Information Technology - Assistant VP of Service Management & Strategy

As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Computer Science & Engineering; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition, and Best Business Schools: 2024 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu

Position Summary

This position will play a pivotal role in shaping and overseeing the strategic initiatives and project services associated with the administrative, academic, and student engagement areas. It will oversee a comprehensive portfolio, including data infrastructure, back-office, revenue-generating, academic success, student engagement projects, and strategy. 

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: 

• Develop and implement a strategic vision for the IT Management and Strategy unit, aligning it with the university’s goals and objectives. 
• Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of strategic initiatives to drive institutional growth and effectiveness. 
• Provide leadership in the integration of strategy, data, and resources to enhance academic and operational success.

Data Infrastructure and Analytics:

• Oversee the development of a robust data infrastructure to support decision-making across the university.
• Oversee collaboration with stakeholders to define data governance policies and ensure the accuracy, security, and accessibility of institutional data.
• Oversee support for data insights to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges, enabling informed strategic decisions.

Business Relationship Management: 

• Build and nurture relationships with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities for collaboration and partnership. 
• Serve as a liaison between academic, administrative, and external entities to foster alignment and engagement. 
• Champion customer-centric approaches to improve service delivery and stakeholder satisfaction. 

Operational Excellence:

• Lead revenue-generating initiatives by identifying new opportunities and optimizing existing programs to enhance financial sustainability. 
• Collaborate with academic and student services teams to drive academic success and student engagement initiatives. 
• Oversee back-office initiatives, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and alignment with university priorities. 

Project and Initiative Oversight:

• Direct the delivery of strategic projects and services, ensuring timely execution, resource allocation, and achievement of objectives. 
• Provide regular reporting on the progress and impact of initiatives to university leadership. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Attributes

• Master’s Degree in Computer Science or related field preferred.
• 6 years of relevant experience managing technology teams – Higher education environment preferred.
• Project management certification and experience managing complex projects.
• Intimate knowledge of computer systems and enterprise network environments.
• Experience with provisioning strategic leadership for Administrative, Academic, Student Engagement, and Data.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written skills. 

Unusual Working Conditions

Must be available to work some evenings and weekends at various times throughout the year. 

This job posting provides an overview of the role's general nature and expected tasks. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all duties performed. The university reserves the right to modify or reassign job responsibilities at any time. This posting description does not constitute an employment contract, either explicit or implied.