Chief Information Officer

Application Procedures

Interested applicants must apply through WittKieffer's portal here. Applications submitted through our careers page at this stage will not be considered. 

 

 

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.

 

WittKieffer is assisting University of Mississippi in this search. The search will remain open until an appointment is made.

 

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

 

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Nick Giannas and Katie Mazzuckelli kmazzuckelli@wittkieffer.com

The Opportunity

The University of Mississippi seeks a visionary and dynamic technology leader to serve as its next Chief Information Officer (CIO). This is a unique opportunity to join a large, thriving university with a strong culture and to help the institution leverage technology in support of future growth. The CIO provides leadership, management, and strategic direction to the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and provides strategic leadership to the university and other state agencies on all matters related to information technology.

 

One hundred seventy-five years after opening its doors, the state’s flagship university, the University of Mississippi, is a growing, vibrant institution that offers nationally ranked academic and research programs. Located in Oxford, the University of Mississippi is home to more than 40 research centers and is a designated R1 research institution and the oldest public university in the state. As Mississippi's flagship institution, it boasts an enrollment of over 23,000 students in both undergraduate and graduate programs on the Oxford campus. The University of Mississippi is fueled by a commitment to serve the people of Mississippi and the world through education, research, healthcare, and outreach.

 

The CIO will report to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and have a working relationship with the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance. The CIO will lead the University's digital strategy, ensuring that cutting-edge technology solutions support and elevate the University to advance the teaching, research, and service missions through the use of technology.

 

Overseeing a complex IT ecosystem that enables world-class research, fosters digital learning, and strengthens administrative efficiency, the CIO will collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to integrate technology into every aspect of the University's operations, ensuring that the University of Mississippi remains at the forefront of global innovation. The University is currently implementing Ellucian Banner and Workday, has resourced the implementation for success, and is on track for its first go-live date. In addition to supporting the teams working to ensure the completion of this effort, other key initiatives include establishing an IT governance structure to effectively prioritize and communicate IT investments and resources to the University; continuing to advance the cybersecurity program; and, enhancing education and research IT support.

 

The successful candidate will be a strategic, experienced and purpose-driven leader with a history of leading high performing teams and enhancing IT services within a complex and growing academic institution. The CIO will have strategic thinking skills, technical expertise, and deep understanding of higher education across research, teaching, and administration, leveraging technology to enhance learning, enable and accelerate groundbreaking research, and streamline operations. The CIO will be a collaborative and team-oriented partner who can communicate effectively and build strong relationships with stakeholders across the University of Mississippi. Candidates must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to cultivate an environment that builds effective teams, work collaboratively with staff, peers from other university units, and external partners. The successful candidate will have: in-depth knowledge of current and emerging information technology infrastructure, principles and applications; an understanding of technologies relevant to higher education and research; privacy, security, and compliance knowledge; contract management skills; ability to manage information technology assets and the ability to balance competing objectives to achieve strategic goals; and, an understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.

Position Summary

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) will provide management to the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and vision and strategic leadership to the University to advance the teaching, research, and service missions through the use of technology. The CIO will also be charged with advancing student, faculty, and staff productivity through technology innovations and support.

 

Reporting Relationships

The CIO will report to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and have a working relationship with the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance. They will lead a team of approximately 100 FTEs.

 

Responsibilities

The successful Chief Information Officer candidate will be responsible for:

• Providing technology leadership and trusted advising to members of executive and technology teams 
• Defining and implementing a vision and strategic plan for OIT which aligns with the university's strategic plan and mission 
• Prioritizing competing initiatives and projects and providing effective project planning and execution 
• Managing execution of architecture principles, policies, and standards, and ensuring architecture guidelines, legal and security policies, and standards are followed when developing solution/service architectures 
• Overseeing OIT budget, contracts with various vendors, consultants, and other third-parties, and major technology purchases 
• Managing OIT staff and supporting their professional development 
• Establishing, maintaining, and applying up-to-date knowledge of technology standards, industry trends, and emerging technologies 
• Creating a culture of quality customer service and overseeing provision of end-user services 
• Launching technology innovations and initiatives to advance the University
• Managing cybersecurity and ensuring compliance with all federal, state, county, and local laws and regulations
• Continuing development of research computing networks and services
• Managing campus network, fiber plant, and telecommunications
• Managing campus website, mobile applications, and technology accessibility
• Managing relationship with information technology and cybersecurity departments at the University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Establishing and maintaining strong campus partnerships to achieve institutional goals

Goals and Objectives

The following goals and objectives have been identified as priorities for this position: 

 

• Partner with the Provost and the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance and become fully integrated into the leadership team. Establish strong, collaborative relationships and engage stakeholders across the University including administrators, deans, faculty, students, and IT leaders. Be a team player who has credibility and integrity and contributes broadly as a subject matter expert in information technology 
• Fully evaluate and learn the existing IT environment. Provide the leadership to support and grow a skilled and dedicated OIT team so it can continue to be a high-performing organization committed to service excellence and strategic partnership within the University. Foster a culture that invigorates and supports staff, providing career growth and development opportunities to improve recruitment and retention 
• Create and secure support for an IT strategic plan that aligns with University of Mississippi's mission and strategic priorities, outlined in its strategic plan, Empower Now: Accelerating Discovery, Growth & Success 
• Ensure an effective IT governance structure to effectively prioritize IT investments and resources for mission critical projects over ongoing projects and proactively communicate this to the University 
• Create clear communication channels to inform stakeholders about technology changes and the tools and technologies available 
• With the implementation of new systems, act as an ambassador for the cultural shift, migrating from custom developed solutions to off-the-shelf systems 
• Oversee and support the continued advancement of the information security program to safeguard the institution's information assets, ensuring robust protection against evolving threats and vulnerabilities 
• Support the teams performing the ongoing system implementations—Ellucian Banner student information system and Workday ERP—to completion 
• Oversee the completion of the on-site data center and ensure planned efficiencies are realized 
• Provide the leadership to continue to enhance and expand research support, including the implementation of a new research administration system (Cayuse), AI initiatives, and migration of systems to cloud-based solutions as appropriate

Candidate Qualifications

Education/Certification

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required; a Master's degree is preferred

 

Knowledge and Work Experience 

• Ten-plus years of progressive experience as a successful information technology leader, preferably in a complex university 
• Experience with strategic planning; effective project planning and execution; fiscal skills, including ability to manage information technology assets; personnel management experience; and, contract management skills 
• Experience with the implementation and support of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Student Information Systems (SIS), Learning Management Systems (LMS), and other systems and technologies relevant to education and research 
• Strong understanding of the cybersecurity threat landscape in higher education; privacy, security, and compliance knowledge 
• Experience in large-scale project management, technology acquisition, and in negotiating with major vendors and suppliers 
• In-depth knowledge of current and emerging information technology infrastructure, principles, and applications

 

Leadership Skills and Competencies 

• A strong communicator with proven written, verbal, presentation, and listening skills. Capable of translating complex technical information for both technical and non-technical audiences. Demonstrated ability to work across all stakeholders to resolve issues. Diplomatic, emotionally intelligent, and adept at seeking and building consensus 
• An inspirational, empowering, and respectful leader who will motivate University leadership, staff, faculty, and students to collaborate in achieving University of Mississippi's objectives 
• A visionary strategist capable of translating complex concepts into actionable plans. Skilled at balancing competing objectives to achieve strategic goals. Creative and capable of thinking outside the box
• An adaptable leader with change management experience who supports innovation and necessary organizational changes to improve effectiveness. Capable of initiating, sponsoring, and implementing change while helping others manage it successfully. Proven risk assessment and mitigation skills to effectively handle disaster recovery, cybersecurity threats, and similar challenges
• A proven team leader who is a skilled coach and mentor, strong advocate for IT, and recognizes the success of the staff. Capable of cultivating an inclusive environment and building and retaining effective teams. Leads by example
• A collaborative leader capable of working effectively with OIT staff, peers from other University units, and external partners. Organized and patient in working with others. Introduces and ensures industry best practices
• A person of high integrity and sound judgement, capable of earning the trust of others

 

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for an interview must notify the Department of Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

About the University of MS & Oxford, MS

Nestled in the hills of North Mississippi, Oxford is home to the University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss. This charming city was once the residence of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner. Following in Faulkner's footsteps, many writers such as Larry Brown, Barry Hannah, Willie Morris, and John Grisham have also called Oxford home, contributing to its rich literary heritage.

 

Oxford has been featured in notable publications like Conde Nast Traveler, Budget Travel, and Southern Living. Dubbed the "Cultural Mecca of the South," the city is a haven for creativity, attracting musicians, artists, and writers who are inspired by its rich history and small-town charm.

 

In addition to its cultural offerings, Oxford is renowned for its culinary scene. It is home to two James Beard award-winning chefs, John Currence and Vishwesh Bhatt, who own and operate multiple restaurants in the city. These and other amazing restaurants, along with the fact that Oxford is the birthplace of at least four national food chains, exemplify the exceptional food culture and dining experiences available. From comforting down-home cooking to sophisticated culinary creations, Oxford is a food lover's paradise.

 

For more information on Oxford, MS, visit https://oxfordms.com

Position Details

Appointment: 12 month

Background Check Statement

The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

EEO Statement

The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and affirmative action and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.