Vice President for Innovation and Technology/Chief Information Officer

The

University of the Incarnate Word

(UIW) seeks a strategic, collaborative, and creative leader to serve as the Vice President for Innovation and Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO). Reporting to the President, the CIO will be part of an institutional leadership team building a new strategic plan to fulfill UIW’s distinct mission and global focus. The VPCIO will support a well-positioned university into an exciting new era of prominence, building on its many strengths, which include its distinctive Catholic identity, a genuinely caring community, mission-driven students, faculty and staff, and strong academic programs. Serving over 10,000 students globally, UIW offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and online programs, including four health professions schools, two campuses in Mexico, and a Catholic high school. The CIO will extend the University’s use of technology to integrate its global network of campuses, support its growing online programs and enable support for its diverse student body which includes many first-generation students.UIW seeks candidates that are inspired by its mission and eager to embody and support its

principles

of inclusivity, hospitality and accompaniment. They must be consultative and inclusive leaders adroit at coalition building and change management. The CIO will provide the technology strategies and services that will enable UIW’s operational foundations to catch up with its growth and requirements of an integrated, multi-campus university. Candidates will find a unique opportunity to impact students’ lives, manage the complexity of diverse programs, support global campuses and online programs, and serve a compelling mission.The VPCIO Agenda

The CIO is the principal member of the University’s executive leadership team responsible for devising the University’s technology strategy in support of the University’s

Strategic Plan 2031

, which is expected to be approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2025. In addition to being a member of the President’s Advisory Council, the CIO works in consultation with diverse stakeholders including the Faculty Senate, Academic Deans, and International Affairs. The VP regularly reports on risks and strategies to the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees. The CIO will build from a position of strength and stability. The CIO will lead a capable IT staff that has experienced relatively low levels of turnover and maintains a positive and collaborative culture. UIW has made recent investments to move its core ERP (Banner) to a managed environment in the cloud, implemented Canvas for learning management, and upgraded multiple core technologies.Building on this foundation, the CIO’s priorities include:Effectively using technology to enhance the student experience, promote digital equity, and remove barriers to students’ pursuit of their educational goals by improving processes and providing expanded online services.Championing and supporting ethical uses of AI to further teaching, scholarship, and operational effectiveness.Enhancing academic technology to support the needs of diverse academic programs including the distinct needs of the Health Professions Schools.Modernizing administrative processes and improving constituent experiences by fully leveraging the capabilities of existing applications, improving business processes, and improving integration among applications.Creating clear structure and processes that will enable shared decision-making with university stakeholders through a commitment to transparency, communications, and consultation.Strengthening the structures, competencies, and processes within the IT organization to enable it to partner with end users and provide excellent service, manage its project portfolio, and adapt to continued technology change.Continuing the upgrade and maintenance of a robust IT infrastructure that supports educational excellence and provides a consistent experience for all UIW campuses.Enhancing the data analytics and reporting strategy including alignment of data governance, data architecture, and applications.Maintaining, testing and improving information security and business continuity strategies that effectively balance the need to protect against risks and the needs of an innovative institution.About IT

The CIO oversees the

Innovation and Technology

division’s 40 full-time staff and 12 student workers in critical areas including Enterprise Applications, Digital Transformation, Infrastructure, Operations and Cybersecurity, and Institutional Research, while also maintaining matrixed collaborative relationships with 12 additional staff in the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology, and Mexico Campus IT support teams.The new CIO will lead an organization that strives to be collaborative, responsive and innovative. IT has extended its capabilities through its adoption of cloud solutions, its decision to move the Banner suite into an applications management agreement and a partnership with Texas A&M for security operations and monitoring services. It leveraged the experience of the pandemic to strengthen the academic software and classroom technology that enable its online and in-person programs and to acquire technologies that are enabling additional online services.Professional Experiences and Personal Qualities

The successful candidate will be curious and approachable; have excellent leadership, management, collaboration, and communication skills; be a systems thinker; serve others with integrity and a welcoming spirit; and always operate with the common good in mind.Required skills and qualifications include:Bachelor’s degree.Ten or more years of experience in technology leadership roles.Preferred QualificationsPrevious experience in a senior technology leadership role within a higher education institution.Familiarity with current trends and challenges in higher education and the supporting role of technology.Experience working in an organization with international locations and multi-lingual constituents.Experience implementing and managing emerging artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies in an educational setting.Experience with privacy and security compliance requirements, threats and associated implementation frameworks.Adept at balancing the needs of diverse constituents and collaborating with key stakeholders to establish and communicate clear priorities.Awareness of key issues and trends in broad areas of technology including infrastructure, cloud services, data management, and digital engagement.Financial acumen and experience developing and managing operating and capital budgets.Applications, Inquiries and Nominations

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until a successful candidate is identified. For fullest consideration, please submit materials by

November 7 th

. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and referrals should be directed to Phil Goldstein, Managing Partner, Next Generation Leadership Partners at phil@nextgenpartnersllc.com. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume via this

link .

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