CIO (Philander Smith University)

Ellucian powers innovation for higher education, partnering with approximately 3,000 customers across 50 countries, serving more than 21 million students. Ellucian's AI-powered platform, trained on the richest dataset available in higher education, drives efficiency, personalized experiences, and strengthened engagement for all students, faculty and staff. Fueled by decades of experience with a singular focus on the unique needs of learning institutions, the Ellucian platform features best-in-class SaaS capabilities and delivers insights needed now and into the future. These solutions and services span the entire student lifecycle, including data-rich tools for student recruitment, enrollment, and retention to workforce analytics, fundraising, and alumni engagement. Ellucian's innovative solutions, vast ecosystem of partners and user community of more than 45,000 provides best practices leading to greater institutional success and achieving better student outcomes.

*LOCATION - onsite at Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR

*TYPE - F/T Salaried +yearly bonus (will be employee of Ellucian)

*OPEN to Relocation as well (Relocation $$$ offered)

As the CIO at Philander Smith College, you will be an innovator on the campus and will bring appropriate new ideas and approaches in collaboration with the campus leadership. You will manage strategic and tactical activities to ensure client satisfaction, technical delivery, contract compliance, and resource management at the client site. You will be responsible for creating and implementing our client’s information technology strategy through the management of the IT department’s day-to-day operations. You will lead both technology and campus communications to build consensus around the value of collaboration in a public higher education institution, while ensuring the alignment of Ellucian strategy, processes, and resources to drive support of the President’s strategic plan.

The incumbent must have the ability to challenge conventional thinking with new ideas, approaches, and solutions through personal influence to promote transformation. The position requires professionalism, confidentiality, organization, prioritization, excellent interpersonal skills, strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to garner respect and confidence of colleagues through listening, learning, and forging working relationships and synergies across the college.

Where you will make an impact

• Maintains an exceptionally high level of responsiveness, and ongoing proactive contact with Client Executives, specifically Contract Administrator, Ellucian Management, and site staff.
• Develops a positive client relationship with customer employees such as Contract Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, and other key VIPs.
• The CIO focuses on client liaison and strategic aspects of Higher Education activities at the client location.
• Advises client on status of technologies at the institution relative to the client’s strategic goals and objectives.
• Establishes, publicizes and communicates priority projects/initiatives to campus community.
• Manages the day-to-day operations of the information technology department including; directing staff, who support administrative and/or academic computing, networking, user services, telecommunications and other information technology functions.
• Assess and anticipates technology projects and recommends appropriate action and resources, while acting with a sense of urgency.
• Identifies user needs, resolves problems and directs building of teams to work across all levels of the organization.
• Establishes and directs the strategic and tactical goals, policies, and procedures for the information technology department.
• Recommends and/or determines the institution’s long-term system needs and proposes hardware/software solutions to accomplish the institution’s business objectives and to support campus goals.
• Coordinates, submits, reports, and manages problem resolution for all Federal and State requirements for student, personnel and financial records.
• Participates in the development of strategies and the completion of contract upgrades and renewals with Regional Managers and Vice Presidents.
• Recognizes, creates, and tracks value-added and ROI activities for client.
• Responsible for ensuring contract administration, extensions, and enhancements.
• Negotiates and maintains responsibility for managing various IT-related vendor contracts.
• Assists with or creates requests for proposals for IT related projects.
• Prepares and submits required corporate reports in a timely manner.
• Implements company policy, methodologies, procedures and practices at site location.
• Responsible for hiring all company staff assigned to support a client’s information technology operations.
• Responsible for managing on-site personnel actions, staff training and development.
• Communicates regularly and effectively with Higher Education management on significant site issues, risks, opportunities, and general progress towards contractual and business goals.
• Manages complex technical projects and technical operating units. 

What you will bring

• 8+ years of experience in the Information Technology field OR equivalent combination of education and experience leading IT strategic initiatives in a college or university environment.
• Current knowledge in use and trends of technology in higher education.
• Strong empathizing and empowerment abilities.
• An innovative approach with an emphasis on bringing appropriate new capabilities to all areas across the organization.
• Ability to promote teamwork and collaboration between client and Ellucian staff.
• Stress-management, time management, planning, and organization skills.
• Strong understanding of Administrative/ERP/SIS Computing systems (Banner, Colleague, Jenzabar).
• Experience with or knowledge/certifications in service provision best practices (e.g., ITIL) and project management (PMI) preferred.
• Experience preferred in higher education.

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, and vision  
• Flexible time off  
• Thrive Flex Lifestyle Account (LSA) that allows you to contribute towards your health, financial or learning interests
• 401k w/ match & BrightPlan - to help you save for the future
• Parental Leave
• 5 charitable days to support the community that supports us
• Telemedicine
• Wellness
• Headspace Care (mental health)
• Wellbeats (virtual fitness classes)
  
  • RethinkCare & Wellthy– caregiver support
  • Diversity and inclusion programs which provide access to internal employee resource groups  
• Employee referral bonuses to encourage the addition of great new people to the team
• We Foster a learning culture with:
  • Education Assistance Program
  • Professional development opportunities
  • LinkedIn Learning

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