Exec Director -BI, Data Platforms, and Applied AI

Excelsior University; City of Albany (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Excelsior University seeks an Executive Director of Data Engineering and Applied AI to lead enterprise data strategy, architecture, and AI initiatives. You will steer the Data Engineering team, drive data pipelines, APIs, and analytics platforms, and partner with ADS to advance AI workloads across the university.

You will guide governance, security, and scalable data platforms, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and ethical AI standards, while fostering innovation and operational

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data engineering, BI, or enterprise data management
• 5+ years in a leadership role with design oversight
• Experience designing and developing enterprise data systems and analytics platforms
• Strong expertise in data architecture, APIs, middleware, and cloud-native solutions
• Experience with SaaS enterprise systems (Banner, Salesforce) and secure integrations
• Knowledge of applied AI/ML within enterprise data environments
• Experience with DevOps, CI/CD, automated testing, and secure SDLC
• Experience implementing data governance and compliance in higher education

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the enterprise data strategy and architecture
• Lead Data Engineering team delivering data services for BI, analytics, and AI workloads
• Oversee data integrations, warehousing, and reporting platforms
• Provide technical leadership for APIs, integration architecture, and data pipelines
• Govern data quality, security, compliance, and accessibility across systems
• Collaborate with ADS to support AI model integration and analytics
• Advance AI-enabled systems aligned with IT infrastructure and governance
• Foster a high-performing engineering culture focused on innovation and service excellence

Skills

Data architecture

APIs

Middleware

Cloud-native

SaaS integrations

AI/ML

DevOps

CI/CD

Data governance

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering/IS/Data Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Ellucian Banner

Salesforce

Job description

The Executive Director of Data Engineering and Applied AI is a senior IT leader responsible for designing, developing, and executing Excelsior University’s enterprise data strategy. This includes the architecture, engineering, and operation of data platforms, integration frameworks, business intelligence solutions, and applied AI capabilities—ensuring alignment with institutional goals, compliance requirements, and the University’s evolving needs. Working in close partnership with senior leadership, key institutional stakeholders, and the Analytics & Data Science (ADS) team, the Executive Director leads the Data Engineering team in delivering integrated and high-performing data services that enable data-informed decision-making, operational excellence, and innovation across the University. A central focus of the role is designing, developing, and maintaining secure, scalable, and modern data and analytics systems using sound engineering methods. The Executive Director provides engineering oversight for enterprise software, data integration, and AI initiatives—ensuring the effective design, testing, and implementation of data pipelines, APIs, and analytical platforms that support institutional priorities. Additionally, this position leads the design, development, and governance of AI-enabled systems and applications, ensuring alignment with foundational IT infrastructure, data governance practices, and ethical AI standards.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the definition, engineering, and execution of the University’s enterprise data strategy, aligning data architecture, platforms, and AI capabilities with institutional goals and digital transformation initiatives.

• Design, develop, and maintain robust data and analytics systems, ensuring scalability, security, and performance through modern engineering practices.
• Oversee the Data Engineering team, responsible for enterprise data integration, warehousing, BI reporting, and advanced analytics capabilities.
• Engineer and sustain a secure, scalable data-as-a-service environment to support operational reporting, advanced analytics, and AI workloads.
• Provide technical leadership in software and systems engineering, including integration architecture, API design, and data pipeline development for enterprise systems such as Banner SaaS and Salesforce.
• Oversee the full engineering lifecycle of data and analytics initiatives—from requirements analysis and system design through development, testing, deployment, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the ADS team to support advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI model integration within the enterprise data ecosystem.
• Lead the engineering and governance of applied AI solutions, ensuring infrastructure, data readiness, and policies support responsible and effective AI adoption.
• Establish and maintain data governance frameworks that ensure data quality, security, compliance, and accessibility across institutional systems.
• Stay current with emerging trends in data engineering, BI, AI, and integration technologies to continually refine and modernize the University’s data strategy.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing engineering culture focused on innovation, service excellence, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).

• 10+ years of experience in data engineering, business intelligence, or enterprise data management, including 5+ years in a leadership role with system and software design oversight.
• Proven experience designing and developing enterprise data systems, integrations, and analytics platforms using modern engineering principles.
• Strong technical expertise in data architecture, APIs, middleware, and cloud-native solutions (experience with Microsoft Fabric highly desirable).
• Experience with SaaS enterprise systems (e.g., Ellucian Banner, Salesforce) and enabling their reporting, analytics, and AI functionalities through secure integrations.
• Knowledge of applied AI/ML technologies, including embedded and standalone capabilities within enterprise data environments.
• Strong understanding of engineering best practices, including DevOps, CI/CD, version control, automated testing, and secure software development.
• Demonstrated experience implementing data governance and compliance frameworks, ideally within higher education.
• Exceptional strategic and operational leadership with the ability to bridge technical, business, and academic perspectives.
• Prior experience in higher education or a similarly complex, data-intensive environment is highly desirable.

The hiring salary range for this position is $120,000.00 - $130,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University's good faith estimate at the time of posting.

• Paid time off
• Retirement
• Excellent health insurance

Excelsior University is an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected characteristic.

Excelsior University is an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected characteristic.