Overview

Portfolio of Responsibility

The Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer has an extensive portfolio of technology resources to support the needs of the University with an annual budget of nearly $80M and a combined staff of over 300 people within six core functions, outlined below. 

 

Operations and PlanningLed by the Deputy CIO, Operations and Planning is responsible for the overall effectiveness of the OIT organization and for overseeing IT-related initiatives that will strengthen campus-wide IT services while helping the University operate more efficiently. Operations and Planning includes five functional groups with a focus on budget and finance; contract and vendor management; strategic communications; organizational effectiveness; diversity, equity and inclusion; and strategic initiatives.

 

Information Security Office (ISO)Led by the Chief Information Security Officer, ISO is focused on preventing cybersecurity attacks and managing IT risk for the institution. ISO provides leadership for developing an IT-security mindset on campus that is programmatic and cultural. Included within the responsibilities of the ISO are security operations, security architecture, policy development, training, and outreach. The working partnership between the ISO and the Research Computing organization and its security staff is a particularly important one for the CISO and the VP and CIO.

 

Enterprise Infrastructure Services (EIS)Led by the Associate CIO for Enterprise Infrastructure Services, EIS provides the technical infrastructure that keeps the University running by managing three data centers, enterprise servers and storage, and maintaining the University network. The department leads the University’s cloud infrastructure strategy, provides campus-wide identity and access services, and supports the University’s ambitious capital plan. EIS plays an important role in securing the campus through systems and network monitoring and support for enterprise critical infrastructure.

 

Software & Application Services (SAS)Led by the Associate CIO for Software & Application Services, SAS implements, maintains, and supports the University's core business systems. The mission of the department is to provide the best possible technical foundation upon which the University's automated business processes run. Services also include design, development, integration, testing, and deployment of administrative applications, software infrastructure services, and database management. SAS is the home of the Center for Data Analytics and Reporting (CeDAR), the University’s core data-warehouse team. In addition, SAS provides campus-wide web design and hosting, and manages a broad suite of cloud-based applications serving University business needs.

 

Service Management Office (SMO)Led by the Associate CIO for Service Management, SMO provides front-line IT support for all members of the University community, collectively addressing support needs for faculty, staff, and students. The SMO leads OIT’s service-excellence program that is built on a philosophy of continual service improvement. The SMO is made up of the following groups: customer service and support, program management and information architecture, process and data strategy, and service management platform administration. 

 

Project and Technology Consulting Office (PATCO)Led by the Associate CIO for the Project and Technology Consulting Office, PATCO provides strategic business process consulting and project management expertise to a wide variety of campus IT projects. PATCO also manages the University IT planning and portfolio process, which annually authorizes over 200 IT projects and provides strategic technology assessment and planning, software acquisition and contract management, project management, and business process and change management, as well as tools and training for all campus IT staff.

Responsibilities

The VP and CIO will be responsible for successfully transitioning the six core functions in the portfolio of responsibility into a new organizational structure, reporting to the Executive Vice President. Research Computing (RC), which has historically been part of the OIT organization, will transition into a stand-alone unit, reporting to the Office of the Provost. The VP and CIO will maintain a strategic collaborative partnership with the Provost and RC, which provides computing, storage, advanced network architecture, and software infrastructure and programming research support to faculty, professional staff, and students. Additionally, the VP and CIO is responsible for ensuring that the whole of OIT maintains close, collaborative working partnerships with IT staff in academic and other administrative units who are not under the direct purview of the VP and CIO. 

 

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the President’s cabinet, providing thought leadership and strategic planning for institutional initiatives.
• Collaborate with peers and colleagues across the University to ensure there is strong and progressive IT support of the institution, its mission, and operational needs.
• Establish and lead a high-performing, diverse workforce; build strong talent pipelines; establish high performance standards; implement professional development programs, and prioritize communications to create a culture of respect, excellence, and responsiveness.
• Provide primary oversight for six functional areas, over 300 staff members, and strategic collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative units.
• Provide visionary leadership for IT, and strategic and operational planning that is informed by University objectives. Consider internal and external factors to identify, develop, and implement the most efficient and value-additive information systems and services that support the University's IT needs, with a strong focus on cybersecurity.
• Ensure that significant changes are effectively communicated among all constituent groups and develop a continuous feedback loop with stakeholders from across the University to identify areas of improvement.
• Partner with the University Data Officer, campus departments, and their respective IT organizations to establish and maintain robust, secure and state-of-the-art academic, computational, research, and data analytics services; foster a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, data environment, and tools that enable the use of business intelligence and predictive analytics to support University leadership in making informed decisions.
• Set standards of excellence for research security in partnership with Research Computing, the Dean for Research, and key campus partners.
• Responsible for enterprise IT governance; participate and/or lead committees to provide guidance, decisions, and innovative solutions for the planning and technology infrastructure necessary to support the academic, administrative, and operational needs of the University.

Qualifications

Princeton University is preparing to launch a multiyear ERP implementation effort, one of the largest IT projects in the University’s history. The ideal candidate will bring proven success in leading similar enterprise-wide ERP change-management initiatives in a highly complex and multifaceted environment. They will bring the ability to galvanize a culture around a compelling vision, engaging leaders and employees in the work that will be required to continue driving transformation across the University. This individual will have the demonstrated ability to creatively and effectively manage a change agenda, including continuing to evolve a strong IT function in close collaboration with distributed IT departments to provide the IT operations and systems required to support all facets of the University.

 

The ideal candidate will excel at team development as well as at clarifying common goals among diverse stakeholders, gaining consensus on an overall approach, and building a collaborative environment in which results are achieved and celebrated. An excellent listener and communicator, this individual will be known for having an approachable style and for developing collaborative relationships within diverse groups internally and externally.

 

The successful candidate will be a highly accomplished technology and business leader with a passion for supporting complex and diverse workforces, and a proven record of leading an IT function through change. They will have established, grown, and led IT processes and teams in a hands-on and collaborative environment. Most importantly, this leader must have a passion and drive for Princeton’s mission to advance learning through scholarship, research, and teaching of unsurpassed quality, with an emphasis on undergraduate and doctoral education that is distinctive among the world’s great universities, and with a pervasive commitment to serve the nation and the world.

 

Experience & Qualifications

• 10 or more years of relevant experience in progressively responsible positions in a complex organization with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong preference for prior experience in a higher-education setting with a residential campus and research program.
• Senior leadership experience in IT, encompassing strategic planning, complex organizational structures, project planning, budgeting and management, and process transformation.
• Proven technical expertise and successful experience implementing major IT initiatives; an understanding of the spectrum of IT activities including technology infrastructure, academic and research computing, instructional technology, enterprise software implementations, and digital transformation initiatives; an expansive understanding of technology’s potential to facilitate teaching and learning.

 

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following mindset, skills, and competencies:

 

• Exceptional interpersonal skills including confidence, maturity, and presence to engage effectively with all constituencies, and the humility, honesty, and service-orientation to build trust.
• A record of building effective teams, establishing and sustaining productive working relationships with a range of constituencies, and achieving results through collaboration and influence. Understanding and incorporating viewpoints from all key stakeholders to drive decision-making. An active listener.
• Forward-thinking. Curious and passionate about staying abreast of information technology trends in higher education. Commitment to ensuring strong and progressive support of the institution and its mission and operational needs through technology.
• The ability to create and articulate an inspiring vision for the OIT organization and the University as a whole.
• A demonstrated track record of advancing diversity and an inclusive community with an understanding of the importance of recruiting, developing, and leading a diverse and vibrant workforce; implementing effective talent-pipeline planning; establishing development and retention strategies; creating efficient management structures and systems; and upholding high performance standards.
• Ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate all aspects of diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate broadly across a large organization, cultivate and sustain collegial relationships and build unity around complex issues. Demonstrates strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
• An ability to inspire trust and partnership with others through compelling influence, charisma, passion, and active drive.
• Encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the team.
• Creates a sense of purpose and meaning for the team that engages others to the greater purpose of the University as a whole.
• Sound judgment and discretion.
• Devotion to the highest ethical standards. Viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions; the ability to act in an open and consistent manner while always acting in the University’s best interests.
• Liveliness of intellect and the commitment to engage collaboratively with University constituents and respond effectively to their needs and concerns.
• An appreciation for leading with interest in academic, business, and operational needs.
• The inclination to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the University's overall strategy.
• An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will add value and advance the University’s mission.
• The ability and acumen to effectively balance the need for broad change with clear, realistic goals and implementation plans.
• Comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
• Innovative and forward-thinking leader who seeks data and input from others to foresee possible threats or unintended consequences from decisions; someone who takes well-considered, strategic risks.
• The ability to persevere in the face of challenges and to exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards; stamina.
• Self-reflective and aware of own limitations; leads by example and drives the organization's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement.
• Sets bold business and sustainability goals, that drive concerted action and investments, and stays the course in the face of setbacks or push-back from short-term-oriented stakeholders.

 

 

Contact

 

Angela Jung

Russell Reynolds Associates

2 Alhambra Plaza Suite 660Coral Gables, FL 33134-5202Direct: +1-201-575-3321angela.jung@russellreynolds.com

Eric J. Sigurdson

Russell Reynolds Associates

155 North Wacker Drive Suite 4100Chicago, IL  60606-1732Mobile: +1-312-543-4861eric.sigurdson@russellreynolds.com

 

 

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Standard Weekly Hours0.00Eligible for OvertimeNoBenefits EligibleYesProbationary Period180 daysEssential Services Personnel (see policy for detail)NoPhysical Capacity Exam RequiredNoValid Driver’s License RequiredNo#LI-NR1