Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer

Sam Houston State University; Huntsville (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Sam Houston State University seeks a forward‑looking Vice President and Chief Information Officer to lead the campus IT strategy and operations. The role oversees central IT infrastructure, enterprise systems, cybersecurity, and data governance, aligning technology with the university’s academic and administrative missions.

We expect a seasoned leader with proven ability to drive strategic change, manage budgets, and partner with Academic, Student Affairs, and Finance and Operations to deliver

Qualifications

• Terminal degree or masters degree in an appropriate field required; doctorate preferred.
• Five+ years of progressively responsible IT leadership experience in a collaborative IT environment.
• Experience as a CIO is preferred.
• Strong financial management skills and ability to support strategic initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication to convey complex technical information.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision and leadership for IT campus environment.
• Lead central IT infrastructure and services including enterprise systems, cybersecurity, and data governance.
• Collaborate with campus stakeholders to establish IT priorities and policies.
• Oversee IT resources, budgeting, and governance to align with university strategy.

Skills

Strategic leadership

IT governance

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication

Education

Terminal degree

Master's degree

Doctorate preferred

Job description

Educational And Experience Requirement

Terminal degree or masters degree in an appropriate field required; doctorate preferred. Proven and substantive administrative experience with a record of accomplishments as an administrator at a senior educational institution or experience in a related field. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible IT leadership experience in a collaborative IT environment; experience as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) preferred. Demonstrated senior leadership experience, preferably in higher education, including strategic planning, project planning, visioning, and process transformation. Proven ability to manage complex projects involving technology innovation, maintenance, and organizational change while aligning teams and stakeholders with institutional goals and strategic priorities. Broad knowledge of information technologies and emerging trends in higher education, including student-centered applications that support the Universitys academic and administrative missions. Demonstrated success collaborating with campus stakeholders to establish IT priorities, plan services, and develop policies, practices, and procedures. Strong financial management skills and the ability to effectively manage resources and support strategic initiatives. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical information in accessible terms and provide consistent messaging to internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated leadership characterized by integrity, accountability, collaboration, innovation, and follow-through, with the ability to inspire and support IT staff, listen to ideas and concerns, build trust, and lead strategic change aligned with institutional priorities.

Department

• Strategic Enrollment and Innovation
• Full time
• Open until filled: Yes
• Requisition: 202600031ES

Educational And Experience Requirement

Terminal degree or masters degree in an appropriate field required; doctorate preferred. Proven and substantive administrative experience with a record of accomplishments as an administrator at a senior educational institution or experience in a related field. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible IT leadership experience in a collaborative IT environment; experience as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) preferred. Demonstrated senior leadership experience, preferably in higher education, including strategic planning, project planning, visioning, and process transformation. Proven ability to manage complex projects involving technology innovation, maintenance, and organizational change while aligning teams and stakeholders with institutional goals and strategic priorities. Broad knowledge of information technologies and emerging trends in higher education, including student-centered applications that support the Universitys academic and administrative missions. Demonstrated success collaborating with campus stakeholders to establish IT priorities, plan services, and develop policies, practices, and procedures. Strong financial management skills and the ability to effectively manage resources and support strategic initiatives. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical information in accessible terms and provide consistent messaging to internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated leadership characterized by integrity, accountability, collaboration, innovation, and follow-through, with the ability to inspire and support IT staff, listen to ideas and concerns, build trust, and lead strategic change aligned with institutional priorities.

Nature And Purpose Of Position

The Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) reports to the Senior Vice President for Strategic Enrollment and Innovation and serves on the Presidents Extended Cabinet as a leader and collaborator in the universitys strategic planning and decision-making. Provides strategic vision and leadership for the campus in a rapidly changing information technology environment

Primary Responsibilities

Provides strategic vision and leadership for the campus in a rapidly changing information technology environment. Information Technology (IT) encompasses programs that support approximately 21,000 students and 3,000 faculty and staff. Leads the central information technology infrastructure and services, including administrative systems and information management, networking, telecommunications, data centers, cybersecurity, IT customer service and IT administration. The division provides technologies, resources, and services to support learning, research, and the business operations of the University. Our vision is to address campus needs with relevant, accessible, sustainable, innovative, and cost-effective technology solutions with service and resources to support and promote a culture of creativity and academic accomplishment. Extends the access, effectiveness, efficiency, and innovative priorities of technology across campus, ensures the privacy and security of all digital information and systems, and oversee the effective management and planning of IT assets on the campus. Supports student success through effective implementation and use of technology supporting the teaching, learning, and research environments, while partnering with SHSU leaders to complete a roadmap of technology and processes for a more seamless experience for students. Leads a strong IT leadership team and continue to evolve the structures, capabilities, and services to align with campus strategies. Maintains a focus on where staff feel valued and add value. Collaborates with Academic, Student Affairs, and Finance and Operations to expand le rning spaces and provide tools to support those departments. Enhances research technology infrastructure and services to enable various research and scholarship for a global impact and support the continuous improvement, integration and modernization of SHSUs administrative applications. Leads the efforts to ensure current technology is used to its fullest and new technology and platforms improve the experience and efficiencies of campus and assist efforts across the institution to improve data governance and organizational capacity to use data in decision-making. Serves as the institutions senior executive accountable for information resources management, ensuring technology planning, reporting, acquisition, governance, compliance, and resource stewardship are aligned with Texas Government Code Chapter 2054, Texas Administrative Code requirements for Information Resources Managers (IRM), university policy, and institutional strategy. Ensures the university maintains appropriate executive-level oversight of information resources, including documented accountability, cooperation across institutional units, continuing education expectations, and clear alignment between IT leadership and executive management consistent with state IRM roles and responsibilities. Provides leadership for institution-wide information security, data protection, risk management, disaster recovery, continuity planning, accessibility, and technology compliance programs, working in coordination with designated information owners, custodians, users, and security officials to protect information resources and supports effective public stewardship of technology investments. Performs other related duties as assigned. Provides leadership within the division; works with the Expanded Cabinet and appropriate University governance committees to determine University-wide information technology to align with strategies, policies, priorities and resource allocations. Sustains current strategies while planning new directions to meet challenges and opportunities. This position may be designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA).

Other Specifications

Further details can be found here: https://wittkieffer.com/positions/a1wun000002926hmaq