| POSITION SUMMARY: The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is Texas College’s senior technology executive, accountable for technology strategy, reliable day-to-day operations, information security, data stewardship, and responsive service to students, faculty, and staff. Reporting directly to the President, the CIO serves on the Cabinet and ensures that technology investments support institutional effectiveness, enrollment, student success, academic excellence, and responsible stewardship.
Texas College seeks a practical, solutions-oriented leader who can move quickly between strategic planning and direct execution. The CIO must remain technically engaged, work alongside the IT team when necessary, resolve urgent operational challenges, and build a customer-service culture aligned with the College’s THRIVE framework.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Technology Strategy and Institutional Transformation
• Develop, prioritize, and execute a realistic technology roadmap tied to College goals, affordability, student experience, and measurable improvements.
• Advise the President and Cabinet on technology decisions; translate institutional priorities into deliverable projects with timelines, owners, budgets, and outcomes.
• Guide responsible use of automation, digital tools, and artificial intelligence to streamline services while protecting institutional data.
2. Enterprise Systems and Data Management
• Lead effective administration, optimization, integration, and user support for Jenzabar and related systems serving Finance, Enrollment, Registrar, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, and Advancement.
• Strengthen data integrity, access controls, institutional reporting, integrations, and documented cross-functional workflows; collaborate with department leaders on clear system ownership.
• Ensure that staff receive appropriate training and that critical reports and transactions can be performed accurately and on time.
3. Operational Reliability, Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity
• Oversee networks, connectivity, servers, cloud services, endpoints, classroom technology, telecommunications, help desk operations, and technology procurement.
• Maintain appropriate cybersecurity, backup, disaster recovery, incident response, and business-continuity practices, consistent with applicable requirements and College policy.
• Respond promptly to high-impact outages and system failures, personally joining troubleshooting and restoration efforts when needed.
4. Service Excellence, People Leadership, and Execution
• Direct, coach, and develop the IT team; establish clear expectations, cross-training, service standards, ticket escalation, performance measures, and accountability.
• Model a hands-on leadership approach: assist staff with troubleshooting, implementation, maintenance, and user support as circumstances require rather than relying solely on delegation.
• Move decisively from planning meetings to execution, particularly during urgent campus needs, resource constraints, system implementations, or operational disruptions.
• Build a responsive, respectful, problem-solving service culture with timely communication and effective partnerships across campus.
5. Fiscal and Vendor Stewardship
• Develop and manage the IT budget, contracts, licenses, vendor relationships, asset inventories, and lifecycle replacement plans, prioritizing cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
• Coordinate grant-funded technology initiatives with Finance and appropriate program administrators; monitor deliverables and applicable funding requirements.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, information systems, cybersecurity, or a closely related field; comparable combinations of education and substantial relevant experience may be considered.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible information technology experience, demonstrating advancement through increasingly complex technical, operational, supervisory, and strategic roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading IT personnel, major systems, or technology implementations, with the ability to remain technically proficient and directly engaged in day-to-day problem solving.
• Proven ability to transition quickly from executive-level strategy to hands-on execution, including supporting technical staff during escalations, major changes, and critical service interruptions.
• Experience administering enterprise applications, managing vendors and budgets, supporting cybersecurity and data practices, and delivering reliable customer-facing technology services.
• Strong communication, judgment, integrity, collaboration, and ability to lead organizational change with a student- and service-centered mindset.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master’s degree in a relevant field; IT leadership certifications or substantial professional development in cybersecurity, systems, networking, project management, or enterprise applications.
• Experience in higher education, especially an HBCU or small private institution; experience with Jenzabar and technology supporting student information, finance, and financial aid.
• Experience improving IT service management, analytics, automation, systems integration, and cyber resilience with limited resources.
Leadership Attributes and Performance Expectations
• Strategic thinker and active problem-solver: can articulate a compelling vision while taking personal responsibility for timely implementation.
• Visible, approachable team leader: earns trust through technical credibility, practical assistance, mentoring, and willingness to share demanding work.
• Collaborative executive partner: listens carefully, sets priorities transparently, follows through, and communicates clearly during difficult situations.
• Accountable operator: demonstrates progress through service responsiveness, availability and recovery, project delivery, data quality, effective Jenzabar utilization, staff development, and prudent spending.
WORKING EXPECTATIONS;
This is an on-campus executive leadership role that may require evening, weekend, or urgent-response availability to support essential College operations. The CIO is expected to exercise sound judgment, protect confidential information, and engage personally in critical operations when necessary. The position description may be updated to reflect institutional priorities and operational needs.
Texas College is an equal opportunity employer committed to a professional, respectful, and inclusive educational and working environment. |
