Director of Information Services

Southern College of Optometry (SCO) is seeking an experienced Director of Information Services to provide strategic leadership and management of IT, information services, and library services across the colleges academic, clinical, and administrative domains. Reporting to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, this hands‑on leader will shape and execute a technology vision that aligns SCO's infrastructure, academic and clinical systems, cybersecurity, and data governance with our institution's mission of leading the profession by educating the best possible healthcare providers, promoting lifelong learning, and fostering a personal commitment to service.

The Director will ensure robust support for didactic instruction, clinical facilities, and the campus community, driving seamless, secure, and innovative solutions that empower excellence in education and patient care.

SCO is a leader in optometric education and clinical care, committed to lifelong learning and service. Our campus and clinics rely on robust, integrated technology to support students, faculty, staff, and patients.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with academic, clinical, and administrative goals.
• Advise senior leadership on emerging technologies and digital transformation.
• Lead the integration of academic and clinical information systems to support interoperability and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Oversee the management of IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, cloud services, and end‑user support.
• Ensure high availability, security, and performance of all systems, including electronic health records (EHR) such as Compulink, learning management systems (LMS) such as Moodle US, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms such as Blackbaud.
• Direct the implementation of new technologies and system upgrades.
• Establish and enforce policies for data privacy and regulatory compliance (e.g., HIPAA, FERPA).
• Provide strategic leadership in cybersecurity, ensuring compliance with frameworks such as NIST and HITRUST, and overseeing disaster recovery planning to safeguard institutional systems.
• Lead risk assessments and incident response planning.
• Oversee compliance with WCAG guidelines across all academic systems and online platforms.
• Oversee implementation and integration of telehealth platforms, diagnostic imaging systems, and optometric instruments to ensure seamless clinical technology operations.
• Drive innovation in academic technology by advancing simulation labs, virtual reality tools for optometry training, and high‑performance research computing.
• Collaborate with academic and clinical leaders to support instructional technologies, labs, research computing, and patient care.
• Bring expertise in health informatics and clinical workflow optimization to enhance efficiency and patient care.
• Partner with clinical leadership to ensure seamless IT support for patient care, telehealth, and clinical workflows.
• Manage IT governance committees, oversee technology budgets, and maintain strategic vendor relationships to ensure effective and compliant operations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary IT team, fostering a culture of innovation and service excellence.

The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements:

Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive IT leadership, preferably in higher education and/or healthcare.

Masters degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Health Informatics, or a related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

• Demonstrated leadership in managing and developing high‑performing IT organizations.
• Extensive background in overseeing complex IT environments in hospital, clinical and academic settings.
• Track record of implementing and maintaining large systems in healthcare environments like hospitals and/or clinics.
• Proven experience in managing healthcare systems like EHR, LMS, and ERP systems.
• Leadership in strategic planning for digital transformation in healthcare education and aligning technology investments with institutional goals.
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