PLNU is a Christian liberal arts university in the evangelical, Wesleyan tradition, offering quality undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. We provide higher education in a vibrant Christian environment where minds are engaged and challenged, character is modeled and formed, and service is an expression of faith. PLNU is an institution that is committed to reflecting the rich diversity of God’s kingdom. We therefore encourage applications from culturally diverse candidates.
We are pleased to offer attractive benefits and resources. This includes benefits such as health, dental, tuition benefits for employees and dependents, competitive retirement matching, vacation and sick time, and 15 paid holidays per year. In addition, we have many opportunities to engage with our community including staff chapel and a robust wellness program.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Vice President of University Services, the Associate Vice President for Information Technology Services plans and provides vision, leadership, and management of a large and complex organization responsible for the planning, organizing, and oversight of academic and administrative technology university-wide. The AVP of ITS will lead the university’s ongoing commitment to support and promote the strategic use of information technology that advances the overall mission of the university. The AVP of ITS serves as the principal technology leader for the university, providing the vision and leadership for developing and implementing information technology strategies and initiatives university-wide. This necessitates a high level of familiarity with the various constituents and a commitment to meeting the diverse information and communications needs that exist across all university departments. They are responsible for anticipating and maintaining a vision for the future technology needs at Point Loma Nazarene University, and for recommending strategies, priorities, and projects that will best achieve the university’s strategic goals and objectives.
It is critical that this role be able to serve in person at the University. Remote work is not an option.
Salary: Pay range $133,591 – $176,290. Actual salary offered is determined by the candidate’s experience, education, skills, and other factors, including internal equity and university funding resources.
Job Status: Full time
Job Description
Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership and coordination to the University’s Information Technology Services department.
- Ensure optimal integration and cost-efficiency in the development and implementation of operating plans, systems, and procedures.
- Exercise decision-making, critical thinking, and measured risk-taking in operations and project planning to increase constituent access to appropriate tools while minimizing university exposure and risk.
- Maintain a comprehensive Information Technology strategic plan that aligns with the University’s strategic, operational, and fiscal needs and objectives.
- Deliver highly available systems and services to meet the university’s needs.
- Design and implement systems, processes, and innovative approaches that advance continuous improvement, demonstrate a strong commitment to service, and effectively support the needs of a diverse campus community.
- Direct and provide oversight for ITS standards and practices for ensuring consistent and excellent technical support and customer service.
- Provide innovative ideas to enhance ITS operations, streamline processes, and gain efficiencies where possible.
- Create, implement, and recommend policies related to IT management, IT procurement, data governance, and Information Security.
- Collaborate on the university’s strategic adoption of artificial intelligence, developing policies, infrastructure, and cross-campus initiatives that integrate AI into academic, administrative, and research functions while ensuring ethical use, data security, and alignment with institutional mission.
- Oversee organizational strategy and development for central university tooling: Student Information System, Enterprise Resource Planning, and Learning Management System.
- Provide ITS representation and collaborative decision-making at institutional-level committees.
- Knowledge and experience working with a diverse population are preferred.
Project and Portfolio Management
- Provide strategic leadership for the development and execution of a coordinated portfolio of IT initiatives aligned with the university’s goals and priorities.
- Champion clear communication frameworks to ensure transparency, alignment, and effective engagement among internal and external stakeholders.
- Guide and influence business process improvements, ensuring solutions align with institutional strategy while empowering project leadership to design and implement operational changes.
- Oversee governance structures for tracking, evaluating, and approving changes across the IT project environment, ensuring consistency, accountability, and risk management.
- Ensure appropriate quality assurance standards and continuous improvement practices are defined and upheld across all projects, holding project leadership accountable for delivering high-quality outcomes.
Staff Management
- Ensure a welcoming climate for employees and develop a diverse team that reflects the faculty, staff, and students the department serves.
- Manage the selection, employment, training, compensation, and evaluation of all IT staff as well as make personnel recommendations, including hiring, discipline, evaluation, promotion/demotion, and termination.
- Oversee, manage, and develop the ITS leadership team.
- Foster the professional and personal development of IT staff in an environment that values innovation, collaboration, and growth, for the betterment of the individual and university goals.
- Emphasize processes and practices that provide business continuity, enable constituents to move quickly in alignment with university goals and initiatives, and provide support and safeguards for university information and equipment.
- Promote an environment that implements secure, reliable, and emerging technologies in partnership with the larger PLNU community.
- Uphold and promote an environment that values the input of each team member through respectful and collaborative dialogue, and sharing of ideas.
- Develop and implement practices that continually assure quality improvement and exhibit a clear customer service commitment to meet the needs of a diverse campus community.
Operating and Capital Budget Oversight
- Prepare, manage, and oversee the IT Operating and Capital Projects budget.
- Provide budget forecasts and projections through year-end based on spending patterns.
- Review new projects and programs with the Vice President of University Services and advise about IT and Capital Projects related budget implications.
- Manage, analyze, and report on spending patterns in all IT-related areas, including hardware, enterprise software, software as a service, telecommunications, and classroom and event-space audio/video support to determine opportunities for efficiencies and cost savings.
IT Vendor Governance and Strategy
- Oversee institutional processes for evaluation and selection of vendors in collaboration with procurement, Information Security, and relevant university stakeholders.
- In collaboration with General Counsel’s office and the Risk Management Leadership team, review, negotiate, and execute business and service terms of vendor agreements to maximize operational and financial performance while reducing university risk.
- Govern and maintain IT vendor management-related policies and best practices.
- Facilitate periodic reviews of vendor financial, operational, and technical support risks.
- Ensure vendor technology risk assessments are conducted through established IT and Information Security governance processes prior to implementation.
- Manage ongoing vendor relationships.
Information Security Governance and Oversight
- Oversee the operations and expansion of university-wide information security resources and practices.
- Promote collaborative working environments that minimize the impact of ensuring a secure environment.
- Provide oversight of the university’s Information Security Program and ensure alignment with institutional risk management, regulatory requirements, and strategic priorities.
- Stay abreast of information security issues and regulatory changes affecting higher education at the state and national level, communicating relevant updates to university leadership.
- Review institutional cybersecurity risk assessments and recommendations prepared by the Information Security Team and provide strategic guidance to ensure appropriate mitigation of institutional risk.
- Present cybersecurity risk posture and strategic initiatives reports to university stakeholders as needed.
- Ensure the university maintains an effective cybersecurity awareness and training program administered by the Information Security team.
- Provide executive oversight for institutional cybersecurity and technology compliance efforts related to regulatory and industry standards, including PCI, HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA, and other applicable frameworks.
Qualifications
- The minimum educational qualification is a Master’s degree in a technology-related field, Business Administration, or a related discipline, or equivalent significant professional IT experience.
- Demonstrated visionary leadership and managerial abilities, including people and project management.
- Advanced skills in planning, communication, and management.
- Significant experience administering and/or implementing information technology systems and services, including a senior-level leadership position involving accountability for and successful implementation of strategic initiatives. Experience in a higher education environment is highly desirable.
- Experience overseeing the operation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Student Information Systems (SIS); experience with Workday is preferred.
- A solid background in fiscal management, long-term planning, and the development and implementation of IT policies.
- Ability to exercise critical human relations skills in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with faculty, staff, students, and external contacts.
- Leadership in the development of a strategic direction for information technology services, gauging and anticipating the diverse needs of university constituents, monitoring trends and innovations in the industry to meet those needs; developing and implementing strategic long and short-term technology plans; and making actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
- Understanding of and commitment to the spiritual mission of Point Loma Nazarene University.
- Ability to delegate, support, and motivate staff to achieve maximum performance in their positions.
- Demonstrated commitment to quality and customer-oriented provision of service.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including public speaking skills.
- Evidence of Christian commitment and active church involvement. In addition, staff agree to live in agreement with PLNU’s Community Life Covenant.
- The job offer is contingent on the successful completion of a background check. PLNU will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local “Fair Chance” laws.
Physical Requirements
- Work is primarily sedentary, continuous walking, etc., and may require sitting, standing, bending, or stooping for extended periods of time.
- Use of computer equipment: computer keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
- Vision to read documents, e‑mail, and other correspondence, and reports on paper and the computer monitor. Ability to communicate effectively with others in person and by phone.
- Will also stand, stoop, push, pull, and lift up to 25 pounds throughout the day.
- Travel: Ability to travel to multiple campus sites in San Diego County.
At PLNU, we believe in pursuing calling together. Deep and meaningful relationships between students, faculty, and staff is vital in nurturing our shared community and expressing God’s love. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates to join us in empowering our students to reach their greatest personal, spiritual and professional potential.
Point Loma Nazarene University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.
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