Chief Technology Officer

Basic Functions

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) reports directly to the Superintendent/President, and provides strategic and practical leadership for planning, developing, implementing and maintaining a district-wide infrastructure of information services and technology applications to support academic, student services and business operations in alignment with the District's Mission and Vision. Provides leadership, institution-wide strategic planning, and assessments to monitor and ensure
effective enterprise information systems and services. Works collaboratively with the District's constituent groups in setting priorities for the deployment of information technology to carry out the instructional and administrative goals and objectives of the District, ensuring that technology serves as a powerful tool to advance learning, research, and administrative excellence, while also safeguarding the institution's digital assets and fostering a culture of innovation.

Representative Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Develop, implement, and maintain the District's Technology Plan that aligns with and directly supports the institution's academic and administrative objectives, working collaboratively with campus constituency groups and instructional technology proponents.

Align services in support of master planning, Board of Trustee goals, and the President’s objectives; regularly evaluate and adjust services to achieve operational goals and objectives.

Provide counsel to the President, Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, and students regarding current and potential District technology capabilities and needs, and provide strategic direction for technology usage and support.

Conduct assessments, interacting with internal and external customers to define needs, evaluate operations, and enact improvements and enhancements.

Communicate IT initiatives clearly to stakeholders at all levels, translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences; keep the campus community informed about the makeup of IT services, their reliability, and current status.

Address and overcome resistance to change by effectively communicating the value of technology, providing support, and creating a culture of collaboration.

Develop, maintain, and evaluate policies, procedures, and standards to ensure secure, compliant, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of technology services.

Establish effective IT governance processes to ensure that IT initiatives support institutional goals and that projects are prioritized based on their alignment with strategic objectives.

Provide direction and oversight for the planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of IT infrastructure, including data centers, networks, servers, cloud services, telecommunications, and enterprise solutions.

Oversee the management, selection, development, implementation, integration, and modernization of enterprise information systems including student information systems, learning management systems, ERP and financial systems, CRM systems, and other platforms.

Oversee budgetary planning and management for IT operating and capital budgets, ensuring productive use of resources and cost-effective investments, measuring Return on Investment on technology initiatives and reporting outcomes to stakeholders.

Manage relationships with technology vendors and partners, including evaluating proposals and technologies, negotiating and reviewing contracts, and ensuring integration of third-party solutions; advise and assist with procurement of IT hardware, software, and services.

Build, motivate, lead, and evaluate cross-functional IT teams, including infrastructure, applications, and support services, promoting communication, establishing shared goals, and implementing collaborative technologies.

Direct and oversee IT workforce planning and performance management; establish standards and review staff performance; develop IT staff by coordinating staff training and development opportunities to maintain and upgrade technical skills.

Foster a collaborative IT culture that partners with all stakeholders, providing exceptional support and service to all users.

Ensures the delivery of quality technology and support through effective needs assessment; interacts with internal and external customers to define needs, evaluate operations and enact improvements and enhancements.

Lead institution-wide cybersecurity efforts, ensuring confidentiality, security, and integrity of all electronic information and implementing robust cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks like data breaches.

Ensure compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, GLBA, PCI, and other regulatory requirements.

Oversee development and maintenance of business continuity and disaster recovery plans.

Establish data governance frameworks to ensure data integrity, accessibility, and privacy.

Promote use of analytics and business intelligence tools to support student success, institutional effectiveness, and strategic decision-making; work with Institutional Research and Planning to ensure that mandated IT-related records and reports to external oversight agencies are prepared and/or transmitted accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner.

Explore emerging technologies, assess their potential impact, and identify how to leverage them to drive innovation and growth in learning, research, and administrative functions.

Support teaching and learning technologies, including classroom tech, online learning platforms, and instructional design; lead technological initiatives to modernize learning environments.

Chair the District Technology committee; attend and conduct a variety of meetings; attend and participate in various technology committees, conferences, seminars and in-services.

OTHER DUTIES:
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Knowledge and Abilities

KNOWLEDGE OF:
Strategic vision setting, technology planning, roadmap development, and aligning IT strategy with institutional goals and priorities.
IT governance processes, best practices, policies and procedures.
Current and emerging technologies, including cloud computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Enterprise architecture, including hardware, software, networks, security, and telecom.
Vendor management and contract negotiation related to technology products and services.
Compliance and data privacy regulations and cybersecurity best practices (e.g., FERPA, GLBA).
Relevant industry standards and regulatory frameworks (e.g., 508 accessibility, PCI).
Risk management and business continuity planning for technology.
Budgeting and financial management of IT resources.
Software development methodologies (e.g., Agile, DevOps).
Data management and governance.

ABILITY TO:
Coordinate and direct resources, personnel, communications, programs, fiscal functions and projects to meet institution technology needs and assure smooth and efficient division activities.
Plan, prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, including large scale IT projects of a complex nature, synthesizing competing and conflicting needs and priorities into cohesive plans.
Assure adequate resources and personnel to meet College computer system and technology needs.
Analyze new technology initiatives to determine costs and benefits of implementation.
Supervise, manage, and evaluate the performance of a wide variety of functions and staff.
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
Work independently with little direction.
Plan and organize work.
Prepare comprehensive narrative and statistical reports.
Direct the maintenance of a variety of reports, records and files related to assigned activities.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Operate a computer and assigned office equipment.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

• The District offers a cafeteria style plan in which employees are given a district allowance and may choose from a number of medical and dental plans. Life and income protection insurances are also available.
• Vacation days (based on assigned hours) are earned and accumulated on a monthly basis.
• Sick leave is earned at the rate of one day (based on the number of assigned hours) per month, and is accumulative from year to year.
• Credit Union: The Santa Barbara Teachers Federal Credit Union offers a variety of services.
• Retirement: Employees, who work 20 or more hours per week, are covered by the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Social Security, and Medicare.
• Coastal Housing Partnership: home buying educational seminars, mortgage refinance benefits, and rental assistance programs available to full-time staff and faculty.
• Employee Assistance Program: provides confidential counseling and referral services for job-related or personal problems to employees, dependents and household members.

• Degree differential for employees who have degrees above required minimum qualifications (upon receipt of official transcripts).
• Bilingual differential (English/Spanish)
• Holidays: 17 holidays per year.