Job Details

Director of Application & Data Services

Position Number: 7032730
Location: Columbus, GA
Position Type: Computer and Information Technology

Director of Application & Data Services

Job ID: 296632
Location: Columbus State University
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

About Us

Great universities inspire the very best in us. They nurture new ideas, fresh perspectives, and creative problem-solving. They challenge students to discover their passions - and to turn those passions into thriving careers that improve our world.

Columbus State University is exactly that kind of place. With exceptional facilities, ideal class sizes, and unique field experiences, our students have room to create. Here, every faculty and staff member is part of the educational process, actively mentoring students and championing each new step in their journey.

Located just 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, CSU is part of the University System of Georgia and offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees. Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays (if applicable). Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program. Consider applying with us today!

Department Information

University Information and Technology Services

Job Summary

The Director of Application and Data Services provides strategic and operational leadership for enterprise application management, data architecture, system integrations, analytics, and web services at Columbus State University. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, this position oversees the Banner ERP ecosystem and related enterprise applications, leads data governance initiatives, supports institutional analytics for student success and operational effectiveness, and manages the university's transition planning for enterprise system modernization including Workday preparation. The Director supervises technical staff, collaborates with academic and administrative stakeholders across campus, and ensures that application and data services align with the university's strategic priorities and University System of Georgia (USG) requirements.

Responsibilities

Significant Duties & Responsibilities include: Enterprise Application Management (30% ) - Direct the administration, account management, maintenance, upgrading, and integration of central campus information systems including the Banner ERP ecosystem, PeopleSoft (HCM and Finance), and supporting applications. Ensure system performance, reliability, and security for enterprise applications supporting student services, human resources, finance, and academic operations. Manage vendor relationships, coordinate system patches and upgrades, and oversee user acceptance testing, sign off and deployment. Lead Workday/unified ERP preparation activities including data standardization, quality assessment, and current-state process documentation for Finance, HR, and Student systems.; Data Architecture and Governance (20%) - Establish and maintain the university's data architecture, including database structures, data flows, integration patterns, and data quality standards. Serve on the Data Governance Committee, develop the enterprise data dictionary, and implement data stewardship practices across campus. Ensure data integrity, security, and appropriate access controls for institutional data assets. Assist with coordination of data reporting and compliance requirements for USG, SACSCOC, and federal reporting obligations.; Team Leadership and Staff Development (15%) - Supervise, mentor, and evaluate application and data services staff and technical team members. Plan, organize, and direct the work of the Application and Data Services team. Recruit, hire, and train staff. Foster a collaborative, service-oriented work environment that emphasizes professional growth, accountability, and continuous improvement. Coordinate staff training and professional development plans aligned with UITS transformation goals.; Analytics and Institutional Reporting (15%) - Provide leadership for institutional analytics that support student success initiatives, retention analysis, and operational decision-making. Oversee the development of dashboards, reports, and data visualizations for university leadership. Collaborate with Institutional Research, Academic Affairs, and Enrollment Management to deliver actionable data insights. Support the university's strategic priorities through data-informed recommendations.; Strategic Planning and IT Leadership (10%) - Serve as a member of the CIO's IT leadership team, participating in departmental budgeting, strategic planning, and governance activities. Contribute to the IT project portfolio and prioritization process. Evaluate emerging technologies, recommend solutions, and develop business cases for system investments. Collaborate with the CISO on application security, access management policies, and compliance requirements. Support AI strategy development and implementation.; Web Services Oversight (5%) - Provide direction for the university's web services team and web-based campus systems. Ensure web applications meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2/Section 508), integrate appropriately with enterprise systems, and support the university's digital presence and student-facing services.; Other Duties as Assigned (5%) - Represent UITS on university committees and working groups as assigned. Support special projects, cross-functional initiatives, and perform additional duties as needed to advance UITS operations and the university's strategic goals.

Required Qualifications

Required Qualifications include: Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, data management, or a related field required.; Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in information technology with at least three years in a supervisory or management capacity.; Experience managing enterprise applications (ERP, SIS, or equivalent) in a complex organizational environment required.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications include: Master's degree preferred.; Higher education experience strongly preferred.; Experience with Banner, PeopleSoft, or Workday is highly desirable.; Knowledge of ITIL framework, service management practices, and data governance principles preferred.

Proposed Salary

The proposed annualized salary range for this position is $78,162 - 86,432 and includes full benefits.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities include: Demonstrated knowledge of enterprise application administration, including ERP systems (Banner, PeopleSoft, Workday, or similar), database management, and system integration methodologies.; Strong understanding of data architecture principles, data governance frameworks, and institutional analytics in a higher education environment.; Experience with SQL, database platforms, reporting tools, and business intelligence technologies.; Knowledge of project management methodologies and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with competing priorities and deadlines.; Proven leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to build, develop, and motivate technical teams in a service-oriented environment.; Effective communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders, present to senior leadership, and collaborate across academic and administrative units.; Understanding of information security principles, access management, and compliance requirements including FERPA, NIST, and USG cybersecurity standards.; Knowledge of web technologies, accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2/Section 508), and web application integration with enterprise systems.; Ability to exercise sound judgment regarding confidential student, employee, and financial data.; Ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies including faculty, staff, students, vendors, and USG partners in a collaborative university environment.; Strong organizational and analytical skills with the ability to develop strategic plans, manage budgets, and align technology investments with institutional priorities.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact Cole Maddox, Hiring Manager, via email at maddox_steven1@columbusstate.edu.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Institutional Values

Excellence: Actively engaging outstanding methods in teaching, academic discovery, creative pursuits, student success, cultural enrichment and the overall campus community.
Creativity: Pursuing distinction through inquiry and innovation, challenging convention and focusing on solutions.
Engagement: Dynamic civic involvement and participation of students, faculty, staff and alumni in the university experience.
Sustainability: Advancing fiscal responsibility, well-being, innovation, lifelong learning and environmental stewardship.
Inclusion: Cultivating and championing a campus environment that welcomes diverse backgrounds, ideas, perspectives and practices.
Servant Leadership: Leading through ethical empowerment and service.

Conditions of Employment

All selected candidates are required to submit and successfully pass a background investigation to include reference checks and verification of academic credentials (if applicable). Other additional requirements may be required based upon specific position duties:

A credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage;
Pre-employment drug testing for positions with high-risk responsibilities.
Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive a Columbus State University fleet vehicle or other vehicle designated as a fleet vehicle. A successful drug screening will be required as a condition of employment a randomly thereafter.

*Applicants for positions of trust may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. *

For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.

All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond. Additionally, all members of the USG community must adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values must also be aware of and comply with the Board of Regents policies on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Columbus State University is proud to be an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity institution. It is the policy of our institution to recruit, hire, train, promote and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnical origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws.

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does not require security clearance.

Background Check

Position of Trust + Education

Special Applicant Instructions

Visit Columbus State University's online Careers portal to drive your career with us! The online applicant system provides you with the ability to review job opportunities and apply to those that you are interested in and feel qualified for. Each job posting has a summary description of the position and required qualifications. All job applications must be submitted through the online portal system.

To apply, visit https://careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psp/careers/CAREERS/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=30000&JobOpeningId=296632&PostingSeq=1