"Chief Information Technology Officer"

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Cheyney University seeks a forward-thinking, mission-driven chief information technology officer (CITO) to lead the Office of Information Technology during a period of strategic transformation. This is the first-ever CITO role at Cheyney University, and the selected leader will have the unique opportunity to define the vision for IT on campus, build the department from the ground up and establish governance structures that will serve the institution for years to come.

As a strategic member of the organization, the CITO will serve as a thought partner to senior leadership, shaping a unified vision for the university's digital future focused on improving student success in a secure manner. This role requires a proven change agent who can stabilize current operations while simultaneously modernizing systems and building institutional IT capabilities.

The ideal candidate will bring deep experience from higher education or governmental sectors, with hands-on expertise in Banner and Ellucian product suites, and a passion for building high-performing teams rooted in service excellence. This individual will champion professional best practices, drive modernization efforts and elevate the IT organization into a point of institutional pride, seamlessly supporting students, faculty and staff. Cheyney University is seeking candidates that can serve as both a tactical day-to-day leader that has the technical skills to roll up their sleeves supporting the team while also providing strategic direction and oversight to the executive leadership team at Cheyney.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a unified, forward-looking IT strategy aligned with the university's strategic plan (New Strategic Plan - Cheyney University of Pennsylvania), with an emphasis on service integration, innovation and digital equity across all campuses and the online learning environment. As the inaugural CITO, define the departmental vision, establish governance frameworks and build the organizational structures necessary to support the university's mission.

Tactical Management & Leadership: Provide technical direction, management and oversight to the existing IT team that aligns with Cheyney's strategic direction while also stepping in to roll up their sleeves to meet tactical day-to-day priorities. Address urgent operational issues including VPN connectivity, help desk responsiveness and network stability. Lead proactively by anticipating problems and implementing solutions before issues impact campus operations.

Team Empowerment: Inspire and develop a dynamic team of IT professionals and student staff, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and service excellence. Build internal IT capabilities to reduce over-reliance on external vendors while managing the on-campus contract technical staff effectively.

Cross-Divisional Collaboration & Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor and collaborator to executive leadership, faculty and administrative stakeholders across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Finance, Enrollment Management and beyond - ensuring IT services meet operational needs.

IT Operations & Systems Oversight: Lead the university's enterprise systems, including student information system (Banner), learning management system (D2L/Brightspace), enterprise resource planning (SAP), networking infrastructure, application development, information security, instructional technologies and user support services.

Vender & External Partnership Management: Serve as the primary liaison with Ellucian and other critical technology vendors, strengthening relationships based on internal decisions and strategic priorities. Coordinate effectively with PASSHE shared services while maintaining accountability for campus-specific IT needs. Manage vendor contracts and oversee the performance of contracted technical staff to ensure alignment with university standards and objectives.

Governance & Policy: Oversee the review and approval of IT-related investments and ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards and institutional goals.

Innovation & Best Practices: Guide the adoption of emerging technologies and operational best practices that improve service delivery, enhance the student experience and strengthen the university's competitive edge.

Institutional Reporting: Provide actionable insights and strategic analysis to university leadership and the Office of the Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS

• Experience: Minimum of five to seven years of progressive IT experience, including three years in senior leadership roles overseeing multiple functional areas (e.g., ERP, LMS, SIS, networking, information security, user support and instructional tech). Hands-on experience with Banner and Ellucian. Experience leading IT transformations and stabilization.
• Education: A bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science or a related field is required.
• Leadership: Demonstrated success in building and leading cohesive, high-performing teams focused on collaboration, innovation and professional development.
• Mission Orientation: A visionary leader with a strong sense of institutional mission, resilience in the face of change and a readiness to lead a team and university through a period of transformation and evolving priorities. Must be a change agent comfortable with defining new organizational structures and processes.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity best practices and the ability to operationalize them across campus units.
• Proven experience leading and managing technology organizations, including change management, risk assessment and complex transitions.
• Expertise in vendor relationship management, contract oversight and procurement strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to hire, develop and retain skilled, adaptable staff while fostering a professional, collaborative and customer-focused culture.
• Capacity to identify emerging technologies or processes and assess their potential to improve operations, reduce costs, enhance services or meet new institutional needs. Strong project and budget management skills, including oversight of multi-million-dollar budgets and complex, high-impact initiatives.
• Flexible, continuous learner with the ability to adapt to changing technology and organizational needs.
• Commitment to professionalism, confidentiality, accurate recordkeeping and a safe, organized operational environment.
• Proven capacity to contribute meaningfully to institutional, system and unit strategic planning and to apply leadership skills broadly across the university.
• Skilled at fostering innovation, improving operational efficiency and supporting initiatives that align with the university's mission and values.

APPLICATION AND NOMINATION PROCESS

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY

The search committee will begin review of application materials immediately and continue until an appointment is made. To assure full consideration, application materials should include:

• Letter of interest
• A comprehensive CV/resume
• Full contact information (name, phone number and email) for three professional references

For confidential inquiries contact:

• Jessica Horton
  Associate Principal
  Jessica.Horton@tm2search.com
• Dr. Will Anyu
  Associate Principal
  will.anyu@tm2search.com