• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $145,000 - $180,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Financial Planning and Strategy and working collaboratively with other members of the School, the Executive Director leads the development and maintenance of our information systems developed within the school and those provided by CUIT. The Executive Director will oversee the members of the analytics and information systems team to ensure the ongoing development of a holistic digital ecosystem that enables real-time reporting, ensures data is captured and shared with the central university systems of record. The incumbent will be responsible for leading the school-wide adoption of Student Information Systems. He/she will also be responsible for identifying what systems align with unit needs and complement the ongoing development of the school-wide digital ecosystem. As the School???s chief information officer, the Executive Director will be responsible for overseeing the digital strategic plan of the school across all programs and departments, focused on managing all systems to increase efficiency and productivity and reduce risk with the utmost cost-effectiveness. The Executive Director will manage the relationship with CUIT in planning, deploying and maintaining IT systems and operations including oversight of the IT budget.

Working in collaboration with the Executive Director of Analytics and IT, the incumbent will work with the Associate Director of Administration to further the data governance efforts at the School of Professional Studies to ensure there is consistency of reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of our efforts that are in line with our central administrative systems, Student Information Systems and Finance, and Administration. The incumbent will be responsible for supervising the members of the analytics team and coordinating with the Finance and Administration Unit to ensure there is coordination and alignment with goals and our systems. The Director develops and maintains productive partnerships with program directors, administrative department heads, faculty, central University leadership, and external partners.

Responsibilities

Reporting 

1. Provide strategic planning, policy development and implementation, and potential business process modification and implementation to support key School needs and goals
2. Manage high-level target-setting process for drivers and results tied to critical metrics of value creation (revenue, cash flow, expenses, etc.) and work with Finance to incorporate into budgeting and budget management processes
3. Provide support to school-wide strategic decisions
4. Establish key performance metrics and incorporate them into budgeting and day-to-day operations
5. Manage the School???s strategic planning efforts in conjunction with the School???s senior management team
6. Ensure systems align in order for there to be effective and nimble reporting

Analytics 

1. Develop, implement, and direct data governance strategies and policies at the school that complements unit needs
2. Lead the development of new financial and program data resources, improve the consistency of finance and program data across units of the School in concert with the Executive Director of Analytics and the Executive Director of Strategic Planning
3. Spearhead outreach efforts to identify and supply financial and program data analysis needed by decision-makers in the programs and administrative departments in coordination with the Executive Director of Analytics and Strategy
4. Direct efforts to ensure school-wide adoption of SIS, including access management, training, alignment with current systems and reporting platforms
5. Prepare and deliver high-level reports to key audiences to facilitate decision-making
6. Oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of the analytic team

Business process assessment and improvement

1. Lead and execute business process assessment, recommend modifications, and direct the implementation in partnership with the Associate Dean, in order to support key School needs and goals including:
   1. managing data collection to quantify people, process, and technology costs
   2. performing quantitative and qualitative analyses to define and support recommendations to senior leadership
   3. preparing reports and analyses to present current processes and alternatives
   4. guiding the development of decision frameworks, business options, and business plans
   5. developing fact-based plans to align the academic program and/or functional unit strategy with school priorities and overall strategy
2. Lead project management initiatives to realize the improvement if necessary

Lead and advise on the School???s information strategy 

1. Manage the relationship between CUIT and SPS
2. Develop and oversee the IT budget
3. Plan, deploy and maintain IT systems and operations
4. Manage the organization's software development needs
5. Develop IT policies, procedures, and best practices in collaboration with CUIT
6. Stay updated on IT trends and emerging technologies
7. Develop and enforce IT best practices across the organization
8. Ensure IT strategies and processes support school-wide goals
9. Oversee relationships with vendors, contractors, and service providers
10. Develop a 3- and 5-year digital strategic plan that outlines the School???s data and information strategy across programs and departments

Supervisory and Budget Responsibilities

1. Directly oversee the Analytics and Information Services team
2. Responsible for planning, analytics, and information systems team budget

Performs other duties and special projects as assigned or requested

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor???s degree required; advanced degree is usually required or strongly desirable
• 7 years of related experience required
• A resume and cover letter with salary requirements must be submitted for consideration

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA
• Management consulting experience coupled with a proven consultative approach to solving business problems and addressing new opportunities highly desirable 
• Experience and in-depth knowledge of Slate, SIS and SQL
• Experience working in higher education

Other Requirements

• Demonstrated leadership experience in financial planning and/or analytics
• Extensive experience with database development/integration, analysis, and reporting
• Must have the initiative and ability to start and complete projects with minimum direction as well as the ability to work as part of a team.
• Stellar analytical and strategic thinking skills with an ability to assess different scenarios and to develop useful management financial and program performance reports
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple priorities and work under deadlines required.
• Consultative skill set with proven experience in client service.
• Strong project management, writing, and editing, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills required
• Demonstrated organizational and supervisory experience essential

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

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