Vice Chancellor For Information Technology/Chief Information Officer

Posting Date:March 6, 2024

Position #:00100340

# of positions:1

LOCATION:

Grand Forks, ND, or Fargo, ND

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT:

This is a full-time, 12-month, benefited position in the 0000/Executive Broadband job classification and exempt from FLSA overtime.

CLOSING DATE:

Applications received by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2024, will receive first consideration. Screening of applications to begin on April 1, 2024.

SALARY:

$220,000+ annual salary (dependent on experience and level of preparation), plus a competitive benefit package.

BENEFITS:

The North Dakota University System offers a competitive benefit package including a generous retirement plan and employer paid family health insurance, basic life insurance, sick leave, annual leave, employee tuition waiver, spouse/dependent tuition discount, and 10 paid holidays.

Work Environment

The primary office is based in Grand Forks, ND, but frequent trips across the state may be required. Additionally, a significant number of internal and external meetings may require travel to the University System Office in Bismarck, ND, any of the 11 institutions, and other sites.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chancellor, the North Dakota University System (NDUS) Vice Chancellor for Information Technology is responsible for providing overall leadership, vision, strategy, and accountability for system-wide information technology services, data intelligence, and institutional research. In carrying out these responsibilities, the Vice Chancellor must ensure that the infrastructure and applications provide an environment that is cost-effective and responsive to student needs and addresses the unique mission of each institution, where necessary.

As a strategic leader, the NDUS Vice Chancellor for Information Technology oversees Core Technology Services (CTS), consisting of the following departments with an annual budget of more than $30 million and 135 FTEs: Office of the CIO – provides administrative support to CTS along with leading enterprise project planning and project management, contract management, software site licenses, and IT Security; ConnectND – the NDUS implementation of Oracle’s PeopleSoft administrative software system, including student administration, finance, human resources, portal, and other ancillary systems; and Enterprise Solutions – provides support for the academic, research, and learning missions of NDUS institutions, including Microsoft’s Office 365, the NDUS help/service desk, an enterprise learning management system, and other related technologies. The Online Dakota Information Network (ODIN) is part of Enterprise Solutions, and it provides library automation services to the NDUS institutions, the State Library, and numerous state agencies, K-12 and public libraries. CTS also provides system-wide support and infrastructure services including data center operations, the wide-area network in conjunction with the State’s Information Technology Department along with other academic and research support services.

This position will also provide leadership to the University System’s Institutional Research (IR) and Data Intelligence groups. IR, data analytics, and in particular, artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the landscape of higher education, empowering decision making with data driven reports, dashboards, visualization. AI is in a nascent stage and this position will lead the future development for classroom instruction, student tutoring, research, and business processes.

The NDUS Vice Chancellor for IT directs and/or coordinates this technology environment and investment in system-wide information technology services by performing the following essential duties and responsibilities:

• Oversees development of an NDUS information technology strategic plan and related annual reporting, building upon the State Board of Higher Education Strategic Plan, in coordination with NDUS senior councils.
• Oversees NDUS information technology policy, procedure, and standards development in cooperation with the state’s Information Technology Department and the NDUS senior councils.
• Ensure proper project management and reporting processes are in place to meet SBHE policy requirements.
• Oversee planning, coordination, management, and administration of IT security.
• Ensure appropriate resources are in place to support the Information Security Strategic Plan.
• Promotes and supports broad scope, integrated, and up-to-date student systems, business and financial systems, and associated ancillary systems to meet institutional and system needs.
• Promotes and supports further development, implementation, and maintenance of ODIN library automation and directory services for use by both internal and external constituents.
• Promotes and supports the use of technology in the instructional process.
• Lead the NDUS as it plans for future growth in IR, data analytics, and AI technologies that support instructional design, student tutoring, research, and business processes. Ensure adequate resources and staffing are identified.
• Leads development and implementation of higher education data warehouse technologies in conjunction with implementation and operation of a statewide longitudinal data system.
• Works with ND Information Technology Department to ensure sufficient wide-area network access.
• Continues to strengthen the Office of Core Technology Services to effectively and efficiently meet the needs of the NDUS.
• Maintains open communication and positive working relationship with students, primarily through the ND Student Association.
• Prepares and provides regular legislative testimony on information technology issues.
• Maintains effective relationships with the executive and legislative branches in pursuit of the state’s educational and related needs, including, but not limited to, the Information Technology Department, Department of Public Instruction, and the State Library.
• Maintains effective relationships, as appropriate, with major vendors and suppliers of technology services to the NDUS.
• Maintains effective relationships, as appropriate, with counterparts at the State and K-12 level regarding technology systems and services.
• Supervise and evaluate professional and administrative staff.
• Serves as Practice Owner for IT Service Management Practices. (ServiceOne)
• Oversee the Core Technology Services budget.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience managing information technology in state government, higher education, or the private sector.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills, with an ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders including translating complex technical issues to lay audiences.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and vision-setting experience related to IT services and infrastructure with the ability to provide clear direction, collaborate with diverse stakeholders and articulate a strategic vision.
• Minimum of five years of supervisory experience with a demonstrated ability to effectively manage senior level staff.

Preferred:

• Advanced degree
• Four+ years of experience effectively managing complex ERP systems including budget, personnel, and project management.
• Demonstrated experience supporting academic systems or understanding the unique needs and challenges of higher education systems.
• Proficiency in leading organizational change specifically in the areas of IT innovation, security, and infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience building and leading a customer service-focused information technology organization within a multi-institutional system.
• Knowledge of institutional research, data analytics and using data for informed decision-making.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants should apply online at https://ndus.edu/about/careers/ and upload a cover letter specifically addressing the minimum and preferred qualifications, a current resume and names and email addresses of three professional references.

To be considered for this position, and to move forward in the search process applicants must upload:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Professional References

Applicants who are veterans and eligible to claim veteran’s preference must include Form DD214 with the application for employment; claims for disabled veteran’s preference must include Form DD214 and a letter less than one year old from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs indicating disability; claims for preference as the eligible spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran must include Form DD214, a marriage certificate and a letter less than one year old from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs indicating disability, or the veteran’s death certificate. Due to access to restricted information, the successful candidate will be required to complete a satisfactory criminal background check. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. and I-9 employment certification is required at hire. There is no sponsorship available for this position.

Persons who may need additional job information or may require accommodation or assistance with the application or interview process should contact Jane Grinde at (701) 328.4217, or e-mail jane.grinde@ndus.edu. TTY Number 1-800-366-6888.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF APPLICATION MATERIALS: Pursuant to NDCC 44-04-18.27, applications and any records related to the applications that identify an applicant are exempt from public record, except records related to the finalists of the position, which are open to the public after the search committee has identified finalists.

EEO/AA STATEMENT: NDUS/Core Technology Services is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE NOTICE: Veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 and if claiming disabled status, a current letter of disability from the VA dated within the last 12 months.

NO SMOKING NOTICE: As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.