Director, University Business Systems

Position Summary

The Director of University Business Systems provides strategic leadership for the University’s administrative technology program, ensuring that core systems effectively support institutional operations, decision-making, and service delivery. Reporting to the Vice President for Strategy and Partnerships, this role guides how administrative systems evolve and work together, with a particular focus on improving efficiency, consistency, and user experience. Oversees the day-to-day management of the team that maintains and sustains the University’s mission-critical business systems, ensuring stable, secure, and continuous operations through proactive support, maintenance, and system enhancements.

This role is responsible for the institution’s ERP system (Banner) and the integration to 3rd party applications as well as guiding the responsible integration of artificial intelligence and automation into administrative systems to modernize business processes and improve services for students, faculty, and staff. The Director ensures that technology initiatives are well-governed, data-informed, and aligned with institutional priorities, while maintaining appropriate controls for security, privacy, and ethical use of information.

While this role is primarily responsible for strategic guidance and governance, the Director may also contribute hands-on technical expertise on select initiatives, such as complex integrations, process automation, or pilot projects involving emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. This is an on-site position.

Principal Accountabilities

Strategic Program Leadership

• Provide overall direction and governance for the University’s administrative systems program, ensuring technology initiatives align with institutional goals and operational needs.
• Partner with institutional leaders to identify opportunities where technology and automation can simplify processes, reduce manual work, and improve service delivery.

Team Management

• Directs daily operational activities to ensure University business systems remain available, reliable, and responsive to institutional needs.
• Ensures continuity of system operations by monitoring performance, managing incident response, and coordinating timely issue resolution to minimize operational disruptions.

System Integration & Information Flow

• Guide how administrative systems work together and share information, ensuring data moves reliably and securely across the University’s ERP (Banner), CRM, reporting, and other business platforms.
• Establish clear standards and expectations for how systems connect and exchange data, supporting long-term sustainability and reducing risk as systems change or evolve.
• Provide hands-on technical guidance for high-impact or complex initiatives as needed, including prototyping solutions, advising on system design, or supporting critical integrations, while maintaining overall responsibility for program direction and outcomes.

AI and Process Modernization

• Lead the strategic use of artificial intelligence and automation within administrative systems to improve efficiency, consistency, and responsiveness.
• Ensure AI-enabled solutions are implemented thoughtfully, using trusted data sources and well-defined processes, and are aligned with institutional values and regulatory expectations.

Data, Reporting & Decision Support

• Provide oversight of the University’s administrative data and reporting environment to support accurate, timely, and meaningful information for decision-making.
• Promote a culture of data-informed decision-making by ensuring system outputs are reliable, transparent, and accessible to stakeholders.

Governance, Risk & Stewardship

• Ensure administrative systems operate within appropriate governance frameworks for security, privacy, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide oversight to ensure technologies, particularly AI-enabled capabilities, are used responsibly, ethically, and with appropriate safeguards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; advanced degree in business administration, information systems, data, or technology management preferred.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience overseeing technical software development teams, enterprise administrative systems or large-scale technology programs, preferably in a higher education or similarly complex organizational environment.
• Deep understanding of ERP ecosystems (Ellucian Banner) and their integration with AI/automation frameworks.
• Demonstrated understanding of enterprise administrative systems, such as the Banner ERP/SIS, CRM, reporting, and other business platforms, and how these systems support institutional operations, with the ability to contribute hands-on technical expertise for complex or high-priority initiatives when appropriate.
• Experience guiding how systems integrate and share information across an organization, ensuring data reliability, consistency, and long-term sustainability.
• Working knowledge of modern technology environments, including cloud-based solutions and data platforms, sufficient to evaluate options, guide strategy, and oversee complex initiatives.
• Experience identifying and guiding the use of automation and digital tools to modernize business processes and improve organizational efficiency and service delivery.
• Familiarity with the responsible use of artificial intelligence in administrative contexts, including considerations related to data quality, privacy, security, and ethical use.
• Strong understanding of technology governance, system development lifecycle (SDLC) management, and service delivery frameworks, enabling effective oversight of complex technology programs.
• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance considerations relevant to administrative systems and institutional data (e.g., privacy, financial, and student information protections).
• Ability to work effectively with executive leadership, functional partners, and technical teams to translate institutional priorities into coordinated technology initiatives.
• Proven capability to guide decision-making across technical and non-technical stakeholders and to manage competing priorities in a complex environment.
• Strong understanding of data security and privacy requirements governing administrative systems, including regulations such as FERPA, HIPAA, GLBA, and PCI, as well as awareness of AI-related risks such as data misuse or unintended exposure.