Vice President of Information Technology/Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina, and through JWU Online. An innovative educational leader, the university offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, hospitality, food innovation, and health and wellness. JWU’s unique model of education provides students with personalized attention, academic expertise, and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth.

About the Role

Johnson & Wales University is seeking an exceptional executive to serve as its next Vice President of Information Technology/Chief Information Officer (CIO), a forward-thinking, strategic leader who will shape the institution’s digital future. Reporting to the University Chancellor and serving as a member of the university’s Cabinet, this is a high-impact role for a visionary who thrives at the intersection of technology strategy, data innovation, and organizational transformation.

The CIO will shape and execute a comprehensive digital strategy, partnering closely with academic, student, and administrative leaders to advance the university’s mission. This executive will guide major enterprise technology investments, champion modernization and analytics initiatives, and bring forward emerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, to elevate academic excellence and operational performance. A critical component of the role includes leading the university’s cybersecurity governance and data-risk strategy, ensuring strong protection of institutional assets while enabling digital transformation and compliance.

The CIO will cultivate a high-performing, service-driven IT team, leading process improvements that streamline operations. The CIO will also shape strategic vendor partnerships that accelerate innovation and optimize technology investments. A core responsibility for this role is delivering data-informed insights that support decision-making to enhance how students, faculty, and staff engage with technology across the university.

Responsibilities

• Shape and execute a comprehensive digital strategy in partnership with academic, student, and administrative leaders.
• Guide major enterprise technology investments, modernization, and analytics initiatives.
• Lead the implementation of emerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, to enhance decision-making and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee cybersecurity governance and data-risk strategy to protect institutional assets while enabling digital transformation and compliance.
• Cultivate and lead a high-performing, service-driven IT team.
• Drive process improvements to streamline operations across the university.
• Develop strategic vendor partnerships to accelerate innovation and optimize technology investments.
• Deliver data-informed insights to support decision-making and enhance engagement with technology for students, faculty, and staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Significant experience in strategic planning and execution of strategic initiatives, business processes, information technology, and executive leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to assess opportunities, risks, and organizational implications of emerging technologies, including AI, and guide responsible implementation.
• Experience successfully leading digital transformation, including AI-enabled technologies, to enhance decision-making, operational effectiveness, communication, and service delivery.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical problem-solving abilities.
• Proven record of innovation and awareness of emerging higher-education technology trends.
• Demonstrated success collaborating across multiple business units.
• Skills in identifying process improvement targets and applying technology to optimize processes.