Department: Office of the CIO

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Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

General Purpose

The CIO is an institution-wide leader, advocate, and steward of the University's educational, research, outreach, and administrative initiatives through leadership of the institution's central and shared IT units and by leading IT-related initiatives.

Reporting directly to the Vice President (Finance and Operations) (VPFO) and working closely with members of the University’s Leadership Team, the CIO establishes clear IT priorities and related metrics in alignment with the institutional and academic objectives of the University.

As a member of the University Leadership Team, the VPFO’s Leadership Team, and the IT Governance Committee, the CIO serves as a catalyst and leader for fostering a campus-wide IT community committed to working collectively through the delivery, support, and maintenance of academic, administrative, and general campus IT services.

The University of Guelph's IT Strategy (https://www.uoguelph.ca/cio/it-strategy-summary) provides the roadmap for IT services at the institution; a key priority for the incoming CIO will be the development of our future IT Strategy which will algin to our overall strategic plan and charts the course for our institution’s IT and digital future.

The CIO provides leadership to Computing and Communications Services (CCS), which is the University's central IT unit, and shares responsibility for various IT units distributed across campus through co-reporting relationships with other Vice-Presidents, Deans, and Associate Vice-Presidents. A key component of maintaining these relationships is through participation in various IT governance groups.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Understands the University's goals for the purpose of articulating a shared IT vision that is realized through strategy, insight, planning, and resource allocation.

• Develops and implements an innovative, transformative, and financially sustainable IT strategy aligned with the University's overall strategic plan and mission.

Operational Management

• Uses technology to optimize operations while developing deeper capabilities with a focus on service excellence. Provides strategic direction and oversight for the design, development, operation, and support of IT capabilities including enterprise architecture, application management, security and risk management, and infrastructure and operations support.

• Directs the development of IT sourcing strategy that provides oversight for vendor relationship management, and that leverages shared services, cloud computing, emerging low-cost systems, and managed services to transform administration.

• Develops and controls annual operating and capital expenditure budget for CCSto ensure it is consistent with overall strategic objectives of the enterprise and is within plan.

• Effectively plans, forecasts, monitors, and manages the CCS budget and ensures value for money and the flawless implementation of approved development projects.

People Management

• Builds and maintains credibility and enables institutional collaboration as a trusted advisor through consistent and effective communications, support of necessary strategic investments, and implementation of changing priorities.

• Fosters an IT culture which will ensure the University's IT services are contemporary, innovative, flexible, and responsive to users, and that they reflect recognized best practices within the professional discipline and the post-secondary sector.

• Provides leadership, coaching, and direction to the IT leadership team and staff, maintaining professional standards and the effective management of IT-related risks across the University.

Innovation and Security

• Maintains currency on emerging technologies and provides direction on opportunities to introduce them in addressing the institution's digital future.

• Has responsibility for the information security and IT risk management program to ensure that the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information is owned, controlled or processed by the organization. Ensures compliance with privacy legislation and policy, records management, and privacy and security and control

• Acts as a thought leader in how the institution can exploit emerging technologies, especially in proposing and prioritizing how the business of the University can function differently, not just how to implement new systems.

• Ensures that the University has effective and robust IT compliance, security, and associated business continuity arrangements.

Stakeholder Management

• Builds and fosters relationships with other leaders to develop a clear understanding of institutional needs; focuses on delivery of cost-effective IT services and innovative solutions to meet those needs while remaining agile in order to respond to changing priorities.

• Works closely with relevant Board committees providing updates and advice.

• Builds and strengthens partnerships with the external community, including leaders in industry, in technology, and in other universities.

Requirements

• A Master's degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Several years of progressive experience in IT leadership roles, preferably in a post-secondary institution or an organization of similar complexity, and a track record in the implementation of large digital infrastructure projects.

• An enterprise systems mindset and a track record of identifying and removing barriers to efficiency and responsiveness.

• Strong knowledge of information security and risk management best practices.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and a deep focus on, and commitment to, excellence in customer service.

• Evidence of significant strategic leadership and operational management of Information Services in a dynamic and complex environment.

• Demonstrated understanding of trends in information technology advancements and their application to the core business of the University in addressing relevant issues such as infrastructure, academic data, and security.

• A track record of strategic planning experience, encompassing conceptual and analytical skills, the ability to set direction and use sound judgement to make critical decisions that are aligned with the overall strategic direction of the University.

• Past leadership of initiatives to steer institutional performance including the development and implementation of technology-related organizational initiatives.

• Experience presenting to and supporting Board committees; possesses knowledge of governance structures.

• Strong relationship building skills to work co- operatively in partnership with a variety of individuals and groups at all levels within the University and externally in industry and in the broader community.

• Effective negotiation skills.

• Drive, commitment, and passion for the mission of the University and its values.

For further information about the University of Guelph and the Associate Vice-President and Chief Information Officer position please email vpfo@uoguelph.ca notifying our team of your interest in this opportunity. We would be happy to share a copy of our candidate brief with you for further consideration.

Employee Type: Regular
Position Number: 10062017

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 08/25/2025
Closing Date: 09/25/2025