Assistant VP for Academic Information Technology

Title: Assistant VP for Academic Information Technology

Employee Classification: Asst VP Academic Info Tech

Campus: University of North Texas

Division: UNT-Information Technology

SubDivision-Department: UNT-Enrollment Operations

Department: UNT-Academic Technologies-120300

Job Location: Denton

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience

FTE: 1.000000

Retirement Eligibility: TRS Eligible

About Us - Values Overview

Department Summary

Academic Technologies champions, builds, and applies technology to help UNT advance education, creativity, and research. Benefits include:
• Flexible hours and remote work arrangements
• UNT scholarship (roughly 66% savings!) for employee and immediate family
• 36 days PTO with yearly accrual for vacation/sick
• Clear and reasonable work priorities
• Transparent leadership
• Recreational resources and activities

Position Overview

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Academic Technology provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and innovation for the university's academic technology ecosystem. Reporting to the Vice President and Chief Information Officer (or equivalent executive), the AVP leads the delivery, support, and continuous improvement of technology services that advance teaching, learning, research, and academic administration across the university.

Serving a comprehensive R1 research institution with more than 42,000 students and multiple colleges, schools, libraries, and academic support units, the AVP collaborates with academic leadership, faculty, information technology professionals, and administrative partners to develop and implement technology strategies that enhance the student and faculty experience while supporting institutional priorities.
The position provides executive leadership for academic technology support services, instructional technology, classroom technologies, learning management systems, digital learning environments, faculty technology support, academic technology infrastructure, and emerging educational technologies. The AVP promotes innovation, service excellence, operational effectiveness, cybersecurity awareness, accessibility, and technology governance while ensuring reliable and scalable services across the university.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Educational Technology, Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in information technology, academic technology, instructional technology, or educational technology within higher education or a similarly complex organization.
• Minimum of five (5) years of senior management experience leading multiple functional technology teams through subordinate managers.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing enterprise technology strategies supporting teaching, learning, and academic operations.
• Experience managing complex technology budgets, strategic planning initiatives, and large-scale technology implementations.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving academic and administrative stakeholders.
• An equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

-• Comprehensive knowledge of academic technology, instructional technology, and information technology services within a complex higher education environment.
• Knowledge of learning management systems, classroom technologies, instructional software, collaboration platforms, and emerging educational technologies.
• Knowledge of higher education governance, academic operations, accessibility standards, cybersecurity principles, data privacy, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic plans that align technology initiatives with institutional and academic priorities.
• Ability to lead large, complex organizations and manage multiple technology service functions through subordinate leaders.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and change management skills with the ability to build high-performing, customer-focused teams.
• Exceptional interpersonal, collaboration, and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with executive leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to evaluate risks, identify solutions, and drive continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise technology implementations and manage complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Skill in budget development, financial management, resource allocation, and long-range technology planning.
• Ability to establish performance metrics, assess service effectiveness, and implement operational improvements that enhance customer satisfaction.
• Knowledge of vendor management, contract negotiation, and technology procurement processes.
• Ability to evaluate and implement emerging technologies that enhance teaching, learning, research, and academic operations.
• Ability to foster a collaborative and innovative work environment while exercising sound judgment, professionalism, and ethical leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a related discipline.
• Experience within a Carnegie R1 research university.
• Experience supporting online education, hybrid learning environments, and digital learning initiatives.
• Experience leading enterprise Learning Management System implementations or major academic technology transformations.
• Relevant professional certifications (such as EDUCAUSE Institute credentials, ITIL, PMP, Prosci Change Management, or similar).

Required License/Registration/Certifications

Job Duties

• Develop and execute a comprehensive university-wide academic technology strategy aligned with institutional strategic priorities and the academic mission. 
• Provide executive leadership for academic technology operations, including instructional technology, classroom technology services, learning management systems, academic software platforms, lecture capture, collaboration technologies, and faculty technology support. 
• Direct the delivery of technology support services to faculty, students, and academic units while establishing service standards, performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives. 
• %Partner with the Provost, deans, department chairs, faculty governance, libraries, online education, and student success organizations to identify technology needs and develop strategic solutions. 
• Lead planning, implementation, and lifecycle management for enterprise academic technology platforms and instructional technologies. 
• %Oversee classroom technology planning, installation, modernization, maintenance, and support for instructional spaces across the university. 
• Champion the adoption and responsible use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, analytics, digital learning tools, and educational innovations that improve teaching and learning outcomes. - (Essential)
•  Ensure academic technology services comply with accessibility standards, cybersecurity requirements, privacy regulations, licensing agreements, and applicable federal and state laws. 
• Develop governance processes for evaluating, prioritizing, selecting, and implementing academic technology solutions across colleges and schools. 
• Establish service level expectations and customer experience standards for academic technology support, including help desk services supporting instructional technologies. 
• Lead institutional initiatives to improve digital learning environments and enhance technology-enabled instruction for both in-person and online education. 
• Develop and administer departmental budgets, technology investment plans, and long-term capital replacement strategies for academic technology infrastructure. 
• Evaluate vendor relationships, negotiate technology contracts, and oversee procurement of academic technology products and services
• Build collaborative partnerships across Information Technology, Academic Affairs, Libraries, Research, Student Affairs, and Administrative Services to ensure integrated technology solutions. 
• Direct organizational planning, workforce development, succession planning, and performance management for academic technology departments. 
• Establish key performance indicators, assess service effectiveness, analyze customer satisfaction, and implement operational improvements. 
• Lead major institutional technology implementations affecting teaching, learning, and academic operations. 
• Represent the university on institutional committees, state and national higher education technology organizations, and professional associations. 
• Prepare executive reports, presentations, strategic plans, and recommendations for senior leadership regarding academic technology initiatives and investments. 
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of university objectives. 

Physical Requirements

Communicating with others to exchange information.

Environmental Hazards

No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Work Schedule

Possibility of hybrid work schedule

Driving University Vehicle

No

Security Sensitive

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted. 

Benefits

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit –and takes actions to prevent – discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking), and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices, and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities. UNT System Administration promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. System Administration also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist, or participate in a related investigation or proceeding.