Director of Application & Data Services

Department Information

University Information and Technology Services

The Director of Application and Data Services provides strategic and operational leadership for enterprise application management, data architecture, system integrations, analytics, and web services at Columbus State University. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, this position oversees the Banner ERP ecosystem and related enterprise applications, leads data governance initiatives, supports institutional analytics for student success and operational effectiveness, and manages the university's transition planning for enterprise system modernization including Workday preparation.

The Director supervises technical staff, collaborates with academic and administrative stakeholders across campus, and ensures that application and data services align with the university's strategic priorities and University System of Georgia (USG) requirements.

Significant Duties &

Responsibilities include:

Enterprise Application Management (30% ) - Direct the administration, account management, maintenance, upgrading, and integration of central campus information systems including the Banner ERP ecosystem, People Soft (HCM and Finance), and supporting applications. Ensure system performance, reliability, and security for enterprise applications supporting student services, human resources, finance, and academic operations. Manage vendor relationships, coordinate system patches and upgrades, and oversee user acceptance testing, sign off and deployment.

Lead Workday/unified ERP preparation activities including data standardization, quality assessment, and current-state process documentation for Finance, HR, and Student systems.;
Data Architecture and Governance (20%) - Establish and maintain the university's data architecture, including database structures, data flows, integration patterns, and data quality standards. Serve on the Data Governance Committee, develop the enterprise data dictionary, and implement data stewardship practices across campus. Ensure data integrity, security, and appropriate access controls for institutional data assets. Assist with coordination of data reporting and compliance requirements for USG, SACSCOC, and federal reporting obligations.;

Team Leadership and Staff Development (15%) - Supervise, mentor, and evaluate application and data services staff and technical team members. Plan, organize, and direct the work of the Application and Data Services team. Recruit, hire, and train staff. Foster a collaborative, service-oriented work environment that emphasizes professional growth, accountability, and continuous improvement. Coordinate staff training and professional development plans aligned with UITS transformation goals.;

Analytics and Institutional Reporting (15%) - Provide leadership for institutional analytics that support student success initiatives, retention analysis, and operational decision-making. Oversee the development of dashboards, reports, and data visualizations for university leadership. Collaborate with Institutional Research, Academic Affairs, and Enrollment Management to deliver actionable data insights. Support the university's strategic priorities through data-informed recommendations.;
Strategic Planning and IT Leadership (10%) - Serve as a member of the CIO's IT leadership team, participating in departmental budgeting, strategic planning, and governance activities. Contribute to the IT project portfolio and prioritization process. Evaluate emerging technologies, recommend solutions, and develop business cases for system investments. Collaborate with the CISO on application security, access management policies, and compliance requirements. Support AI strategy development and implementation.;

Web Services Oversight (5%) - Provide direction for the university's web services team and web-based campus systems. Ensure web applications meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2/Section 508), integrate appropriately with enterprise systems, and support the university's digital presence and student-facing services.;
Other Duties as Assigned (5%) - Represent UITS on university committees and working groups as assigned. Support special projects, cross-functional initiatives, and perform additional duties as needed to advance UITS operations and the university's strategic goals.

Required Qualifications include:
Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, data management, or a related field required.;
Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in information technology with at least three years in a supervisory or management capacity.;
Experience managing enterprise applications (ERP, SIS, or equivalent) in a complex organizational environment required.

Preferred Qualifications include:
Master's degree preferred.;
Higher education experience strongly preferred.;
Experience with Banner, People Soft, or Workday is…