Chief Information Officer

Harper College; Hoffman Estates (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Harper College in Illinois seeks a strategic technology leader to guide IT vision, governance, and operations across the college. The role partners with academic and administrative leaders to align technology with the mission, support student success, and enable transformation.

You will oversee cybersecurity, data governance, analytics, and digital transformation initiatives, manage budgets and vendor relationships, and drive enterprise roadmaps.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, MIS, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, or related field.
• Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in information technology.
• Experience directing enterprise technology operations, cybersecurity, strategic planning, and organizational change within a complex organization.
• Higher education experience, including support for academic technology and shared governance environments, is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops and leads the college's technology vision, strategy, and roadmap in alignment with institutional goals.
• Serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on technology opportunities, risks, investments, and emerging trends.
• Promotes a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and service excellence throughout the College.
• Provides executive oversight for security, reliability, and performance of the College's technology environment.
• Leads technology governance processes and aligns investments with strategic priorities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive communication

Technology governance

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, MIS, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, or related field

Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field (preferred)

Job description

ABOUT US

We are Harper College…the college in your community.

The College was established by referendum in 1965 and openedSeptember 1967. It is named for Dr. William Rainey Harper, apioneer in the junior college movement in the United States and thefirst president of the University of Chicago.

Harper College is now one of the nation’s premier communitycolleges and one of the largest, serving approximately 29,000students annually in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. The College’sacademic programs prepare students for rewarding careers and fortransfer to four-year universities. Harper offers associate degreeand certification programs, advanced career programs, workforcetraining, professional development, continuing education classes,accelerated degree options for adults and developmental educationprograms.

At Harper College, we are committed to fair and equitablecompensation for all employees. In compliance with Illinois statelaw, we prioritize transparency in salary information. Our salaryranges reflect our dedication to attracting and retaining toptalent while ensuring equitable pay practices.We encourage opendiscussions about compensation and invite you to reach out with anyquestions you may have regarding salary details. Harper Collegetypically offers compensation up to the median market rate for thisposition. We aim to ensure our pay is competitive while aligningwith both the role's requirements and the candidate's experience.

To review all benefit information visit us at:

https://www.harpercollege.edu/about/directory/hr/index.php

QUALIFICATIONS

JOB DESCRIPTION

Characteristic Duties:

Strategic Leadership and Innovation

• Develops and leads the College's technology vision, strategy, and roadmap in alignment with institutional goals and priorities.
• Serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on technology opportunities, risks, investments, and emerging trends.
• Partners with academic and administrative leaders to identify,evaluate, and responsibly implement artificial intelligence and emerging technologies that enhance student success, teaching and learning, employee effectiveness, and operational excellence.
• Promotes a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and service excellence throughout the College.

Technology Governance and Institutional Alignment

• Establishes and leads institution-wide technology governance processes that prioritize and optimize technology investments, initiatives, and resources based on institutional value, risk, organizational capacity, and strategic priorities.
• Ensures technology solutions are aligned with institutional objectives and support efficient, effective, and sustainable operations.
• Leads efforts to optimize the College's technology portfolio through system integration, process improvement, and effective utilization of existing technology investments.
• Partners with academic and administrative leaders to identify and address technology needs that support the College's mission and strategic goals.

Technology Operations, Security, and Risk Management

• Provides executive oversight for the security, reliability, resilience, and performance of the College's technology environment.
• Ensures effective cybersecurity, technology risk management, privacy, regulatory compliance, data protection, business continuity, and disaster recovery practices are established and maintained.
• Oversees the delivery of technology services and enterprise systems that support instructional, student, administrative, and business operations.
• Maintains appropriate awareness of technology trends, operational risks, and infrastructure needs to ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness.

Data, Analytics, and Digital Transformation

• Partners with institutional leaders to advance data governance, data quality, analytics, and the effective use of institutional information for decision-making.
• Leads technology-enabled transformation initiatives that improve institutional effectiveness and enhance the experience of students, faculty, and staff.
• Promotes the responsible and effective use of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence across the institution.
• Provides leadership and governance for the College's use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, establishing frameworks, policies, standards, and decision-making processes that promote responsible use, innovation, security, privacy, compliance, risk management, and alignment with institutional priorities.

Leadership, Financial Stewardship, and Partnerships

• Provides leadership and direction for Information Technology Services, including organizational development, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development.
• Oversees technology-related budgeting, resource allocation, vendor relationships, and contract administration.
• Ensures responsible stewardship of institutional technology resources and investments.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, students, community partners, and technology vendors.
• Represents the College in technology-related partnerships, professional organizations, and external collaborations.

Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

Work is primarily indoor and sedentary in nature.

Equipment/Tools Used:

Utilizes standard office equipment, including computers and related technology, to perform the duties of the position.

Supervision:

Under the general supervision of the Executive Vice President, Finance and Administrative Services. Exercises administrative and supervisory responsibility for the Information Technology Services division.

Minimum Essential Requirements:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, or a related field required. Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.

Experience:

Ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in information technology, including experience directing enterprise technology operations, cybersecurity, strategic planning, and organizational change within a complex organization.

Demonstrated success leading technology organizations, managing significant operating and capital budgets, and delivering major technology initiatives.

Experience developing technology strategy, technology governance, and enterprise technology roadmaps.

Demonstrated ability to align technology investments with organizational priorities and measurable business outcomes.

Experience leading and developing high-performing teams and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and service excellence.

Strong experience managing vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and technology procurement.

Higher education experience, including support for academic technology, student technology services, and shared governance environments, is strongly preferred.

Experience working in a unionized environment is preferred.

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ABOUT THE TEAM

RESPONSIBILITIES