Assistant Vice President, Digital Strategy & IT Governance

Assistant Vice President, Digital Strategy & IT Governance

Posting Details: Location – Villanova, PA; Employment Type – full-time, 12-month; Reporting to the Vice President for Information Technologies and Chief Information Officer. The AVP provides strategic and operational leadership for enterprise digital strategy execution, IT governance, enterprise architecture coordination, portfolio and program management, and institutional technology alignment. The role acts as an enterprise integrator to align strategic initiatives, governance processes, and operational priorities across University Technology Services (UTS) and the broader University.

Overview

The AVP designs and operationalizes enterprise IT governance frameworks, oversees the Project Management Office (PMO) and the institutional technology portfolio, and ensures disciplined execution of strategic technology investments. The position strengthens collaboration across infrastructure, enterprise applications, data & analytics, cybersecurity, and academic technology teams to reduce silos and drive measurable institutional value. Villanova University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to its mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning
  • Partner with the CIO to define, implement, and monitor the University IT strategic plan.
  • Design and evolve enterprise IT governance structures, standards, and decision-making frameworks.
  • Align enterprise architecture and technology roadmaps with institutional priorities and long-term business capabilities.
  • Guide strategic evaluation and prioritization of major enterprise systems, platforms, and digital investments.
  • Assess emerging technologies (e.g., cloud, AI, data platforms) to inform long-range institutional planning.
  • Support enterprise transformation initiatives, including ERP modernization and data strategy advancement.
• Operational Excellence
  • Oversee the PMO and enterprise portfolio management practices.
  • Execute enterprise IT governance processes, including initiative intake, evaluation, sequencing, decision gates, and resource allocation cycles.
  • Lead recurring portfolio review processes and ensure disciplined project lifecycle management.
  • Establish and monitor enterprise performance metrics aligned to strategic plan execution and operational effectiveness.
  • Provide executive oversight of program and project controls, including scope management, risk mitigation, financial stewardship, and cross-functional dependency coordination.
  • Ensure compliance with institutional IT policies, standards, and regulatory requirements in collaboration with Information Security and other stakeholders.
  • Provide transparent reporting and executive visibility into portfolio health, risks, and value realization.
  • Oversee institutional technology acquisition workflows in collaboration with Procurement and Legal to ensure governance alignment and fiscal responsibility.
  • Provide leadership in budgeting, capital planning, and responsible stewardship of enterprise initiative investments.
  • Partner with IT leadership to strengthen operational maturity, service design, and continuous improvement practices.
• Organizational Leadership
  • Serve as a member of the IT senior leadership team, contributing to divisional planning and policy development.
  • Collaborate with peer AVPs and senior leaders to ensure coordinated execution of enterprise technology initiatives.
  • Represent UTS on institutional governance councils, executive committees, and cross-functional task forces.
  • Lead and develop high-performing teams through hiring, mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.
  • Foster cross-functional relationships to ensure alignment and effective collaboration.
  • Promote transparent communication, shared accountability, and disciplined execution.
  • Oversee digital strategy communications and institutional training initiatives to support stakeholder awareness and engagement.
  • Cultivate strategic partnerships with peer institutions, industry partners, and technology vendors.
  • Facilitate knowledge-sharing across IT teams to reduce silos and enhance enterprise coordination.
  • Advance Villanova’s Augustinian values and UTS RESTLESS vision within governance and operations.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Participate in professional associations, conferences, and industry forums to support ongoing professional development and institutional visibility.
  • Perform other related duties and lead projects as assigned by the VP/CIO in support of divisional and institutional priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Formal Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field.
• Work Experience
  • Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in information technology.
  • At least 7 years of progressively responsible management experience within complex or decentralized organizations.
  • Experience leading large-scale digital transformation initiatives (e.g., IT governance, PMO management, ERP, cloud modernization, AI and data strategy).
  • Senior-level accountability for divisional budgets, capital planning, and financial stewardship.
  • Experience establishing and overseeing enterprise performance metrics aligned to strategic outcomes.
• Work Skills
  • Exceptional senior-level communication skills, able to translate complex technical concepts for executive and non-technical audiences.
  • Strategic thinking and enterprise decision-making capability at the senior level.
  • Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams with accountability and discipline.
  • Ability to manage organizational change, influence stakeholders, build consensus, and drive cross-functional collaboration.
  • Analytical mindset to use data for enterprise decision-making and actionable solutions.
  • Oversee IT service management, project management, and continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Ability to evaluate and responsibly apply AI technologies within enterprise workflows.
• Specific Job Knowledge
  • Deep understanding of IT governance, enterprise architecture, strategic planning, and portfolio management.
  • Knowledge of cloud computing, data analytics, cybersecurity, AI, and digital transformation practices.
  • Knowledge of procurement governance processes, vendor management, contract review, and regulatory compliance.
  • Knowledge of financial planning principles and enterprise portfolio investment prioritization.
  • Knowledge of IT service management frameworks (ITIL or equivalent) in complex environments.
• Other
  • Commitment to Villanova University’s mission and inclusive culture.
  • Willingness to work outside standard hours to support critical maintenance or events.
  • AI Fluency: understanding of AI (including generative AI) and its practical business applications; ability to identify AI-enabled opportunities and apply tools responsibly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Formal Education
  • Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field.
• Work Experience
  • Experience with higher education administrative, academic, and research technology environments.
  • Experience with business process transformation and service design in university or public sector contexts.
• Specific Job Knowledge
  • Knowledge of high-performance computing or research computing environments.
• Other
  • Active engagement with professional communities such as Internet2, EDUCAUSE, or Campus Research Computing Consortium.

Compensation

Salary range is $180,000–$215,000. Final salary determined based on qualifications, department budget, market data, and internal equity.

Application Documents

• Required Documents
  • Resume / Curriculum Vitae
  • Cover Letter / Letter of Interest
• Optional Documents
  • Other Document

References, supplemental questions, and other application information are requested as part of the online application process.