Position Summary:

The CIO plays a pivotal role in shaping and implementing top-level IT policies, prioritizing functions that emphasize inclusivity, cybersecurity, and adaptability to evolving technology trends in higher education. Responsibilities include goal setting, fostering an integrated organizational culture, and aligning IT with the College's future needs. Collaborating with various departments, the CIO ensures reliable, accessible, and secure enterprise systems to enhance the student experience. Key duties involve leading project management, evaluating performance, and aligning staffing needs with division goals.

The ideal candidate must possess a profound understanding of administrative systems, networking, and academic technology. Responsibilities extend to reviewing technology purchases, optimizing resource use, and building relationships to foster a service-oriented culture. Additionally, the CIO oversees budgets, manages risks, negotiates contracts, and ensures continuous IT service delivery while introducing new technologies and developing security and accessibility policies. The role oversees an annual budget of $6 million and management of approximately 30 full-time employees.

Job Description:

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Departmental Oversight

• Hands on supervision, including managing data assets securely to meet compliance standards and organizational responsibilities including hiring, departmental communications, and evaluation of IT employees.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• Monitors and manages all IT budgets, as well as responsible for handling contract negotiation and management for IT-related contracts.
• Major Vendor Management:
• Manages relationships with major vendors including Microsoft, Adobe, Apple, Internet Providers, Ellucian, Oracle, and Workday

Hands on Administration:

• Responsible to the administration of Network Domain Names, Educause, ARIN, Vendor wiki, etc.
• Oversight of staff professional development (internal and external)
• Ensures that IT staff are appropriately trained and have professional development opportunities, as well as empowering managers to develop their staff.

Internal Committee Participation:

• Participates in various College Committees, including Administrative Systems Management Team, Digital Accessibility, and others as needed.
• Representation of Fort Lewis College in External Organizations:
• Participates in local, state, and national organizations including Educause, ARIN, Colorado Higher Education Computing Organization & CIO Council, Front Range GigaPop, Westnet, and InfraGuard FBI cyber security division.
• Perform other duties as often assigned.

Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility:

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer/Vice President of Finance & Administration

Direct Reports include:

• Manager of Administrative Information Systems
• Manager of Systems Administration
• Manager of Networking and Infrastructure
• Manager of Technical Support Services
• Manager of Middleware and Web Services
• Cyber Security Analyst
• Office Manager

Workday ERP Implementation

Fort Lewis College successfully replaced Ellucian Banner Human Resources and Finance with Workday HCM/Finance.  The College is in the final stages of replacing the Banner Student system with Workday Student.  The projected go-live is March 2024 in time for Fall 24 registration.   The Director of IT/CIO will be responsible for strategically and tactically leading the IT organization through implementation and post production support.    

Required Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• An advanced degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or another related discipline.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible IT leadership experience.
• A track record of implementing appropriate and successful strategies to evaluate and ensure cost-effective delivery of efficient and reliable IT services.
• Strong financial planning and skills to lead in a resource-constrained environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Developed knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current information security protocols, standards, and regulations.
• Experience in interpreting and effectively applying federal and state laws and regulations to organizational operations and policies.
• Experience with modern hardware, software, and network architectures.
• Experience in contract and vendor management.
• Experience in organizational management, staffing, and hiring.

Preferred Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• Previous experience as a CIO in higher education or a large complex organization.
• Experience in higher education with demonstrated understanding of policy and regulatory requirements in a student-centered learning environment.
• Extensive working experience leading diverse technology business units, such as application development, network architecture, telecommunications, information security, service management, and systems infrastructure.

About Fort Lewis College - Durango CO

Fort Lewis College is Colorado’s public liberal arts college, focused on preparing students for leadership in their careers and communities. Our students pursue academic excellence in a uniquely inspiring, thought-provoking setting. Located at the crossroads of the Rocky Mountains and the desert Southwest, the College is a place where diverse cultures come together. We use our location and heritage as educational resources, with faculty who give a high degree of attention to individual students. The College is a friendly place, scholarly in nature and innovative by design, with a rich cultural history. Our alumni are successful in graduate schools, careers, and personal fulfillment. Nearly 4,000 students are enrolled in 25 baccalaureate degree programs in the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, the School of Business Administration and the Teacher Education Department. About 17 percent of our students are American Indians or Alaska Native and about five percent are Hispanics. Information Technology at Fort Lewis College is very centralized consisting of 26 staff. The I.T. Department supports a Microsoft Domain, E...xchange e-mail and calendar, computer labs, web servers, Internet connectivity, multiple levels of security and incident response, user training, help desks, SCT Banner administrative applications, and multiple other core and ancillary applications. Please see www.fortlewis.edu/it for additional information. Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political beliefs, or veteran status. Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment, admission, and education shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students, faculty, and staff. People from under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at Fort Lewis College - Durango CO