Vice President of Institutional Technology​/CIO

The Vice President, Institutional Technology and Chief Information Officer (VPIT/CIO) provides strategic leadership for all technology functions at Polk State College. Reporting directly to the College President and serving as a key member of the President''s leadership team, the VPIT/CIO aligns technology initiatives with institutional priorities to improve student outcomes, enhance operational efficiency, and support institutional advancement.

As the senior technology leader, the VPIT/CIO directs all technology initiatives and transition strategies, ensuring successful adoption across all college functions while establishing a practical IT governance framework. This position is responsible for building reliable infrastructure, developing a skilled IT team, and implementing initiatives that reduce costs, improve service quality, and support innovation.

The VPIT/CIO oversees the Institutional Technology Department and manages administrative technology functions through units responsible for:

• Enterprise IT Infrastructure and Network Services
• Telecommunications Services
• Cybersecurity and IT Risk Management
• Administrative Applications
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Management and Integration
• Technology Support Services

The VPIT/CIO advances the College''s mission by promoting effective use of technology, ensuring reliable operations, and building a responsive IT service organization that improves student success and institutional performance.

• Provides leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of College rules, procedures, and practices pertaining to institutional technology.
• Develops an overall IT strategic plan to maintain a robust and unified institutional technology infrastructure, implementation, and academic and administrative technology strategy, and deliver maximum return on investment in technology resources.
• Provides leadership in assessing operational and technology needs, and formulating strategies and work plans to achieve integrated, efficient, and cost-effective technology solutions.
• Manages the operations of Institutional Technology, overseeing IT functions including enterprise systems, application services, administrative computing, networking, user services, telecommunications, infrastructure services, and security.
• Leads the integration, optimization, and ongoing support of the College''s Ellucian Banner ERP system, ensuring integration with existing systems while maintaining reliable system availability.
• Responsible for the management of the Telecommunications Center and the design, implementation, monitoring, support, and maintenance of high-quality network and telecommunication services for the College and its affiliates, including phone, directory and voice mail services, data and video networks, cabling, card access readers, and security cameras in use at campuses and centers.
• Develops and maintains a 5-year technology refresh plan with appropriate budgeting to ensure systems and endpoints remain current, secure, and effective while managing costs.
• Implements effective cybersecurity protocols that reduce security incidents while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and industry regulations, including, but not limited to, FERPA, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Payment Cart Industry Data Security Standards, and state cybersecurity standards.
• Works with the Provost for Academic Affairs and Workforce Education and Academic Affairs administrators to implement technology solutions that improve teaching and learning, resulting in measurable improvements in student retention, course completion, and graduation rates.
• Supports institutional research and reporting through collaboration with the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Accreditation, Research, and the Florida Department of Education.
• Collaborates in creating policies related to research data management.
• Collaborates with senior administrators to implement IT solutions that improve efficiency in Finance, Human Resources, Student Services, and the Office of the President.
• Participates in capital project planning and expansion to ensure the technology needs of the College community are anticipated and met.
• Works with key stakeholders to develop, implement, and advance an overall shared vision for campus technology.
• Oversees projects designed to streamline administrative processes using technology to improve operational efficiencies.
• Creates an environment that ensures the integrity of institutional information, including the development, oversight, and assessment of disaster recovery and backup procedures.
• Fosters a work environment that encourages a culture of high performance focused on improving operations, streamlining work operations, and providing quality customer service.
• Effectively manages operating and capital budgets.
• Manages key relationships with IT vendors and service providers. Participates in vendor contract negotiations for new computer equipment, cloud computing, and software…