Director of Information Systems

Job DetailsJob Location: Pineland Campus - New Gloucester, ME 04260Education Level: 4 Year Degree At Unity Environmental University, we value different perspectives, champion innovation, and create an environment where both employees and learners can excel. We are committed to fostering a workplace where talent and dedication drive success.   JOB OVERVIEW The Director of Information Systems is a senior, hands-on technology leader responsible for supporting the effective, secure, reliable, and strategic operation of the University’s information technology environment. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the Director provides leadership and technical expertise across information systems, infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, technical support, and technology initiatives. The Director serves as a key operational and strategic partner to the CIO, translating institutional priorities into technology solutions and ensuring assigned initiatives are effectively planned, implemented, documented, and sustained. The position works across Information Technology functions and with leaders throughout the University to identify technology needs, resolve complex issues, improve systems and processes, manage technology risk, and advance the effective use of institutional technology. This role is funded through Research and Development in order to create institutional bandwidth. It begins with a structured learning period of a minimum of three to six months in which the incumbent shadows and learns from the CIO. Specific tasks and projects are assigned during that period. Following the learning period, the incumbent is assigned a portfolio, either at the Enterprise level or dedicated to a subsidiary or SEBU, based on institutional need. Any portfolio assigned remains within the scope of this role. The portfolio assignment and any reports are determined by the institution and are not fixed at the time of hire. POSITION SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS Partner with the CIO in the development and execution of technology priorities, operational plans, system strategies, and Information Technology initiatives aligned with University needs.  Serve as a senior technical and operational resource for complex technology issues requiring cross-functional analysis, coordination, or resolution. Evaluate technology needs, risks, dependencies, and opportunities and provide recommendations to the CIO and other University leaders. Lead assigned technology projects and operational initiatives from planning through implementation, stabilization, documentation, and evaluation. Coordinate work across technical support, infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, vendors, consultants, and University departments as required. Lead assigned institutional initiatives and projects, including work that may extend beyond the position’s primary portfolio as organizational needs evolve. Monitor the performance, reliability, security, and effectiveness of assigned technology systems and services and recommend improvements. Support the administration, performance, availability, security, and lifecycle management of the University’s technology infrastructure and information systems. Participate directly in troubleshooting and resolving complex issues involving servers, networks, cloud environments, endpoints, identity systems, telecommunications, integrations, and related technologies. Coordinate and support system upgrades, maintenance, patching, configuration changes, migrations, and technology deployments. Evaluate infrastructure capacity, performance, resiliency, lifecycle, and technology requirements and make recommendations for improvement or replacement. Support backup, recovery, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning and testing. Ensure appropriate technical documentation, system diagrams, inventories, procedures, configurations, and operational records are maintained. Identify opportunities to improve system reliability, automation, scalability, efficiency, and supportability. Support the effective administration, configuration, integration, performance, and continuous improvement of enterprise applications and institutional technology platforms. Partner with functional leaders and subject-matter experts to understand business requirements and translate operational needs into appropriate technology solutions. Partner with technical support personnel to ensure technology services effectively meet the needs of employees and other University stakeholders. Provide escalation support and leadership for complex or high-impact technology issues. Support effective processes for account provisioning, access management, onboarding, offboarding, equipment deployment, and technology lifecycle management. Lead assigned technology projects, ensuring appropriate requirements, scope, timelines, resources, risks, testing, communications, documentation, and implementation plans are established and maintained. Coordinate internal resources, vendors, consultants, and business stakeholders to ensure assigned initiatives remain on schedule and achieve intended outcomes. UNITY ENVIRONMENTAL UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBLITIES: Stay open to counterintuitive ideas and direct feedback. Unity employees are expected to think creatively and remain open to approaches that challenge initial instincts or traditional methods. Taking direction, seeking clarity, and executing with precision are critical to moving innovative work forward. Work confidently with AI, digital tools, and emerging systems. As a technology-enabled institution, Unity expects all employees to adopt a growth mindset around digital tools. This includes using AI systems to enhance productivity and decision-making, as well as learning new platforms and processes with curiosity and accountability. Deliver results in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Agility, resilience, and follow-through are essential. Employees must remain focused on outcomes even as priorities shift, iterating quickly and adjusting to change without losing momentum. Communicate with clarity and consistency. Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability and willingness to engage professionally by phone, video, and digital channels is essential. Employees must document decisions, convey key information clearly, and support alignment across teams. Model integrity and professionalism in all aspects of work. Every employee is responsible for upholding high ethical standards, demonstrating sound judgment, and maintaining an ownership mindset when it comes to their role and results. Own the accuracy of your work. While Unity equips employees with advanced systems and AI-enhanced tools, the responsibility for quality, precision, and correctness rests with the individual. Attention to detail and proactive error-checking are non-negotiable. Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability in all aspects of work. This includes responsible stewardship of resources, strategic decision-making, and ensuring long-term institutional impact. At Unity, we encourage input, feedback, and collaboration from all employees, your perspective matters. However, once a decision has been made, employees are expected to act as an extension of their supervisor’s bandwidth, carrying out directives with clarity, consistency, and precision. We do not operate in independent silos; instead, we emphasize cross-functional collaboration and shared accountability. Perform other duties as assigned. QualificationsTo be successful in this position you must be able to execute each of the position specific responsibilities while meeting the position expectations. Additionally, the position specific education, skills and competencies listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon approval by the supervisor and Human Resources, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. POSITION SPECIFIC EDUCATION, SKILLS AND COMPENTCIES: Required: Bachelor’s degree in information technology, information systems, computer science, cybersecurity, business technology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Significant progressive experience in information technology, information systems, infrastructure, enterprise applications, cybersecurity, or related technology operations. Demonstrated experience leading complex technology projects or initiatives involving multiple systems, stakeholders, or functional areas. Direct experience supervising employees. Broad understanding of enterprise technology environments, including infrastructure, networking, cloud services, endpoints, identity and access management, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, integrations, and technical support. Demonstrated ability to diagnose complex technology and operational problems and develop practical, sustainable solutions. Experience working with technology vendors, consultants, contracts, licensing, and third-party service providers. Strong project management, organizational, analytical, documentation, and problem-solving skills. Ability to translate technical concepts, risks, and recommendations for nontechnical stakeholders. Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively across organizational and technical boundaries. Ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise sound independent judgment, appropriately escalate risk, and operate effectively in a changing technology environment. Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality, information security, responsible data stewardship, and professional ethics. WORK SCHEDULE / AVAILABILITY REQUIREMENTS Work hours are specific to the requirements of this position and can include days, evenings, and weekends as scheduled by their supervisor to best support students. Working extended hours required as needed. Must be flexible and cooperative in fulfilling responsibilities and meeting the Institution’s needs. Although Unity Environmental University employees are generally scheduled to work at their specifically assigned locations, there are times when travel is necessary, and employees are required from time to time to attend events, meetings, or work temporary assignments at any Unity Environmental University location. PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this job, it is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The use of either hand for repetitive movements such as grasping, grasping and turning, and fine manipulation is required as is the ability to use the telephone for internal and external communications. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS Work is performed mostly in an office setting. The noise level in the work environment is normally moderate. Exposure to changes of temperature or humidity 1-33% of the time.