Position Summary:

Play a key role in the overall IT transformation process underway at Smith College. Function as part of a cross-college digital strategy team, managed by the college’s central IT group and focused on ensuring the effective implementation and use of new college IT systems and associated business processes, in line with Smith principles of strategic value, configuration rather than customization, and effective integration throughout a user’s lifecycle. Work with assigned offices to adopt new tools and systems, implement new business processes, and position the use of existing tools in alignment with college core practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Participate in core digital strategy team planning for implementation and support of the college’s core systems and top IT priorities. Learn core tools used by assigned area and ensure their effective use in keeping with leading business processes & practices. Within a defined structure, act as a point of intake for pain points and challenges, and bring them to the digital strategy team for problem solving and resolution, or for tracking against possible future solutions. Train and coach colleagues in assigned areas on adoption and ongoing use of core tools. Connect colleagues in assigned areas to appropriate help and training mechanisms. Advise IT transformation leadership on all aspects of the project, including assessment, training, implementation support, and skills development for affected staff. Contribute to data governance efforts and ensures effective use of tools in assigned offices in alignment with college data governance and management practices. Integrate business processes of assigned area into core college tools and processes. Ensure effective integration of technologies across business functions in assigned area.

The digital strategy analyst will be embedded within the School for Social Work (SSW), supervised by ITS but fully dedicated to SSW needs. The incumbent will be expected to participate fully as a member of the SSW administrative team, attending relevant SSW administrative meetings, and overall contributing positively to the SSW workplace. This will include working collegially with all departments, staff, and faculty in the assessment of current systems;  creating or advising on the creation of new systems; training and supporting staff in their use of new systems.

Qualifications:

Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 5 – 7 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education/experience.

Skills: Functional expertise in one or more of the tools in use in Smith. Demonstrated track record focusing on user experience and effective service outcomes. Ability to listen effectively, calibrate appropriately, and identify critical paths quickly. Strong aptitude for learning new tools and technologies. Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills.  Ability to talk about complex technical concepts and functionalities with non-technical audiences. Ability to learn new tools quickly and effectively, with an eye to their use in a broader context and not just for specific purposes. Ability to work effectively through influence. Business process analysis. Coaching, teaching, and/or training skills necessary to help colleagues move from old ways of doing tasks to newer approaches with new tools. Ability to function effectively as part of a distributed team, working effectively as an individual contributor and as a team member.

All successful ITS staff are known for effectively applied expertise, thoughtful attention to detail, timely and appropriately calibrated follow-up, proactive and constructive problem-solving, openness to new approaches, and for building effective partnerships and trust within ITS, across the College and (where relevant) with external partners.  

Additional Information:

This is a two-year limited term position.

Smith College is an EO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer