Executive Director of Information Technology

Lawson State Community College; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 92,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawson State Community College seeks an Executive Director of Information Technology to provide strategic direction and operational oversight for IT Services. You will supervise staff, align technology with the college mission, and report to the President and Cabinet.

The role governs enterprise platforms and ensures security, privacy, and compliance across campuses. Salary placement ranges from $92,072 to $136,517 on Schedule C 1, based on experience.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Information Technology or a related field.
• Seven years of directly related Information Technology experience.
• Five years of related experience in Education.
• At least three years of supervisory experience managing staff.
• Knowledge of hardware installation, maintenance, and management in a multiplatform, cloud-inclusive server environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; Alabama driver's license or ability to obtain one within 30 days.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership, direction, and supervision to the Information Technology Services division.
• Lead IT strategic and operational planning to align with the College's mission and goals.
• Advise the President and Cabinet on information technology matters and governance.
• Align and manage enterprise platforms (e.g., Ellucian Banner, Argos, FormFusion, DegreeWorks, TargetX, Ellucian Elevate).
• Develop and manage the IT department budget and capital/operational expenses.
• Provide leadership, performance management, and professional development for IT staff.
• Oversee requirements gathering, priorities, and capacity planning for hardware and infrastructure.
• Ensure security policies and FERPA compliance across College systems and networks.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in Information Technology or related field

Tools

Ellucian Banner

Argos

FormFusion

DegreeWorks

TargetX

Ellucian Elevate

Evisions

Job description

Position Summary

This position is posted in compliance with Alabama Code §16-22-15. This position is intended to be filled by a transferring employee.

The Executive Director of Information Technology is a highly collaborative senior leader who provides executive-level administrative leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight of the College's Information Technology Services division. This position is accountable for aligning the College's technology strategy, budget, and governance with institutional mission and goals; for maintaining the security, integrity, and availability of College technology systems and infrastructure; and for the supervision of the IT staff, who carry out the day-to-day administration, installation, configuration, and maintenance of the College's hardware, software, network, and telecommunications environment. The Executive Director represents Information Technology Services on the President's Cabinet and with the ACCS System Office, and other System initiatives.

Salary Schedule: Appropriate placement on Salary Schedule C 1 ($92,072- $136,517) based on experience.

This position is not on the tenure/non-probationary track pursuant to Alabama Act 2024-360 and ACCS Policy and Procedure 204.01, wherein any person who is being employed into an executive and administrative management personnel position (whether a new hire or whether a current employee who is being transferred, reorganized, or otherwise moved into such position) shall enter into an employment contract with the College's President on or after July 1, 2024.

This position is posted in compliance with Alabama Code §16-22-15. This position is intended to be filled by a transferring employee.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership, direction, and supervision to the Information Technology Services division.


• Lead IT strategic and operational planning to achieve the College's mission and goals, and translate System-level technology strategy into College-level plans and priorities.


• Serve as the College's primary point of contact and adviser to the President and Cabinet on information technology matters; participate in strategic and operational governance processes of the College.


• Align and manage local College technology platforms and centralized, enterprise-wide platforms (e.g., Ellucian Banner, Argos, FormFusion, DegreeWorks, TargetX, Ellucian Elevate, and related Evisions and shared-service tools) in coordination with the ACCS System Office.


• Develop and manage the Information Technology Services department budget; develop requirements, outlines, budgets, and schedules for capital and operational technology expenses.


• Provide leadership, performance management, evaluation, and professional development for the IT staff.


• Oversee determination of information system requirements, project priorities, and system capability planning; ensure appropriate capacity planning and forecasting of hardware and infrastructure growth is performed by direct reports.


• Ensure system hardware, operating systems, software systems, and related infrastructure — including cloud-based servers and telecommunications — adhere to institutional values, and that standard practices and procedures are documented, followed, and appropriately maintained by department staff.


• Oversee the development and recommendation of computing policies and procedures; present final computing policies and procedures for administrative cabinet approval.


• Oversee implementation of, and ensure ongoing compliance with, the ACCS Information Security policy across the College.


• Ensure the confidentiality, privacy, and security of information processed, stored, or accessed by College systems and networks, and ensure department processes support compliance with FERPA and other applicable federal and state laws.


• Ensure appropriate training and technical assistance is provided to faculty and staff in the use of computers and technology at all campus and site locations.


• Evaluate opportunities to increase efficiencies by partnering with other institutions, the ACCS System Office, and outside organizations to further College objectives.


• Identify technology inequities and develop plans to address them by offering access to technology services, applications, and technical expertise.


• Maintain knowledge of current trends and developments within the Information Technology field and advise the President, Cabinet, and College on pertinent topics.


• Prepare standard and specialized reports through operational analysis of data from College systems, sub-systems, and procedures; provide information to management by assembling and summarizing data, preparing reports, and presenting findings, analyses, and recommendations.


• Provide data and report analysis to support institutional effectiveness.


• Serve on College and System-wide committees and governance teams; participate in College initiatives and events that further the College's mission and goals.


• May be assigned to assist with or act on behalf of the College as a liaison between the College and the ACCS Officer, as needed.


• Complies with all policies of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, the Alabama Community College System, and Lawson State Community College.


• Represents the College in a professional manner in responding to ACCS System Office employees, business and education executives, college personnel, students, and the public.


• Performs other duties as assigned by the College President or designee


• Other related duties as assigned.

This job description is a general statement of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular basis. It does not exclude other duties as assigned. This job description and specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor. This job description may be altered or modified at any time by management.

Qualifications

• Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution in Information Technology or a related field.


• Seven (7) years of directly related Information Technology experience, including planning technology requirements, computer network operations, and deployment of computer-related resources.


• Five (5) years of related experience in Education.


• At least three (3) years of supervisory experience managing staff.


• Knowledge of computer hardware installation, maintenance, and management in a multiplatform, cloud-inclusive server environment.


• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to organize and present clear and concise oral and written reports.


• Must have a valid Alabama driver's license or be able to obtain one within 30 days of start date.

PREFERRED

• Doctorate degree from a regionally accredited institution.


• Experience working with or supporting educational institutions in Alabama.


• Experience managing IT staff and operations across multiple campuses or sites.


• Varied high-level IT credentials and certifications in technologically related areas

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Strong customer-service orientation.


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.


• Ability to work under moderate pressure of schedules, deadlines, and requirements for accuracy.


• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with a focus on listening and questioning skill.


• Ability to think in a logical manner and to organize and analyze data.


• Exercises a high degree of confidentiality, independent judgment, initiative, and self-direction, and effectively manages stress associated with the work.


• Ability to effectively supervise, motivate, and inspire personnel.


• Ability to meet the needs of the College by working a flexible schedule, including day, evening, night, and weekend hours.


• Ability to travel on occasion and work across multiple campuses.


• Demonstrated understanding, sensitivity, and commitment to meeting the needs of the diverse ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, and disability background of the student and community population.


• Represents the College in a professional manner in responding to ACCS System Office employees, business/education executives, college personnel, students, and the public.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• General office environment with the ability to stand or sit for prolonged periods.


• Ability to travel independently and navigate between multiple campuses.


• Ability to occasionally lift, move, or transport materials or equipment up to 25 lbs.

EEOC, E-VERIFY, AND BACKGROUND CHECK STATEMENTS

Lawson State Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Alabama Community College System, including all postsecondary community and technical colleges under the control of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, that no employee or applicant for employment or promotion, on the basis of any impermissible criterion or characteristic including, without limitation, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, sex, age, or any other protected class as defined by federal and state law, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment. Lawson State Community College will make reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled applicants upon request. In accordance with Alabama Community College System Policy and Guidelines, the applicant chosen for employment will be required to sign a consent form for a criminal background check. Employment will be contingent upon the receipt of a clearance notification from the criminal background check. Lawson State Community College is an active participant in the Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-verify). E-verify electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Department of Homeland Security.