AI Solution Development Manager

Job Summary

The Application and AI Solution Development Manager leads the development, delivery, and support of custom‑developed applications and AI solutions for the University. The role oversees software teams and full Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) processes with a focus on user interface/experience and product experience (UI/UX/PX), ensuring high‑quality, scalable, and timely outcomes. Working closely with OIT analysts and stakeholders, the manager turns business needs into actionable technical plans while guiding project execution and resources.

Ideal candidates have strong higher‑education SDLC experience—covering architecture, integrations, upgrades, and optimization—and expertise in generative AI practices.

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, or related field.
• Ten (10) years of related experience in IT working with application development teams which includes five (5) years of leadership experience leading development projects, or fourteen (14) years of any equivalent education, training or experience.

• Master’s degree in educational technology, business administration, computer technology or related field.
• Understanding of core machine learning (ML) concepts, learning language model (LLM) architectures, evaluation methods, and prompt engineering and development.
• Experience leading teams developing custom and AI applications, related architecture, and general resource metrics.
• Strong understanding (all phases) of the application development lifecycle, software development life cycle methodologies, production support procedures, and project management disciplines.
• Certifications in the areas of custom software development or Artificial Intelligence.
• Practical experience working in Higher Education developing custom solutions for campuses.

• Lead the design and deployment of campus‑scaled AI models (e.g., chatbot systems, recommendation engines, data‑driven insights).
• Architect, plan, and oversee custom application development in languages like Python or PHP.
• Manage end‑to‑end AI workflows and oversee pipelines and model governance, particularly for accuracy, security, and compliance.
• Ensure applications are scalable, maintainable, and aligned with institutional needs (e.g., analytics, prediction, automation, branding).

• Manage application delivery projects through the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), applying development methodologies and championing continuous service improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate user acceptance testing (UAT), training, and documentation to support successful implementation and end‑user readiness.
• Lead service improvement initiatives based on feedback, analytics, and evolving campus needs.

• Provide leadership and mentorship to development teams, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and growth.
• Oversee staffing, training, task assignment, and performance feedback to ensure team effectiveness.
• Facilitate team meetings, prioritize work, and promote professional development.
• Manage team reporting, including performance metrics, SLA analysis, and service improvement recommendations.
• Coordinate consultants and other external involvement with development teams.

• Deliver technical leadership across system design, development, and maintenance while implementing and managing controls to ensure system integrity.
• Investigate, elevate and resolve major issues, problems and requests through risk mitigation, escalation management, and conflict resolution.
• Ensure compliance with FERPA, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Compliance (CMMC), accessibility, security, and data governance standards.
• Offer strategic guidance on custom application development, AI technologies, and service enhancements.
• Ensure seamless UI/UX/PX experiences for students and campus stakeholders.

• Serve as a strategic liaison between technical teams and business units – including the Office of Research and Innovation, Student Success and…