Asst Vice President for Academic IT and Research Support

About This Role

Reporting to the Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), the AVP will play a pivotal role in advancing K-State’s standing as a pioneer in the space of academic and research IT. Leading a high-performing team of IT Directors within an affinity based model spread across 11 campus units, the AVP will oversee all operational and future-state aspects of technologies used within the academic, classroom, and research environments of K-State’s three campuses. A consensus builder with exemplary communication skills, the AVP will develop and strengthen relationships with the campus community, key stakeholders, and research faculty to ensure academic and research needs are met with a consistent level of service and standard of excellence.

The successful candidate will have a proven ability to mobilize resources, foster innovation, and leverage core infrastructure services for research, teaching, and learning, while closely managing service quality expectations and adherence across the institution.  They will possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills and bring a demonstrated track record of cross-campus collaboration.  The AVP will work closely with staff and leadership to review and improve business practices; assess current systems and implement improvements as needed; provide action-oriented and expert support to academic units; and participate in the development of enhanced research policies and procedures. The individual must be a team builder with demonstrated success in developing and recruiting talented IT staff. The AVP will have political astuteness and critical problem-solving abilities to effectively balance the needs of faculty researchers, research administrators, and IT administrators in differing environments with varying levels of resources. The AVP will have experience successfully implementing new policies, procedures, business processes and systems and have comprehensive knowledge of working within a top tier research institution. 

For more information about this position and Kansas State University, please review our University Profile.

Learn more about Manhattan, Kansas at www.madeformanhattan.org.

About Us

Kansas State University's Division of Information Technology, led by the Associate Vice President and CIO, Thomas Bunton, is committed to providing excellent IT services to the K-State community in support of the teaching, learning, research, and service missions. They offer a wide range of information technology and communications services. They provide leadership for developing and delivering computing and digital resources to K-State students, faculty and staff. In addition to the operation and management of IT Services, the Division comprises the administrative service functions of HR, finance, and communications. The Division coordinates and manages central IT business services including Enterprise Systems, Portfolio & Project Governance, Infrastructure & Operations, Academic Applications, Information Security, and Academic IT and Research Support. The “Academic Unit Focused” IT team, consisting of 11 IT Directors, sits within the Office of IT and is overseen by the AVP of Academic IT and Research Support; however, this team also has a dotted link reporting structure to their individual college or unit leadership.

Worksite Option

This position is on-site

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and ten years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (master’s or PhD preferred) in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field
• Extensive experience in developing and managing large complex technology and research environments;
• Strong leadership and team development skills, with a proven ability to build, manage, and mentor a multidisciplinary technology team;
• Proven ability to establish rapport, influence decision-making, and facilitate cohesive communication across all levels of the organization;
• Deep understanding of academic and research technology trends, best practices and regulatory requirements;
• Excellent project management skills, capable of leading complicated technology projects, including modernization, rationalization and policy development;
• Experience in vendor and stakeholder management, including service level agreement negotiation and partnership development to support campus initiatives;
• Demonstrated ability to lead with a strategic vision in the domain of academic technology and research support, executing critical strategies within areas of responsibility and leading by influence;
• Ability to inspire and propel the team toward achieving the goals of the continuous improvement;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an ability to convey complex issues to a non-technical audience;
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to solve complex problems related to enterprise applications and integrations;
• Ability to devise innovative solutions that advance the organization's mission.

How to Apply

Kansas State University has retained the national search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist in recruiting its new Assistant Vice President for Academic IT and Research Support. Please direct all inquiries, nominations and applications to Isaacson, Miller.

Screening of Applications Begins

Immediately and continues until the completion of the search process.