Careers at the University of Massachusetts Lowell

General Summary of Position:

This being an internal opportunity, only current UML Employees, irrespective of Bargaining units are eligible to apply for this position.

The Associate Vice Chancellor – Information Technology & Chief Information Officer (CIO) provide the vision, leadership and executive management for Information Technology at UMass Lowell. The AVC & CIO serves as the senior technology leader for the campus and a key member of the University’s senior cabinet, advising the Chancellor, Executive Cabinet and deans on the strategic use of technology to advance institutional goals.

The AVC & CIO is responsible for an integrated, secure and forward-looking technology environment that supports student success, teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and efficient administrative operations. This includes leadership of end user services, classroom and conference room technology, instructional and academic technology (including learning management and student success systems), CRM and other enterprise applications, research and high-performance computing infrastructure, data governance and integration, network and communications services, information security, and technology support for campus operations.

The AVC & CIO leads a talented team of approximately 50 staff members plus student employees and manages an annual budget of $15M. This position reports to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations.

This is an on-campus position with remote flexibility consistent with campus needs and university policy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Provide vision and leadership for a comprehensive, multi-year information technology strategy that advances the priorities of the UMass Lowell Strategic Plan.
• Serve as a strategic partner and trusted adviser to the Chancellor, Provost, Vice Chancellors, deans and other senior leaders on the opportunities and risks of technology across academic, research and administrative domains.
• Lead campus-wide digital transformation, including modernization of the application portfolio, increased use of cloud platforms and shared services, and the adoption of data informed decision making.
• Develop and maintain an IT strategic plan that aligns investments with institutional priorities, lifecycle expectations and risk tolerance, and that is supported by clear performance metrics and outcomes.
• Design, implement and evolve the organizational structure, governance processes and staffing model of Information Technology to ensure effective, efficient and customer focused delivery of services.

Leadership in Innovation, Emerging Technologies and Academic Technology

• Lead institutional strategy for the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and other technologies in teaching, learning, research and administration, in close collaboration with the Provost, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and other campus leaders.
• Champion experimentation with new technologies that can enhance student learning, faculty effectiveness, research productivity and operational efficiency while maintaining appropriate safeguards for privacy, security and academic integrity.
• Provide executive leadership for academic and instructional technologies, including the learning management system, classroom technologies and online and hybrid learning tools, working closely with Academic Affairs and academic units.
• Chair or co-chair key governance bodies related to academic and enterprise technology, such as an Academic Technology Committee, the Application Governance Committee and cross campus advisory groups focused on AI and emerging technologies.

Support for Research and R1 Mission

• Provide leadership, infrastructure and services that enable faculty and students to conduct high impact research and scholarship across disciplines, including research computing, high performance computing, secure data environments and specialized research applications.
• Partner with the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and college leadership to understand evolving research needs and to design scalable, sustainable technology solutions that support growth in sponsored research, interdisciplinary collaboration and graduate education.
• In collaboration with the university’s Research Integrity team, ensure that research technology services and infrastructure meet federal, state, sponsor and institutional requirements for security, compliance and data management.

Data, Analytics and Governance

• Lead the development of an enterprise data and analytics strategy that improves decision making at every level of the university and aligns with institutional planning and assessment priorities.
• Design and steward the university’s enterprise data architecture so that core operational and analytic data are well integrated, documented and governed, with clear systems of record, common data definitions and minimal duplication of effort.
• Reduce data silos by promoting common integration patterns, shared platforms and repeatable solutions for reporting and analytics, while respecting local needs and expertise in colleges and administrative units.
• Partner closely with Data Analytics and Institutional Research, Enrollment Management, Finance, Academic Affairs and other data owners to create trusted, shared data assets that support student success, research growth and operational effectiveness.
• Establish and maintain guardrails for the ethical and responsible use of institutional data, including standards for data quality, security, privacy, retention and appropriate sharing, and their application to advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.
• Convene and support cross campus data governance structures that provide transparency, clear decision rights and a venue for resolving conflicts about data definitions, access and priorities.

Information Security, Risk Management and Compliance

• Provide executive leadership for information security, privacy and technology risk management, ensuring that university systems, networks and data are appropriately protected.
• Oversee development and maintenance of policies, standards and controls related to information security, identity and access management, incident response, disaster recovery and business continuity.
• In coordination with the Office of General Counsel, ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and contractual requirements related to technology, data and cybersecurity, and foster a culture of shared responsibility for security across the campus community.

Infrastructure, Operations and Client Services

• Oversee the design, operation and continuous improvement of campus technology infrastructure, including data center and private cloud services, public cloud platforms, networks and wireless, telephony and unified communications, storage and compute, and endpoint management.
• Provide leadership for end user support, service desk, field services, classroom and conference room support, and technology training, with a focus on service excellence, reliability and continuous improvement.
• Ensure that digital systems and content meet accessibility requirements and standards and that faculty and staff are supported by providing accessible user experiences for all students and employees.
• Maintain and enhance a robust technology environment for campus teaching and learning spaces, including technology enhanced classrooms, Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) spaces, specialized labs and informal learning spaces.

Enterprise Applications and ERP Modernization

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for enterprise applications including student, finance and human resources systems, CRM and other critical platforms that support academic and administrative functions.
• Represent UMass Lowell in system-wide efforts led by the University of Massachusetts President’s Office related to enterprise systems, advocating for campus needs and leading change management for campus implementation.
• Lead campus initiatives to rationalize and modernize the application portfolio, reduce redundancy and shadow systems where appropriate, and improve user experience.

Governance, Collaboration and Campus Relationships

• Build and sustain strong, collaborative relationships with academic and administrative leaders, faculty, staff, student government and other stakeholders, positioning Information Technology as a trusted partner and enabler of institutional goals.
• Establish and maintain effective IT governance structures that support shared decision making, prioritization and transparency in technology investments, including broad representation from academic and administrative units.
• Foster a culture of service, partnership, innovation and accountability within Information Technology and across the campus technology ecosystem.
• Collaborate with distributed IT units to coordinate services, promote common standards and architectures, manage risk and leverage shared platforms where appropriate.

UMass System and External Engagement

• Serve as the primary campus liaison to the University of Massachusetts System Information Technology Services and to the UMass IT Leadership Council, collaborating on shared services, security initiatives and system wide strategies while advancing the needs of UMass Lowell.
• Represent UMass Lowell in state and national professional organizations, consortia and partnerships related to higher education technology, and bring back ideas, practices and opportunities that benefit the campus.

Fiscal and Resource Management

• Develop, manage and steward Information Technology operating and capital budgets in alignment with university priorities and financial requirements, making disciplined, value focused investment decisions.
• Optimize the use of technology resources through effective vendor management, strategic sourcing, contract negotiation and lifecycle planning.
• Recruit, develop, mentor and retain a diverse and highly skilled technology workforce, fostering professional growth, leadership development and succession planning.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Master’s degree in business administration, information systems, computer science or a related field.
• At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience in information technology within a research-intensive university setting, including significant experience at the senior leadership level with responsibility for complex portfolios and large teams.
• Demonstrated success providing strategic leadership for information technology in support of institutional missions in teaching, learning, research and administration.
• Proven experience leading digital transformation efforts that modernize applications and infrastructure, introduce cloud and shared services, and improve user experience and operational efficiency.
• Demonstrated expertise in several of the following domains: academic and instructional technology, research computing and high-performance computing, enterprise applications and ERP, data and analytics, network and communications services, information security and risk management, and client support services.
• Experience leading information security and privacy programs and managing technology risk in a complex, regulated environment.
• Demonstrated success leading large, diverse teams; designing and evolving organizational structures; and building collaborative, high performance cultures.
• Experience in budget development and management, financial analysis and resource prioritization for technology investments.
• Strong record of effective collaboration with academic and administrative leaders, faculty, staff and students in a shared governance environment.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal and change leadership skills, including the ability to explain complex technology issues in clear, accessible language to non technical audiences.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating accessible digital environments and to serving a diverse community of students, faculty and staff.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

This being an internal opportunity, only current UML Employees, irrespective of Bargaining units are eligible to apply for this position.

This position is a full-time, benefited, non-unit position in Exec. Grade E-3. 

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.  Names and contact information of three references will be required at the time of application.