University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
Senior Director Student Information and Systems Design, Information Technology [
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas, Nevada, us, 89105
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas invites applications for **Senior Director Student Information and Systems Design,** **Information** **Technology [R0149151].**This position requires an earned **Bachelor's Degree** from an accredited college or university as recognized by the United States Department of Education and/or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a related field **and** a minimum of **eight years** of progressively responsible experience in managing or supporting enterprise information systems, with **at least five years** specifically in a student information system environment (PeopleSoft Campus Solutions preferred). This experience should include demonstrated success in leading projects or teams for system implementation, upgrade, or enhancement. Candidates should have substantial exposure to the functional operations of key student services (e.g., admissions, registration, financial aid) as well as familiarity with the technical underpinnings of an ERP system.* Master’s degree in a relevant field (such as an MBA, M.Sc. in Computer Science, M.Sc. in Information Systems, or M.S./M.Ed./Ph.D. in Higher Education) is highly desirable, as it indicates advanced expertise in organizational leadership and technology management.* Over 10 years of experience in higher education information technology, including leadership roles that oversaw both functional and technical aspects of an SIS.* Experience at an institution similar in size and complexity to UNLV (R1 research university with a diverse student population) is a plus. Direct experience with Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions 9.2 (student administration modules) and Student Financial Planning or other cloud-based ERP student information system solutions is strongly preferred.* Experience leading a major upgrade or module implementation in PeopleSoft Campus Solutions or Oracle Student Financial Planning would be considered ideal.* Experience with ancillary systems (CRM systems for recruitment like Salesforce, learning management systems, data warehouses, etc.) and their integration with a SIS is beneficial.* Higher Education: Comprehensive knowledge of higher education student administration processes and the lifecycle of student data, from recruitment and admissions through enrollment, retention, and graduation. This includes understanding how offices like Admissions, Registrar, Financial Aid, and Advising operate, and how those functions are interrelated within a university setting.* Peoplesoft Campus Solutions: Deep expertise and knowledge of Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions modules and functionality. Familiarity with the data structures, capabilities, and configuration options of PeopleSoft in areas such as Campus Community, Student Records (Registration), Academic Advisement, Student Financials, Financial Aid (including the cloud-based Student Financial Planning product), and Admissions is expected. The candidate should understand how these modules interact and the basics of PeopleSoft development tools (e.g. PeopleTools, PSQuery, etc.), enough to effectively guide technical staff and communicate with Oracle support.* Enterprise architecture and integrations: Advanced knowledge of enterprise IT architectures and integration principles. The Senior Director should understand how large systems interface (APIs, web services, integration middleware) and be aware of best practices for integrating an SIS with other enterprise solutions (for example, identity management systems for single sign-on, or data warehouses for analytics).* Data governance and security: Strong understanding of data governance and security practices related to student information. This includes knowledge of data privacy laws and regulations (FERPA, GDPR if applicable to any international data, etc.), records retention requirements, and general principles for ensuring data integrity and security in an ERP environment.* Reporting and analytics: Expertise with reporting and analytics tools in a higher ed context. This may involve knowledge of SQL, reporting query tools (PeopleSoft Query, SQL Developer, etc.), business intelligence platforms, and how to interpret and use data for decision support. Also, understanding survey and compliance reporting (common higher ed surveys, IPEDS) is beneficial, as it relates to how the SIS data is used.* Sector awareness:
Awareness of current trends and best practices in higher education IT. For example, understanding the movement toward cloud-based solutions, mobile-first student services, student success and retention technologies, and how legacy systems like PeopleSoft are evolving (Oracle’s updates, use of fluid interface, etc.). Knowledge of peer institutions’ approaches to managing student systems (perhaps through involvement in professional networks) is valuable for benchmarking and continuous improvement.* Leadership and Management Skills: Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire, direct, and influence a team of IT and functional professionals. This includes strong skills in team building, conflict resolution, and the ability to delegate effectively while maintaining accountability. The Senior Director must be adept at coaching and developing talent, as well as structuring the team for optimal performance.* Strategic Planning and Organizational Skills: Strong skills in strategic thinking and planning; the ability to set a vision for the student information systems and break it down into actionable plans. Must be highly organized, capable of managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously (from day-to-day operational support to long-term initiatives). Proficiency in project management practices is important, including developing timelines, managing risks, and ensuring stakeholder communication.* Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Excellent analytical skills to tackle complex problems that span technical and functional domains. The Senior Director should be able to quickly diagnose issues and formulate effective solutions. Creative problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset are key, seeking not just to fix issues but to enhance system utility.* Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal. The ability to communicate complex technical information in accessible terms to non-technical stakeholders (like explaining system limitations or needs to a Vice Provost or front-line staff) is crucial. Equally important is the skill to listen to and understand the needs of various user groups. Strong presentation skills are beneficial for leading training, demos, or presenting proposals to governance committees. Interpersonal skills must include the ability to build relationships and trust across hierarchical lines, from executive leadership to staff and faculty end-users, as well as across functional/technical divides.* Technical Proficiency: While this is a leadership role, a solid technical acumen is necessary. Proficiency with standard office and collaboration software is assumed (MS Office suite, project management tools, etc.), but more importantly, a degree of proficiency with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions is expected; for instance, being able to navigate the system, run queries, understand configuration setups, and perhaps use reporting tools. Experience with SQL, or understanding how to read and interpret technical documentation, is also a valuable skill for communicating with developers.* Negotiation and Vendor Management: Skilled in negotiating priorities and managing vendor relationships. This includes being able to work with Oracle or other vendors to resolve issues and advocating for UNLV’s needs. Internally, it involves negotiating with stakeholders on project scopes, timelines, and resource allocation when demands exceed capacity, finding win-win solutions #J-18808-Ljbffr
Awareness of current trends and best practices in higher education IT. For example, understanding the movement toward cloud-based solutions, mobile-first student services, student success and retention technologies, and how legacy systems like PeopleSoft are evolving (Oracle’s updates, use of fluid interface, etc.). Knowledge of peer institutions’ approaches to managing student systems (perhaps through involvement in professional networks) is valuable for benchmarking and continuous improvement.* Leadership and Management Skills: Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire, direct, and influence a team of IT and functional professionals. This includes strong skills in team building, conflict resolution, and the ability to delegate effectively while maintaining accountability. The Senior Director must be adept at coaching and developing talent, as well as structuring the team for optimal performance.* Strategic Planning and Organizational Skills: Strong skills in strategic thinking and planning; the ability to set a vision for the student information systems and break it down into actionable plans. Must be highly organized, capable of managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously (from day-to-day operational support to long-term initiatives). Proficiency in project management practices is important, including developing timelines, managing risks, and ensuring stakeholder communication.* Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Excellent analytical skills to tackle complex problems that span technical and functional domains. The Senior Director should be able to quickly diagnose issues and formulate effective solutions. Creative problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset are key, seeking not just to fix issues but to enhance system utility.* Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal. The ability to communicate complex technical information in accessible terms to non-technical stakeholders (like explaining system limitations or needs to a Vice Provost or front-line staff) is crucial. Equally important is the skill to listen to and understand the needs of various user groups. Strong presentation skills are beneficial for leading training, demos, or presenting proposals to governance committees. Interpersonal skills must include the ability to build relationships and trust across hierarchical lines, from executive leadership to staff and faculty end-users, as well as across functional/technical divides.* Technical Proficiency: While this is a leadership role, a solid technical acumen is necessary. Proficiency with standard office and collaboration software is assumed (MS Office suite, project management tools, etc.), but more importantly, a degree of proficiency with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions is expected; for instance, being able to navigate the system, run queries, understand configuration setups, and perhaps use reporting tools. Experience with SQL, or understanding how to read and interpret technical documentation, is also a valuable skill for communicating with developers.* Negotiation and Vendor Management: Skilled in negotiating priorities and managing vendor relationships. This includes being able to work with Oracle or other vendors to resolve issues and advocating for UNLV’s needs. Internally, it involves negotiating with stakeholders on project scopes, timelines, and resource allocation when demands exceed capacity, finding win-win solutions #J-18808-Ljbffr