Vice President

of Information and Technology Services

at Clayton State University

 

Clayton State University, a comprehensive state university near Atlanta, Georgia, seeks a proven IT administrator with experience working with strategic plans and ensuring effective and quality services to serve as Vice President of Information and Technology Services. This results-oriented administrator reports directly to the President and is a member of the President’s Cabinet.

For complete information see the Search Profile

at https://myersmcrae.com/skins/userfiles/files/ClaytonState-VP-IT.pdf

 

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY

Clayton State University, a unit of the University System of Georgia, has been recognized repeatedly as a “Top Workplace in Atlanta” by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Known for being welcoming, diverse, opportunity rich, and committed to academic success, the University was one of 79 higher education institutions across the nation that The Chronicle of Higher Education selected for its 2017 list of “Great Colleges to Work For.”

     Founded in 1969, the University enrolls nearly 7,000 students from 31 states and 42 countries. A Minority Serving Institution (MSI), Clayton State’s student body is 70 percent female and is more than 60 percent African American, almost 10 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Asian, and 15 percent White. The average age of students seeking degrees is 25, with approximately 50 percent of the students being traditional age.

     Students benefit from the personalized attention, small class sizes, outstanding faculty, career guidance and preparation, and a vibrant campus life at Clayton State. The 230 full-time faculty are not only experts in their fields, but also dedicated mentors. Seventy-five percent of the undergraduate instructors hold the highest degrees in their fields.

     Emphasizing an environment of experiential-based learning to prepare students to succeed in a diverse society, Clayton State offers 11 graduate degrees, 43 undergraduate degrees, and 5 associate degrees through its four colleges—Arts and Sciences, Business, Health, and Information and Mathematical Sciences. In addition to 22 online degree programs, the University holds classes in McDonough and Peachtree City, Georgia. The University provides opportunities for certificate and exploratory programs through its Continuing and Professional Education unit.

 

DIVISION OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

The Division of Information and Technology Services (ITS) provides enterprise information technology services to university students, faculty, and staff. The office provides a robust, stable, and reliable infrastructure, while adopting innovative technologies for physical and virtual classrooms. The annual operating budget, as it stands today, is $4.3 million. This amount does not include the Technology Fee budget which for FY’22 is $755,000.

 

ITS provides services through four departments:

• Enterprise Applications is responsible for Clayton State’s information systems including BANNER and all interfaces to or from BANNER. There are three principal areas of responsibility: Application Support (Enterprise & Departmental based), Cloud Platforms (Microsoft O365/ServiceNow/Salesforce), and Business Intelligence & Reporting.
• Client Services is responsible for hardware and software support for all student and university mobile laptop computers at Clayton State, as well as all university desktops campus wide. The department also oversees all classroom instructional audio-visual equipment, audio sound reinforcement, and AV checkout. It includes four principal areas of responsibility: Service Desk (The HUB), Endpoint Management, Desktop Support, and A/V Services.
• Cybersecurity is responsible for protecting against the unauthorized use of electronic data.
• Technology Infrastructure is responsible for all of Clayton State’s mission critical servers, networks, and telephones.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Vice President of Information and Technology Services serves as the Chief Information Officer for the institution and leads the Division of Information and Technology Services. The Vice President oversees planning and implementation of all enterprise resource planning systems and directs information management budgeting, strategic and tactical planning, and business process re-engineering. This position reports to the President and is a member of the Cabinet.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide leadership to the institution as it relates to information technology, innovative solutions, and national best practices.
• Ensure the strategic goals of the institution are met as it relates to information technology and cyber security.
• Lead information technology teams to ensure reliable technology infrastructure and integrated application solutions are available to the campus with a high degree of availability, integrity, and security.
• Incorporate effective security measures within the institution’s information technology environment that protects the institution from cyber-attacks.
• Oversee the budgets of the ITS Division that consists of three to four operating departments and a $4.5 million budget.
• Provide technology leadership and trusted advising to members of executive, academic, and technology teams.
• Meet the technology needs of students, faculty, and staff in an ever-changing academic, technological, and fiscal environment.
• Authorize and oversee the deployment, monitoring, maintenance, development, and support of all hardware and software based on institution-wide needs.
• Coach and provide ongoing staff development and training to ensure that best practices in IT service management are utilized.
• Foster a culture of quality customer service.
• Consult broadly with faculty, staff, and administration to set priorities, define goals, and clarify areas of responsibility.
• Facilitate and maintain a high level of communication with the university community to ensure continuing dialogue and customer satisfaction.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree or above
• Seven years of progressive responsibility in information technology with significant senior-level supervisory experience
• Demonstrated professional expertise and understanding of current issues and best practices

in the field

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Proven strategic thinker who can partner with university leaders and align IT with the University’s strategic goals
• Ability to articulate a vision for the future of information and instructional technology in a rapidly growing university with diverse constituencies and academic programs
• Advanced technical knowledge and leadership abilities to move the IT team in the direction required to achieve the highest standards of technology and support for the faculty, students, and staff
• Demonstrated ability to use diverse information technologies in a collegial environment
• Critical understanding of emerging directions for the uses of technology in university administrative systems
• A record of successful administrative leadership, preferably in higher education
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Extensive experience in personnel and project management
• Exemplary problem-solving abilities
• Demonstrated ability to lead through the extremes of university economics, including rapid change and growth on one end of the spectrum and severe continual budget challenges on the other
• Effective financial management skills, planning, budgeting, and forecasting

 

THE GREATER ATLANTA AREA

Clayton State University is located in Morrow, just south of the city of Atlanta. Whether seeking small-town charm or dynamic city amenities, both are within easy reach.

The city of Morrow, with a population of nearly 10,000 residents, has made the transformation from rural railroad acreage to a modern arena of art, music, history, and outdoor recreation. It is home to the Southeast Region Branch of the U.S. Archives and the main campus of the Georgia Archives. The Reynolds Nature Preserve is a 146-acre preserve with three miles of hiking trails, a nature center with live animals, and preserved barn with farm equipment and a spring house that dates back to 1867.

Downtown Atlanta, one of the largest metropolitan cities in the Southeast, is easily accessible by Interstate 75. Offering authentic Southern hospitality, the city’s metropolitan area is home to six million residents. Its economy continues to grow as it attracts a broad range of industries and Fortune 500 corporations. The city has become a center for major film and television production and high-tech companies.

 

APPLICATION AND NOMINATION PROCESS

Confidential inquiries are welcomed, and nominations are invited.

Applications

• Application packet must include a) A letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and qualifications of the position, b) Résumé, and c) At least four references with full contact information including e-mails (References will not be contacted without consent from applicant.)
• Submit application packet (preferably as PDFs) to Clayton-VP-ITS@myersmcrae.com by
  July 8, 2022, for best consideration. Additional information will be requested upon receipt of application. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Nominations

Submit nominations to Clayton-VP-ITS-nominate@myersmcrae.com with complete contact and e-mail information for the individual being nominated.

Contacts

Jennifer Barfield, Senior Vice President, and Emily Parker Myers, CEO, of Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting, are assisting Clayton State University with this search. Request a conversation regarding this search at jenniferbarfield@myersmcrae.com.

Clayton State University is an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity and affirmative action institution. It is the policy of the University to recruit, hire, train, promote, and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnical origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws (including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Sections 503, and 504, AREA, ADA, E.O. 11246, and Rev. Proc. 75-50). Clayton State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution.

 

Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting

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