Assistant Vice President for IT Strategic Operations & Administration

Creighton University · Omaha

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The Assistant Vice President for IT Strategic Operations & Administration serves as a key advisor to the Vice President for Information Technology and provides leadership for the operational, administrative, financial, and governance functions of the Information Technology division.

This position is responsible for establishing and overseeing the management systems that enable strategic execution, organizational effectiveness, financial stewardship, operational transparency, and continuous improvement across the IT organization. The AVP for IT Strategic Operations & Administration leads strategic planning coordination, governance operations, portfolio oversight, budget administration, vendor and contract management, executive reporting, and organizational performance measurement.

As a member of the IT Leadership Team, this role works collaboratively with technology leaders, university stakeholders, and administrative partners to ensure technology investments, resources, and organizational priorities align with the University's mission, strategic goals, and operational needs.

The AVP for IT Strategic Operations & Administration acts as the operational architect of the IT division, ensuring that strategy is translated into actionable plans, investments are effectively managed, and organizational processes support accountability, transparency, and institutional partnership.

Essential Functions

Strategic Planning & Organizational Effectiveness

• Lead the coordination and administration of the IT strategic planning process.
• Facilitate annual and multi-year planning activities.
• Maintain alignment of strategic roadmaps and organizational priorities.
• Develop mechanisms to measure progress toward strategic objectives.
• Coordinate strategic initiative reporting and outcome measurement.
• Facilitate leadership planning retreats and strategic review sessions.
• Drive continuous improvement and organizational maturity initiatives.
• Support change management related to major organizational and technology initiatives.

IT Governance & Organizational Decision-Making

• Design, implement, and manage IT governance frameworks and processes.
• Facilitate governance committees, advisory councils, and prioritization forums.
• Develop decision-making frameworks that promote transparency and accountability.
• Coordinate project intake, evaluation, and prioritization activities.
• Track governance decisions and ensure follow-through.

Financial Management & Budget Administration

• Lead IT budget planning, administration, forecasting, and reporting activities.
• Coordinate annual operating and capital budget development processes.
• Monitor expenditures, commitments, and financial performance.
• Develop multi-year technology investment plans.
• Support business case development and financial analysis for major initiatives.
• Prepare financial reporting and executive budget presentations.
• Partner with university finance leaders to ensure sound fiscal stewardship.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization and resource efficiency.

Vendor, Contract, and Procurement Management

• Oversee IT contract administration and lifecycle management.
• Develop processes for contract tracking, renewals, and compliance monitoring.
• Coordinate procurement planning and purchasing activities.
• Support vendor selection and evaluation processes.
• Lead strategic vendor relationship management activities.
• Monitor vendor performance, service commitments, and contract obligations.
• Maintain visibility into software licensing, subscriptions, and renewal schedules.
• Support contract negotiations and risk assessment activities.

Portfolio & Organizational Performance Management

• Oversee enterprise portfolio reporting and management processes.
• Coordinate investment planning and portfolio review activities.
• Maintain visibility into strategic, operational, compliance, and lifecycle initiatives.
• Develop executive dashboards, metrics, and performance indicators.
• Monitor organizational performance and support service improvement efforts.
• Facilitate reviews of strategic initiatives and organizational outcomes.

Executive Operations & Leadership Support

• Serve as an operational advisor to the Vice President for Information Technology.
• Coordinate leadership team operations, planning, and accountability processes.
• Prepare executive briefings, leadership communications, and board materials.
• Support executive-level decision making through analysis and reporting.
• Coordinate responses to organizational issues, risks, and priority initiatives.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration among IT leadership teams.

Organizational Leadership & Staff Development

• Provide leadership and supervision for assigned administrative and strategic operations staff.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Support leadership development and succession planning initiatives.
• Promote effective communication and organizational alignment.
• Develop and maintain operational standards, procedures, and documentation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Higher Education Administration, Finance, or related field. 
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in strategic operations, administration, organizational planning, finance, project management, or related disciplines. 
• Five (5) years of supervisory leadership experience. 
• Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives. 
• Demonstrated success supporting executive leaders and organizational transformation efforts.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, or related field. 
• Higher education leadership experience. 
• Experience managing budgets & portfolios exceeding $5M. 
• Experience implementing governance and portfolio management frameworks. 
• Experience leading organizational change initiatives. 
• Certifications such as:

o    PMP
o    PgMP
o    ITIL
o    Lean Six Sigma
o    Change Management Certification
o    Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) or similar financial credentials

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Required Knowledge
Strategic Planning & Governance

• Principles of strategic planning and organizational effectiveness.
• Governance frameworks and decision-making models.
• Organizational development and change management practices.
• Performance measurement and outcome-based management.
• Ability to serve as a connector between IT and university leadership, translating institutional priorities into actionable IT strategies.
• Ability to develop and manage strategic roadmaps, project portfolios, and resource plans.

Financial & Administrative Management

• Budget development, administration, and forecasting.
• Capital planning and investment analysis.
• Financial reporting and resource management.
• Contract administration and procurement practices.
• Vendor relationship management.

Portfolio & Project Management

• Portfolio management concepts and methodologies.
• Project and program management principles.
• Demand management and prioritization frameworks.
• Risk management and organizational planning.
• Skilled in identifying risks, dependencies, and opportunities across strategic initiatives.

Organizational Leadership

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills to foster trust and collaboration across campus units.
• Skilled in executive-level engagement, including presenting complex ideas to senior leadership and facilitating strategic discussions.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor messaging for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience designing and leading stakeholder engagement strategies, listening sessions, and feedback mechanisms.
• Ability to facilitate workshops, governance meetings, and strategic planning sessions with clarity and purpose.

Preferred Knowledge

• Strategic Planning
• •    Deep understanding of strategic planning methodologies, including roadmap development and alignment with institutional goals.

Higher Education Administration

• Knowledge of higher education environments, including academic, research, and administrative operations.
• Familiarity with university governance structures and shared decision-making processes.
• Experience working within complex stakeholder organizations.
• Appreciation for academic, research, administrative, and student service functions.
• Understanding of institutional planning and budgeting processes.
• Understanding of enterprise IT functions, emerging technologies, and digital transformation trends in higher education.

Organizational Leadership

• Experience designing and implementing IT governance frameworks that promote transparency, accountability, and strategic alignment.
• Strong process improvement skills, including the ability to assess current practices and implement scalable, efficient solutions.
• Knowledge of performance measurement, service management, and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., ITIL, Lean, Six Sigma).
• Demonstrated commitment to staff development, mentoring, and succession planning.
• Ability to foster a culture of innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning within a complex organization.
• Experience leading organizational change initiatives and building resilient, adaptive teams.
• Strong analytical skills to assess institutional needs, evaluate technology trends, and guide data-informed decision-making.

Preferred Technical and Professional Skills

• Familiarity with strategic planning tools, project management platforms, and collaboration technologies.
• Experience with enterprise systems (e.g., ERP, CRM, LMS) and their role in supporting institutional strategy.
• Knowledge of data governance, digital accessibility, and cybersecurity principles as they relate to strategic planning.

Skills & Competencies

Leadership & Influence

• Ability to influence without direct authority.
• Ability to lead through collaboration and relationship building.
• Strong political acumen and organizational awareness.
• Ability to navigate complex institutional environments.

Strategic Thinking

• Ability to connect operational decisions to long-term strategic objectives.
• Ability to analyze complex organizational issues and develop practical solutions.
• Strong systems thinking and organizational design capabilities.

Financial Acumen

• Strong budget management and financial analysis skills.
• Ability to evaluate investment opportunities and financial tradeoffs.
• Experience developing business cases and financial recommendations.

Communication & Facilitation

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executives, faculty, administrators, and technical staff.
• Skilled facilitator of planning sessions, governance meetings, and strategic discussions.
• Ability to translate complex information into actionable insights.

Analytical & Organizational Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to synthesize data from multiple sources.
• Strong attention to detail while maintaining strategic perspective.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Relationship Management

• Ability to build trust across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to foster productive partnerships inside and outside the organization.

Creighton University is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory educational and employment environment. The University admits qualified students, hires qualified employees and accepts patients for treatment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or other status protected by law. Its education and employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other programs and activities, are administered without unlawful discrimination. Creighton complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Applicants with disabilities needing reasonable accommodations to complete the application or hiring process should contact Human Resources at HR@creighton.edu. Creighton University seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to the University's mission and values. 

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