Applications Manager

Illinois State•Normal, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Applications Manager plays a vital leadership role in Student Affairs Information Technology orchestrating the analysis, procurement, management, integration, and security of both custom-developed and vendor-provided business applications. This position is responsible for evaluating departmental needs and translating them into effective application solutions, demonstrating a thorough understanding of both technical requirements and business goals. By outlining projects, defining resource needs, and prioritizing staff activities in collaboration with the Director, the Applications Manager ensures that technology initiatives are strategically aligned with the Division’s objectives and deliver measurable impact across the University. This role requires a dynamic, self-motivated professional with excellent judgment and decision-making skills, capable of setting both day-to-day and long-term goals within broad management guidelines. The Applications Manager leads the development and support of application solutions, supervises a dedicated applications team, and mentors student workers to foster the next generation of IT professionals. By collaborating with customers, students, IT staff, outside vendors, and University committees, the Applications Manager strengthens the Division of Student Affairs ability to deliver high-quality services. Their work not only advances the Division of Student Affairs but also enhances the overall student experience, making a significant contribution to the University’s mission and success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in computer science, information technology, or related field.
Three (3) years of professional level, progressively more responsible work experience in an IT-related profession, two (2) years of which must include management of custom developed and vendor provided line of business applications.
Demonstrated experience in performing business analysis techniques including how to interpret customer business needs and translate them into application requirements.
Demonstrated experience in providing leadership to information technology projects.
Demonstrated technical understanding of application architecture to include application servers, web servers, configuration files, relational databases, interfaces, SQL, and reporting applications.
Experienced with database technologies and the ability to construct SQL queries.
Strong vendor management skills.
Experience in supervising personnel, including work allocation, training, and evaluating performance.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience developing and implementing standards, processes, and procedures related to the acquisition, support, and maintenance of business applications.
Demonstrated experience managing a large portfolio of line of business applications.
Demonstrated experience managing the application lifecycle from acquisition to implementation to support and eventually to decommissioning, including the ability to oversee a robust Change Management process.
Demonstrated experience researching new IT solutions and engaging vendors to obtain answers, technical details, and potential pitfalls of product solutions.
Demonstrated experience communicating about technical topics with a broad range of people with varying levels of technical expertise, including end users, super users, and IT professionals.
Demonstrated experience mentoring student workers so they develop into IT professionals who are ready to enter the workplace upon graduation.
Demonstrated experience troubleshooting technical problems, including the ability to isolate the problem, collect data and related information, perform independent research, to engage in application testing, and to communicate with the vendor as means of resolving technical issues.
Experienced in project management methodologies and techniques.
Certified in ITILv4 Foundations.

Responsibilities

Orchestrating the analysis, procurement, management, integration, and security of both custom-developed and vendor-provided business applications.
Evaluating departmental needs and translating them into effective application solutions.
Outlining projects, defining resource needs, and prioritizing staff activities in collaboration with the Director.
Leading the development and support of application solutions.
Supervising a dedicated applications team.
Mentoring student workers to foster the next generation of IT professionals.
Collaborating with customers, students, IT staff, outside vendors, and University committees.