Job Description

Associate Vice-President & Chief Information Officer
Permanent, full-time position
Guelph, ON

Are you a strategic and visionary IT leader passionate about shaping the digital future of a leading research-intensive university? Do you thrive at the intersection of technology, education, and innovation?

The University of Guelph is seeking an Associate Vice-President & Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead its central IT strategy and services. Reporting to the Vice-President (Finance and Operations), this pivotal role will drive digital transformation, strengthen IT governance, and steward institutional resources in support of academic and operational excellence.

As a senior leader, you will oversee the University’s central IT unit — Computing and Communications Services (CCS) while building strong partnerships with distributed campus IT teams. You will guide the development and execution of the University’s IT Strategy, champion institution-wide initiatives in cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, and infrastructure modernization, and ensure innovative, secure, and sustainable technology solutions are in place.

This is a unique leadership opportunity for someone who values inclusive service delivery, cultivates high-performing teams, and understands the complexity of a large, research-intensive environment. Whether setting institutional IT direction, mentoring leaders, or building strategic partnerships, your work will play a critical role in advancing the University of Guelph’s mission of teaching, research, and community impact.

If you are driven by purpose, energized by collaboration, and ready to lead with vision, we invite you to apply.

Your key responsibilities will include:

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 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.   

The University of Guelph (www.uoguelph.ca) is one of Canada’s leading research-intensive comprehensive institutions, with a record of outstanding scholarship in the arts, humanities, social sciences, life sciences, physical and engineering sciences, agriculture, and veterinary sciences. This is your chance to join us in our endeavor to improve life.  

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.

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.  

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