Description

Founded in 1897, Piedmont University is a private, comprehensive liberal arts university with an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students at campuses in Demorest and Athens, Georgia.Piedmont University is seeking a Chief Information Office to begin employment in January/February 2026. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO)/Vice President of Administration and Finance, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) serves as a senior leader responsible for setting the strategic direction and overseeing the development, implementation, and management of university-wide information technology (IT) systems, including enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms. In alignment with the University's mission and strategic plan, the CIO leads the development and maintenance of a comprehensive, innovative, and secure technology environment that supports both academic and administrative operations. The CIO fosters a culture of collaboration, service excellence, and continuous improvement, working closely with institutional leadership, faculty, staff, and students to ensure that technology initiatives enhance student success, operational efficiency, and institutional effectiveness.Serves as a partner with all divisions, the CIO is accountable for user satisfaction, timely service delivery, and transparent communication regarding all IT initiatives.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and implement a forward-looking, institution-wide IT strategy that supports academic excellence, research innovation, and administrative efficiency.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align IT strategies with institutional priorities and long-term goals.
• Serve as a strategic advisor on technology trends, digital transformation, and enterprise-wide system integration.

Technology Operations & Infrastructure

• Champion digital transformation initiatives that modernize legacy systems, streamline operations, and enhance the digital experience for students, faculty, and staff.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies to improve learning environments, research capabilities, and administrative processes.
• Periodically review and recommend hardware and software standards to ensure compatibility, sustainability, and security.
• Lead the design and implementation of enterprise data warehouses and data lakes to consolidate institutional data from diverse sources, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and scalability.
• Promote data interoperability and standardization across units to support strategic planning, institutional research, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate and streamline reporting systems to eliminate redundant, outdated, or ineffective reports, ensuring that data outputs are actionable, timely, and aligned with institutional priorities.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of IT services, digital transformation initiatives, and institutional outcomes, enabling continuous improvement and strategic alignment.

Governance & Collaboration

• Build and sustain strong relationships across all divisions to anticipate needs and deliver timely, user-centered technology solutions.
• Ensure consistent technology standards, policies, and practices across the institution.

Communication & User Support

• Provide clear and regular communication regarding IT services, project progress, and system changes to all University stakeholders.
• Implement ongoing feedback mechanisms with faculty, staff, and students to ensure that IT priorities are informed by real-world needs and that services continuously adapt to evolving expectations.
• Offer consultative support to departments, ensuring IT services are aligned with user needs and institutional goals.

Resource Management & Budgeting

• Develop and manage the IT department's operational, tactical, and lifecycle budgets, exploring cost-saving measures and funding opportunities.
• Prioritize technology resources and expenditures in alignment with institutional and IT strategic plans.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation and inventories to support financial planning, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Negotiate and manage vendor contracts, licensing agreements, and service-level expectations to maximize value and performance.

Staff Development & Supervision

• Cultivate and lead a high-performing IT organization that reflects the institution's values and commitment to excellence.
• Develop and maintain an annual training plan and budget to ensure continuous technical growth for IT staff and system administrators.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and service excellence within the IT team.

Security, Compliance & DataIntegrity

• Lead the review, development and enforcement of comprehensive IT related policies and protocols to safeguard institutional data and systems and ensure compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, GLBA, and other related federal and state laws.
• Ensure the security, integrity, and confidentiality of all institutional data and IT systems. Maintain and regularly test backup and disaster recovery protocols for all critical systems.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Compile and evaluate department performance metrics related to service quality, productivity, and cost. Identify and implement process improvements based on data analysis and user feedback.
• Promote the adoption of lifecycle and continuous improvement models across all IT/MIS operations.

Other

• Other relevant duties as assigned.
• Regular and predictable attendance is required.
• On-site work is required.
• Incumbents must remain relevant in the area of employment and flexible to changes in work related to institutional needs.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree and a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in information technology.
• Advanced degree in an information technology or business management related field preferred.

Licenses and Certification

• Valid Georgia Drivers License (or obtained within 30 days of hire date) and satisfactory MVR.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep understanding of enterprise IT strategy, governance, and operations in a multi-campus or system-wide higher education environment.
• Expertise in digital transformation, cloud computing, modern data center architecture, and hybrid infrastructure models.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, risk management practices, and regulatory compliance (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA, GLPA).
• Familiarity with academic technologies, research computing, and administrative systems (e.g., ERP, LMS,CRM).
• Strategic planning and execution across complex, decentralized organizations.
• Leadership and team-building skills to cultivate high-performing, inclusive, and innovative IT teams.
• Budgeting and financial management skills including high dollar IT portfolios and vendor negotiations.
• Skilled in change management and stakeholder engagement across diverse academic and administrative constituencies.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate emerging technologies and align them with institutional goals.
• Communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with executive leadership, faculty, staff, and external partners.
• Ability to lead enterprise-wide initiatives that integrate technology across campuses and departments.
• Ability to translate institutional strategy into actionable IT plans and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and digital equity.
• Ability to manage complex projects, prioritize competing demands, and deliver results in dynamic environments.
• Ability to ensure operational resilience through redundancy, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
• Ability to collaboratively and effectively work in a diverse and inclusive environment.