Assistant Vice President for Strategy and Engagement

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Strategy and Engagement is a visionary and collaborative leader within the Creighton Information Technology (IT) organization. This role is responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive IT strategy that aligns with the university's mission, values, and long-term strategic plan. The AVP serves as a key architect of institutional transformation, driving strategic roadmapping, fostering inclusive campus partnerships, and ensuring that technology initiatives are responsive to the evolving needs of students, faculty, staff, and the broader university community.

As a senior member of the Creighton IT leadership team, the AVP leads efforts to integrate IT strategy with university-wide planning, ensuring that technology investments and innovations support academic excellence, research advancement, operational efficiency, and student success. The AVP champions stakeholder engagement, working closely with executive leadership, governance bodies, and key campus partners to promote transparency, shared decision-making, and alignment with institutional priorities.

In addition to strategic leadership, the AVP plays a critical role in organizational development, cultivating a high-performing, mission-driven ITS workforce. This includes mentoring staff, advancing professional development, and fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement. The AVP also leads the development of governance frameworks and operational processes that enhance service delivery, promote agility, and ensure measurable outcomes.

This role requires a dynamic leader who can translate vision into action, build trust across diverse constituencies, and position Creighton IT as a strategic enabler of the university's future.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Planning and Roadmapping

* Lead the development and execution of Creighton IT's strategic plans and multi-year roadmaps that align with university-wide strategic goals.

* Collaborate with university leadership to ensure IT strategy supports academic, research, student success, and administrative priorities.

* Monitor trends in higher education and technology to inform strategic direction and innovation.

Campus Partnerships and Engagement

* Build and sustain strong relationships with academic units, administrative departments, student organizations, and external partners.

* Facilitate engagement with key partners to ensure IT initiatives are responsive to campus needs and aligned with institutional mission.

* Serve as a strategic liaison between Creighton IT and university governance bodies, advisory committees, and planning groups.

Governance and Process Development

* Lead the design and implementation of IT governance structures that promote transparency, shared decision-making, and strategic alignment.

* Develop and refine processes that support effective prioritization, resource allocation, and performance measurement.

* Ensure continuous improvement through feedback loops, service assessments, and stakeholder input.

Organizational Development and Accountability

* Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within ITS.

* Lead initiatives to develop staff capabilities in strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, and change management.

* Establish clear performance metrics and accountability frameworks for strategic initiatives.

Executive Engagement and Communication

* Represent Creighton IT in executive-level discussions, institutional planning efforts, and cross-functional initiatives.

* Provide strategic counsel to university leadership on technology trends, risks, and opportunities.

* Oversee internal and external communications to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with institutional priorities.

Qualifications:

* Bachelor's degree in information technology, business administration, organizational leadership, or a related field.

* Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in IT strategy, planning, or stakeholder engagement, preferably in higher education.

* Proven ability to lead strategic planning, build partnerships, and drive organizational change.

* Strong communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups.

Preferred:

* Master's degree in a relevant field.

* Experience with IT governance, strategic roadmapping, and institutional planning.

* Familiarity with higher education culture, mission-driven organizations, and shared governance environments.

* Demonstrated success in employee development, process improvement, and executive-level engagement.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

* Deep understanding of strategic planning methodologies, including roadmap development and alignment with institutional goals.

* Knowledge of higher education environments, including academic, research, and administrative operations.

* Familiarity with university governance structures and shared decision-making processes.

* Understanding of enterprise IT functions, emerging technologies, and digital transformation trends in higher education.

* Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.

* Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills to foster trust and collaboration across campus units.

* Skilled in executive-level engagement, including presenting complex ideas to senior leadership and facilitating strategic discussions.

* Ability to serve as a connector between ITS and university leadership, translating institutional priorities into actionable IT strategies.

* Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor messaging for technical and non-technical audiences.

* Experience designing and leading stakeholder engagement strategies, listening sessions, and feedback mechanisms.

* Ability to facilitate workshops, governance meetings, and strategic planning sessions with clarity and purpose.

* Experience designing and implementing IT governance frameworks that promote transparency, accountability, and strategic alignment.

* Strong process improvement skills, including the ability to assess current practices and implement scalable, efficient solutions.

* Knowledge of performance measurement, service management, and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., ITIL, Lean, Six Sigma).

* Demonstrated commitment to staff development, mentoring, and succession planning.

* Ability to foster a culture of innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning within a complex organization.

* Experience leading organizational change initiatives and building resilient, adaptive teams.

* Strong analytical skills to assess institutional needs, evaluate technology trends, and guide data-informed decision-making.

* Ability to develop and manage strategic roadmaps, project portfolios, and resource plans.

* Skilled in identifying risks, dependencies, and opportunities across strategic initiatives.

Preferred Technical and Professional Skills

* Familiarity with strategic planning tools, project management platforms, and collaboration technologies.

* Experience with enterprise systems (e.g., ERP, CRM, LMS) and their role in supporting institutional strategy.

* Knowledge of data governance, digital accessibility, and cybersecurity principles as they relate to strategic planning.