Job Description

Director of Information Technology

Muskingum University invites applications for its Director of Information Technology.  This position will take a hands-on, collaborative approach to leading the University's technology operations and helping shape a practical, service-oriented technology strategy. This is a working leadership role for an experienced technology professional who can balance strategic planning with day-to-day operational oversight, guide a small IT team, partner effectively with campus stakeholders, and coordinate specialized external providers where appropriate.

Reporting to the Vice President for Finance & Operations, the Director will provide leadership across enterprise applications, infrastructure, cybersecurity, service management, vendor relationships, business continuity, and technology planning. The successful candidate will help preserve institutional knowledge, strengthen documentation and operating procedures, improve the consistency of IT support, and establish a sustainable model for serving the University's academic, administrative, residential, and digital-campus needs.

Muskingum offers a full benefits package, which includes, but is not limited to, a generous paid-time off package and immediate access to tuition remission or exchange for employees who are eligible.  More information about benefits is available at:  https://www.muskingum.edu/human-resources/benefits.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The Director of Information Technology will help strengthen the University's technology capabilities by focusing on several key priorities:

• Providing Hands-On Technology Leadership. Lead a small IT organization with a practical player-coach approach, combining sound strategic judgment with visible engagement in day-to-day operations and problem solving.
• Strengthening Service Delivery. Improve help desk operations, request prioritization, escalation practices, knowledge management, service ownership, metrics, and continuous improvement using the University's service-management platform.
• Preserving Knowledge and Operational Continuity. Build documentation, cross-training, succession coverage, and repeatable procedures so that essential services do not depend on the undocumented knowledge of a small number of individuals.
• Advancing Cybersecurity and Resilience. Guide a risk-based cybersecurity program, coordinate assessment follow-up, strengthen incident readiness, and improve business-continuity and disaster-recovery planning.
• Supporting Core Administrative and Academic Systems. Provide effective oversight for the University's enterprise applications, integrations, data, identity services, productivity tools, classroom technology, and digital-campus needs.
• Building a Sustainable Support Model. Clarify internal responsibilities, develop staff capability, and establish a right-sized approach to vendor and managed-service-provider support while retaining appropriate institutional ownership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership, Strategy, and Campus Partnership

• Develop and maintain a practical technology roadmap aligned with the University's mission, priorities, resources, and risk profile.
• Serve as a trusted technology partner to University leadership, academic and administrative departments, and campus stakeholders.
• Translate technology issues into clear business terms and provide well-reasoned recommendations for priorities, investments, and tradeoffs.
• Promote a collaborative, respectful, and service-oriented IT culture that supports both technical and nontechnical users.

IT Operations, Service Management, and Continuity

• Oversee day-to-day IT operations, including help desk services, ticket intake, prioritization, escalation, service ownership, user communication, and issue follow-through.
• Strengthen the practical use of TeamDynamix for ticketing, asset management, reporting, knowledge management, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear operating procedures, documentation standards, support coverage plans, and after-hours escalation practices.
• Guide business-continuity, backup, recovery, and disaster-recovery planning and ensure that recovery procedures are documented and periodically tested.

Enterprise Applications, Data, and Digital Campus Services

• Provide oversight for the University's enterprise application portfolio, including Ellucian Colleague, Microsoft 365, related integrations, and other administrative and academic systems.
• Work closely with functional and technical staff to support the reliability, security, documentation, and effective use of the University's ERP/SIS environment.
• Support sound practices for identity and access management, data governance, institutional reporting, application ownership, and lifecycle planning.
• Help ensure that technology services effectively support classroom instruction, online and hybrid learning, adult and graduate programs, and off-campus users.

Cybersecurity, Risk, and Compliance

• Lead a risk-based cybersecurity program appropriate to the University's size, mission, and regulatory obligations.
• Coordinate cybersecurity assessments, remediation planning, insurance requirements, policies, access controls, security awareness, and incident-response readiness.
• Work with internal staff and specialized providers to monitor risk, prioritize improvements, and maintain clear accountability for security-related activities.
• Promote practical use of recognized cybersecurity frameworks, including NIST-based assessment and improvement practices.

Infrastructure, Projects, and Vendor Management

• Provide leadership oversight for network services, servers, storage, backup, endpoints, telecommunications, classroom technology, and residential connectivity.
• Guide major technology initiatives, including infrastructure improvements, service-provider transitions, and communications-modernization efforts.
• Maintain appropriate lifecycle planning for technology assets and incorporate replacement needs into annual planning and budgeting.
• Manage technology vendors, contracts, service levels, support relationships, and escalation paths; evaluate where internal, outsourced, or co-managed support models are most appropriate.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a small IT team with clear roles, priorities, accountability, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Establish cross-training and knowledge-transfer practices that reduce single-person dependency and improve operational resilience.
• Identify staffing, skill, and support gaps and recommend practical solutions that may include internal development, hiring, process improvement, or external support.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

The Director of Information Technology will work closely with University leadership, academic and administrative departments, faculty, staff, students, IT team members, and external service providers. The Director will be expected to listen carefully, communicate clearly, establish priorities transparently, and build effective partnerships across the University. The role requires a leader who is comfortable moving between strategic conversations, operational planning, and hands-on problem solving when needed.

THE FIRST 12 MONTHS

The Director of Information Technology will be expected to establish a strong foundation for sustainable technology operations during the first year. Likely priorities include:

• Complete Knowledge Transition and Stabilization. Capture essential operating knowledge, clarify immediate coverage needs, and establish continuity for critical systems, configurations, vendor relationships, and support processes.
• Create an IT Service-Delivery Baseline. Review help desk operations, use TeamDynamix consistently, define escalation practices, and establish practical service metrics and reporting.
• Establish a Cybersecurity Improvement Roadmap. Review available assessment findings, confirm priority risks, strengthen incident readiness, and develop a realistic remediation plan.
• Clarify the IT Operating Model. Evaluate staffing, role clarity, cross-training needs, and the appropriate use of co-managed or outsourced support for selected services.
• Develop a Technology Roadmap and Lifecycle Plan. Document priorities for infrastructure, applications, classroom technology, communications, digital-campus services, asset replacement, and annual investment planning.
• Guide Active Technology Transitions. Provide leadership for current network, telecommunications, and service-provider transition activities while strengthening documentation and accountability.

The above statements reflect the general duties and responsibilities necessary to describe the major functions of the position and should not be considered a complete description of the essential functions of the position. This Job Description is not intended to be all inclusive.  The employee will be assigned by the immediate supervisor to perform other duties as needed or to perform other reasonable related duties, including special projects.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must include a cover letter describing the candidate’s experience in relation to the stated job responsibilities, a resume, and a list of 3 professional references and should be sent to careers@muskingum.edu.  Please include the position title in the subject line of your email.  This position will remain open until filled, with priority consideration given to applicants who apply by August 11, 2026.

Muskingum University actively seeks out and welcomes administrators and staff who are committed to excellence in student learning, consider the engagement of diverse viewpoints in the University’s educational programs and activities, and are committed to full inclusivity at the University.  Muskingum University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all individuals.

Muskingum University does not discriminate in its employment or educational programs or activities.  Please visit https://www.muskingum.edu/non-discrimination-statementto review the university’s official non-discrimination statement.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs