applications being considered for purchase.
• Serve on the IT senior management team, providing leadership and strategic direction for Information Technology.
• Research existing and new technologies and make recommendations on how they might be leveraged to support our mission.
• Develop and ensure the department follows best practices and standards.
• Participate in Data Stewardship, data governance and digital transformation initiatives and projects.

Successful candidates will have:

• A Master’s degree, preferably in a technology-related discipline, business administration, information systems or a related area.
• Significant relevant experience in enterprise applications services.
• Significant relevant experience managing a group of more than ten senior-level technology staff.
• Demonstrated experience of strong analytical problem identification and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Demonstrated experience in budget development and monitoring, contracting and vendor management.
• Ability to communicate, verbally and in writing, complex, technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to embrace and demonstrate IT’s values of continuous improvement and the university’s values of collaboration, excellence and commitment to higher education.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, flexibility, good judgement, teamwork, attention to detail, problem-solving, life-long learning, sense of humor and initiative.

Preferred experience includes:

• Relevant experience working in a higher education setting.
• Relevant experience with software as a service, customer relationship management systems and infrastructure as a service.
• Experience with cloud-based integration tools.
• Experience with large implementation projects including CRM and ERP.
• Demonstrated experience following Information Technology standards and best practices (ISO 27002, NIST).
• Experience with Oracle/PeopleSoft Applications Unlimited and Identity and Access Management.

To apply go to https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/8327 or visit JobLink.jmu.edu and reference posting number F1549. Pay Range: Commensurate with Experience.

James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.