Reporting to the Central Michigan Universitys (CMU) Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO), the Deputy Chief Information Officer (Deputy CIO) plays a critical role in the strategy, leadership and management of the Office of Information Technology (OIT). The Deputy CIO assists the CIO in overseeing OITs technology strategy, initiatives, systems, and operations to ensure a strategic, consistent and transparent approach to the use of Information Technology (IT) across CMU. The Deputy CIO assists the CIO in managing business operations to improve cost effectiveness, service quality and IT operational efficiency while also driving innovation and digital transformation. This position provides strategic leadership and guidance at the University executive level in critical areas of business-aligned IT having institution-wide impact. This role analyzes university strategic priorities and imperatives and develops the IT plans required to achieve these business goals. The Deputy CIO supports the creation, prioritization and monitoring of the portfolio of IT initiatives across the institution to build and deliver the needed solutions which drive change and provide value. The Deputy CIO is responsible for leading and managing the Office of the CIO (OCIO) team and developing/directing the following OIT organizational-wide capabilities: IT Strategy & Governance, Project & Portfolio Management, Financial Stewardship, Performance Management, IT Organizational Change Management, Strategic Supplier Management, Workforce Management, IT Marketing & Communications, Continuous Improvement and Culture Management. Acts on behalf of the CIO as assigned by or in the absence of the CIO, as the principal IT officer on executive decisions and executive level committees.

Bachelors degree, preferably in business administration or technology-related field.
Five years experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Two years supervisory and leadership experience.
Experience in budget planning, financial management and workforce management.
Demonstrated competence in building relationships, credibility and alliances with senior-level leadership and key stakeholders across organizational boundaries.
Broad knowledge of current and emerging technologies, technology directions, and strategic application to business needs, including the ability to differentiate between a relevant trend and hype.
Proven ability to improve an organizations operational efficiency and service delivery.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present and explain technology solutions in business terms, establish rapport and influence/persuade others.
Demonstrated business enterprise knowledge with proven track record of procuring support, funding, and leading enterprise-wide initiatives.
Demonstrated strategic thinking/problem-solving and ability to investigate, analyze, document and recommend courses of action aligned to business strategies.
Experience establishing and leading IT governance structures.
Excellent leadership, coaching and interpersonal skills.
Experience in vendor management and contract negotiation.
Poise and ability to act calmly and competently in high-pressure, high-stress situations.
High level of personal integrity, as well as the ability to professionally handle confidential matters, and demonstrate an appropriate level of judgement and maturity.
High degree of initiative, dependability, and ability to work with little supervision or direction.
Demonstrated success in managing people, processes and projects under strict timelines, as well as the ability to work well in a demanding and dynamic environment while meeting overall objectives.
Knowledge and experience with change management methodologies and facilitating organizational/transformational changes.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Advanced degree in business, computer science, engineering, information systems or a related field.
Experience working in a higher education environment with demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the current and developing strategic business and information technology requirements of a research university.
Experience in a significant leadership role.
Ability to collaborate broadly across all levels of an organization and achieve results with cross-functional teams or projects.
Project management expertise, including familiarity with project management methodologies.
Demonstrated competence in building relationships, credibility and alliances with cabinet-level leadership.
Demonstrated high degree of conceptual and strategic thinking capability in developing impactful business strategies.
Relevant certifications (e.g., ITIL, PMI, ISACA, etc.)

Assists with the creation of a shared information technology vision that aligns with the Universitys mission and vision and contributes to business success.
Assists the CIO in partnering with university leadership to develop, communicate, execute, and sustain the necessary IT initiatives that will enable the achievement of the University strategic priorities and objectives.
Collaborates and partners across OIT to facilitate IT Strategic Plan and Technology Plan creation, aligned to the University Strategic Plan, which ensures students, faculty and staff have access to modern technologies utilized in their fields of study and work.
Leads the formulation of innovative technology roadmaps, ensuring alignment with business needs and emerging technology trends.
Translates OIT Strategies and Technology Plans into actionable and quantitative projects.
Directly supervises the Office of the CIO (OCIO) team providing leadership and guidance to ensure development and operation of defined OIT organizational-wide capabilities.
Represents OIT by participating in university-wide cross-functional initiatives, University Senior Leadership Team, special committees and other working groups as assigned.
Works with university partners to identify, define, and implement significant process improvement and digitalization initiatives.
Develops trusting relationships, goodwill, and collegial/consultative partnerships with university leadership to influence strategic outcomes.
Fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, integrity, transparency, continuous improvement and operational excellence that promotes an exceptional experience for students, faculty and staff.
Provides transparency to the total portfolio of investment in IT and facilitate key decision makers to prioritize demand based on strategic objectives, risks, dependencies, and potential constraints in the supply of IT.
Assists in budget planning and management for OIT that provides transparency to IT costs while ensuring a proper mix of spend on run, grow, and transform initiatives. Assists in developing a sustainable funding model and governance for OIT which measures the benefits of IT investments and identifies cost savings opportunities.
Defines, maintains, and reports on metrics that track the progress of OIT achievements against objectives, including the contribution of OIT to University business results.
Develops workforce strategies for OIT that assists in managing the talent pipeline, provides career progression frameworks, and ensures that staffing levels are aligned to achieve business and IT strategies.
Challenges current and standard ways of thinking and doing business with new ideas, approaches and solutions.
Other duties as assigned.

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others in our teams. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve leadership abilities and demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMUs culture of excellence.

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, masters, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 mens and womens Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. Its part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the states largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions - Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more - are within easy reach of the citys central location in Michigans Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering a broadly diverse and inclusive campus that respects all social identities, experiences, and perspectives. In an effort to further this initiative, we are especially interested in candidates who will advance and promote an inclusive and supportive environment for every member of our university community.


You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials on or before April 23rd, 2025.