Academic Applications Lead - Open for All Nationalities

Ajman University · United Arab Emirates

SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS:

This position provides strategic leadership and oversight for all student-facing systems and applications at Ajman University. The Academic Applications Lead is responsible for leading implementation team of academic applications, managing the entire student information technology system, and ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance of all systems supporting student registration, academic tracking, advising, and student services. This role requires strategic planning, team leadership, vendor management, and cross-functional collaboration with academic leadership and IT stakeholders.

The Academic Applications lead exercises independent judgment in decision-making, leads complex projects, manages project progress, and serves as the primary authority for all student systems matters.

The Academic Application Lead should have experience with the following:

Banner Student Information system (Registration, Self-service, Students and Faculty),
Banner Student Admin
Oracle platform, SQL,PL/SQL; Reporting Tools and Java scripts
Students advising system such as CRM Advise
Mobile applications.
Academic Advising solution.
SaaS cloud solution.
Maintaining the readiness of SIS applications after applying any new updates, upgrades or releases.
Leading projects related to Academic Applications and Banner SIS systems, supervising/implementing the development, integration and migration processes.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead change management initiatives for major system implementations, upgrades, and process improvements.
Manage vendor relationships for academic application providers; and ensure optimal value and performance.
Develop and execute strategic roadmap for academic applications aligned with AU's digital transformation goals and academic priorities.
Implement with the Applications team members the best practices for scalability, supportability, ease of maintenance and system performance Deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot core all Banner and academic modules Meet and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to establish project scope, system goals, and requirements
Maintain, analyze, prioritize, and organize requirement specifications, data mapping, diagrams, for developers and testers.
Translate highly technical specifications into clear non-technical requirements
Set workflow process and maintain the student systems.
Oversee the implementation and integration of the LMS and Banner system.
Coordinate system upgrades and ensure seamless transitions.
Troubleshooting academic applications integrated with Banner SIS such as, but not limited to:
- Applications on SaaS cloud solution.
- Academic Advising solution.
- Mobile applications.
Define and coordinate the execution of testing procedures, and develop test cases to serve the overall quality assurance process
Provide documentation of all processes and training as needed
Collaborate with academic units, registrars, and administrative units to understand their data needs and requirements.
Test and Upgrade applications’ patches.
Troubleshoot data extract issues and create new data schemas for the university data warehouse.
Create, modify and tune DBs’ schemas.
Migrate/integrate data with different applications.
Implement best practices for supportability, ease of maintenance, and system performance.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree in Computer field.
Min five years’ experience in technical/software support.
Languages: English is required and Arabic is preferable.
Technical Skills: Good skills in troubleshooting and customer services skills.
Professional/Job Related Certificates: SIS Banner 9, Admin and self-service, Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent) preferred/ITIL Foundation or higher preferred.
Years of related experience: Minimum 7 years in higher education technology, including 3+ years in team leadership..

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

Computing Studies
Information Systems
Business Administration
Strong knowledge of Oracle platform, SQL,PL/SQL
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in English.
Knowledge of customer service standards and procedures.
Team leadership and people management.
Vendor and contract management.
Stakeholder management and executive communication
Higher education business processes and academic operations

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
No or very limited physical effort is required.
No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

Leads strategy, implementation, and oversight of all student-facing systems (registration, academic tracking, advising, student services) at the university. Manages the Banner Student Information System and related platforms, oversees a technical team, handles vendor relationships, and works closely with academic and IT leadership. Acts as the top authority on student systems, exercising independent judgment on complex projects. Key required expertise: Banner SIS (Registration, Self-Service, Student/Faculty modules, Student Admin), Oracle/SQL/PL-SQL, reporting tools, JavaScript, advising CRMs, mobile apps, SaaS solutions, and managing system upgrades, integrations, and migrations.

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