Nova Southeastern University · 4 months ago
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
15+ years expNova Southeastern University is a not-for-profit, independent university with a reputation for academic excellence and innovation. The Vice President and Chief Information Officer will oversee the organization’s IT vision, strategy, and operations, ensuring alignment with business objectives and driving innovation and operational efficiency across the institution.
EducationHigher EducationNon Profit
Responsibilities
Develop and implement a forward-looking, institution-wide IT strategy that supports academic excellence, research innovation, and administrative efficiency
Align technology initiatives with the university’s mission, vision, and strategic plan, ensuring long-term sustainability, adaptability, and operational excellence
Establish and lead system-wide governance structures that promote collaboration, transparency, and alignment across diverse academic and administrative units, and ensure accountability in IT decision-making
Ensure consistent technology standards, policies, and practices across the institution
Facilitate stakeholder engagement to ensure technology investments meet institutional priorities and deliver measurable value
Facilitate cross-functional alignment to support enterprise-wide goals, reduce duplication, and enhance the consistency and quality of technology services delivered throughout the university
Lead efforts to identify, consolidate, and eliminate redundant or underutilized applications and platforms, ensuring efficient use of resources and improved user experience across the institution
Champion digital transformation initiatives that modernize legacy systems, streamline operations, and enhance the digital experience for students, faculty, and staff
Evaluate and implement emerging technologies to improve learning environments, research capabilities, and administrative processes
Lead the adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to automate processes, personalize digital experiences, and enhance decision-making across academic and administrative functions
Oversee the design, deployment, and maintenance of robust, secure, and scalable IT infrastructure, including networks, data centers, and cloud services
Ensure high availability, performance, and reliability of enterprise systems and services across all campuses, departments, and collaboration platforms through robust redundancy strategies, including failover mechanisms, backup systems, and geographically distributed data centers
Lead efforts to standardize infrastructure components and implement disaster recovery plans that support uninterrupted operations across the enterprise
Lead the development and enforcement of comprehensive cybersecurity policies and protocols to safeguard institutional data and systems
Lead risk management efforts including conducting regular risk assessments, incident response planning, and compliance audits to mitigate threats and ensure regulatory adherence
Champion a system-wide data governance framework that enables integrated analytics, reporting, and evidence-based decision-making
Lead the design and implementation of enterprise data warehouses and data lakes to consolidate institutional data from diverse sources, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and scalability
Promote data interoperability and standardization across units to support strategic planning, institutional research, and operational efficiency
Expand the use of predictive analytics, business intelligence platforms, and self-service reporting tools to provide broad, role-appropriate access to data and support informed decision-making across academic and administrative functions
Leverage AI-driven analytics and intelligent automation to uncover complex patterns, forecast institutional trends, and optimize strategic initiatives such as enrollment management, student success, and resource allocation
Evaluate and streamline reporting systems to eliminate redundant, outdated, or ineffective reports, ensuring that data outputs are actionable, timely, and aligned with institutional priorities
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of IT services, digital transformation initiatives, and institutional outcomes, enabling continuous improvement and strategic alignment
Partner with academic leaders to support technology-enhanced teaching, learning, and research initiatives
Collaborate with administrative units to optimize business processes, improve service delivery, and enhance operational efficiency through technology
Support the ethical and innovative use of AI in academic and research contexts, including infrastructure for high-performance computing and data science
Develop and manage multi-million-dollar IT budgets, ensuring strategic allocation of resources and cost-effective technology investments
Negotiate and manage vendor contracts, licensing agreements, and service-level expectations to maximize value and performance
Ensure IT systems and practices comply with federal, state, and institutional regulations, including FERPA, HIPAA, and accreditation requirements
Provide technology support and documentation for accreditation reviews, audits, and institutional reporting
Cultivate and lead a high-performing IT organization that reflects the institution’s values and commitment to excellence
Foster a culture of innovation, professional development, and continuous improvement through mentorship, training, and performance management
Develop and lead an enterprise-wide strategy for the adoption and governance of AI technologies, ensuring alignment with institutional values, academic integrity, and ethical standards
Evaluate and implement AI solutions that enhance institutional capabilities in areas such as student advising, administrative automation, cybersecurity, and research computing
Promote responsible AI practices, including transparency, bias mitigation, and compliance with emerging regulations and standards
Performs other duties as assigned or required
Qualification
Required
Deep understanding of enterprise IT strategy, governance, and operations in a multi-campus or system-wide higher education environment
Expertise in digital transformation, cloud computing, modern data center architecture, and hybrid infrastructure models
Strong knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, risk management practices, and regulatory compliance (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA, GDPR)
Advanced understanding of data governance, data warehousing, analytics platforms, and AI-driven decision support systems
Familiarity with academic technologies, research computing, and administrative systems (e.g., ERP, LMS, CRM)
Awareness of ethical considerations and emerging regulations related to artificial intelligence and data privacy
Strategic planning and execution across complex, decentralized organizations
Leadership and team-building skills to cultivate high-performing, inclusive, and innovative IT teams
Budgeting and financial management, including multi-million-dollar IT portfolios and vendor negotiations
Change management and stakeholder engagement across diverse academic and administrative constituencies
Analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate emerging technologies and align them with institutional goals
Communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with executive leadership, faculty, staff, and external partners
Ability to lead enterprise-wide initiatives that integrate technology across campuses and departments
Ability to translate institutional strategy into actionable IT plans and measurable outcomes
Ability to foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and digital equity
Ability to manage complex projects, prioritize competing demands, and deliver results in dynamic environments
Ability to promote responsible AI adoption and guide its integration into academic, research, and administrative domains
Ability to ensure operational resilience through redundancy, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning
Master's Degree in Information Technology or Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, or closely related field
Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in information technology leadership, including at least 5 years in a senior or executive IT role within a large, complex organization—preferably in higher education environment
Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide IT strategy, digital transformation, and governance frameworks across multiple organizational units or locations
Proven track record in managing large-scale infrastructure, cloud and hybrid environments, data centers, and cybersecurity programs
Experience overseeing data governance, analytics platforms, and AI-driven initiatives to support institutional planning and decision-making
Strong background in budget management, vendor negotiations, and contract oversight for multi-million-dollar IT portfolios
Preferred
Doctoral degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a related discipline
Executive-level experience in a large and complex university system
Industry-relevant professional certification(s)
Benefits
Competitive salaries
Comprehensive benefits package including tuition waiver
Retirement plan
Excellent medical and dental plans
Company
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University is a nonprofit, independent research university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Nova Southeastern University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (22)
2024 (21)
2023 (10)
2022 (16)
2021 (19)
2020 (11)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$4.75MKey Investors
Community Foundation of BrowardHealth Foundation of South Florida
2025-06-26Grant· $0.45M
2023-02-15Grant· $1M
2022-02-22Grant· $0.3M
Leadership Team
Marilyn Gardner
Program Professor & Education Enterprise Associate
Theoharis Theoharides
Executive Director, Center of Excellence for Neuroinflammation Research, NSU
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