Deputy Chief Information Officer, Campus Engagement - Office of the Chief Information Officer

Deputy Chief Information Officer, Campus Engagement

Are you a strategic technology leader who thrives on collaboration, influence, and building strong partnerships across complex organizations? The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking professional to serve as Deputy Chief Information Officer for Campus Engagement.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role in shaping how technology strategy, governance, and collaboration come together to support the university's mission of learning, discovery, and engagement. As Deputy CIO, you will work closely with the CIO and campus technology leaders to strengthen the partnership between centralized and distributed IT units, ensuring the voices and priorities of campus stakeholders are reflected in institutional technology strategy.

In this highly visible role, you will help create the structures and relationships that enable a more connected, transparent, and collaborative campus technology ecosystem. You'll serve as a trusted advisor, strategic convener, and change leader-bringing together diverse perspectives to help advance major initiatives and align technology investments with the university's long-term goals.

What you'll help lead:

• Strengthening partnerships and trust between campus IT communities
• Advancing collaborative governance and shared decision-making models
• Supporting campus-wide prioritization and strategic technology planning
• Identifying opportunities for shared services, innovation, and operational excellence
• Representing the university in national higher-education technology partnerships and communities

We're looking for a leader who:

• Brings deep experience in enterprise or distributed IT environments
• Can influence outcomes across organizational boundaries
• Builds strong relationships with both technical and non-technical leaders
• Translates strategy into action and drives meaningful results
• Values transparency, collaboration, and inclusive leadership

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of technology, strategy, and relationships -someone who can connect people, ideas, and priorities to create lasting impact.

If you are passionate about advancing technology collaboration at scale and helping shape the future of IT in higher education, we encourage you to apply. Hybrid work options may be available for this position, with the ability to be on-site at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus as needed per the University's Workplace Flexibility policy . Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position .

Why Work at The Office of the CIO?

Highlights of Employee Benefits

Job Summary
The Deputy Chief Information Officer, Campus Engagement serves as a senior leader within the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), responsible for strengthening strategic alignment, communication, and collaboration between the OCIO and distributed IT units across campus. This role represents the priorities, needs, and feedback of distributed IT directors and fosters a transparent, highly collaborative technology ecosystem in support of the University's learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development missions. The Deputy CIO, Campus Engagement leads campus-wide collaboration initiatives and supports the development of formalized processes for prioritization, capital planning, and resource alignment. This position provides significant influence and indirect leadership across campus and supervises OCIO employees engaged in campus engagement and IT governance. Duties & Responsibilities

University & Campus IT Leadership

• Serve as a senior advisor to the CIO on matters related to campus IT alignment, distributed technology engagement, and shared governance.
• Represent the priorities, perspectives, and operational realities of distributed IT directors in institutional discussions, ensuring their voices inform strategic decisions.
• Provides managerial and supervisory oversight for assigned staff and teams, including responsibility for direction of work, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
• Enhance mutual communication, transparency, and trust between centralized and distributed IT functions.
• Lead the implementation and advancement of several Boldly IT Strategic Plan initiatives, establishing structures that enable shared planning, accountability, and collective impact.
• Partner with college, school, and administrative unit IT leaders to identify opportunities for service integration, shared services, standardization, and cooperative investment.
• Serve on campus committees and advisory groups to provide technology strategy guidance and ensure cross-unit alignment.
• Act as a visible and accessible leader across campus IT communities, fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and joint ownership.
• Guide and coordinate change management efforts for major IT initiatives, ensuring clear communication, stakeholder engagement, and smooth adoption of new technologies, services, structures, and processes.

Strategic Planning, Prioritization & Governance

• Support the development and formalization of campus-wide IT prioritization processes, including mechanisms for evaluating, sequencing, and aligning initiatives with institutional strategy.
• Develop and sustain governance models and engagement structures that promote shared decision-making and accountability.
• Collaborate with the CIO, Deputy CIOs, and distributed IT leadership to improve capital planning and long-term investment frameworks.
• Monitor emerging campus needs and recommend coordinated responses and shared solutions.
• Establish metrics and feedback mechanisms to evaluate collaboration effectiveness and improve continuous improvement efforts.

Relationship Management & Organizational Influence

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with academic and administrative leadership to understand evolving technology needs.
• Serve as a trusted convener across diverse IT stakeholder groups to address challenges and resolve areas of misalignment.
• Oversee IT engagement functions with key domains and interest areas (research, teaching and learning, etc)
• Promote a culture of professionalism, transparency, and partnership across campus IT functions.
• Communicate strategic direction and outcomes to technical and non-technical audiences, ensuring clarity and shared understanding.
• Cultivate and sustain strategic relationships with national higher education technology peers, professional organizations, and industry partners to advance institutional capabilities, share best practices, and inform campus technology strategy.
• Represent the University of Illinois in peer (e.g., BTAA, Common Solutions Group) and national organizations (e.g., Internet2, EDUCAUSE.)

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Experiences may be concurrent:

1. Bachelor's degree.
2. Ten (10) years of progressive professional experience in information technology, IT administration, or institutional leadership within a large, complex organization.
3. Five (5) years of senior-level leadership experience in a distributed or enterprise IT environment, including experience influencing strategy and outcomes across multiple organizational units.
4. Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives that required collaboration without direct supervisory authority.
5. Demonstrated experience developing or contributing to strategic planning, governance structures, or institutional prioritization processes.
6. Demonstrated experience facilitating communication and alignment between centralized and distributed teams, including engagement with executive leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
7. Demonstrated experience participating in budgetary, capital planning, or resource allocation discussions at an organizational or enterprise level.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Master's degree.
2. Demonstrated experience working in a higher education environment, preferably at a research-intensive institution comparable in scope and complexity.
3. Demonstrated experience leading or implementing shared governance models in a complex, distributed organization.
4. Demonstrated experience benchmarking or collaborating with peer institutions to advance IT governance, engagement, or shared services models.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated ability to lead large teams, develop strategic plans, and execute successful outcomes from both. Demonstrated ability to lead and manage change effectively and with agility. Demonstrated ability to turn strategy into action and achieve results through planning and implementation. Demonstrated ability to shape and guide the strategic direction of teams through effective communications, relationship building, and leadership. Demonstrated ability to lead with integrity and bring a strong sense of ethics into own work and the work of others. Exceptional commitment to customer service and operational excellence. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. The budgeted salary range is $200,000 to $215,000, and salary is commensurate with experience. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on April 1, 2026 . Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through will not be considered.

To complete the application process:
Step 1) Submit the Staff Vacancy Application using the "Apply Now" button at the top of the page.
Step 2) Submit the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability forms.
Step 3) Upload your cover letter, resume (months and years of employment must be included), and names/contact information for three references .

For further information about this specific position, please contact Dallas Johnson at [email protected] . For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - the state's flagship public university and one of the world's leading research institutions - every staff member helps shape what's next . Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you're empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence - where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits . This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal , or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [email protected] .

Requisition ID : 1035591

Job Category : Professional and Administrative

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