Director - Information Technology Applications and Systems

Santa Barbara City College • Santa Barbara, CA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

Santa Barbara City College seeks a Director of IT Applications and Systems to manage the full lifecycle of institutional software applications, including strategic planning, development, implementation, integration, modernization, and ongoing support. Reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer, the Director aligns application strategy with institutional goals and coordinates resources, procurement, personnel, and communications to meet the District’s academic and administrative systems needs. The role leads a team of designers, developers, and applications support personnel.

The Director provides leadership for enterprise applications and systems, including student information, learning management, ERP and financial, CRM, and other platforms. The position collaborates with senior leadership and stakeholders, establishes application governance and data governance, oversees project delivery and vendor relationships, and promotes secure, reliable, integrated systems. The Director also supports staff development, cybersecurity, compliance, continuity and disaster recovery planning, analytics, and continuous improvement.

The role is based in an office environment with frequent interruptions and requires driving a vehicle to conduct work. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; hours may vary. It is a 40-hour-per-week, 12-month-per-year position, with some remote work and a six-month probation period. Work schedules and assignments may change according to College needs. The listed salary schedule range is $11,595.92–$13,118.58, with the nine-step range continuing to a maximum of $14,126.58. Fringe benefits are provided.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Six years of increasingly responsible experience in development, design, operation, analysis, and maintenance of enterprise software, including work with technology vendors and acquisition functions.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise software initiatives at scale, including staff leadership and vendor negotiations.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.
• Valid California driver’s license.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple projects simultaneously, including complex, large-scale IT projects.
• Ability to coordinate resources, procurement, personnel, and communications to meet District application needs.
• Ability to supervise and evaluate personnel and to estimate and ensure adequate resources for technology needs and projects.
• Ability to research and analyze new technologies, assess implementation costs and benefits, and identify opportunities to improve District operations.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; interpret and explain applicable laws, policies, and procedures; and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Ability to work independently, organize work, prepare reports, and direct maintenance of related records and files.
• Ability to operate a computer and assigned office equipment.
• Knowledge of college academic, research, and administrative functions and how technology supports them.
• Knowledge of higher-education ERP platforms and modules for finance, human resources, student information, and financial aid.
• Expertise in database management systems and understanding of data governance, data warehousing, and reporting tools.
• Comprehensive understanding of enterprise application development lifecycles, systems analysis, structured design, and support processes.
• Knowledge of software development methodologies such as Agile and DevOps, data management and governance, emerging technologies, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, security best practices, applicable regulations, administration, supervision, training, and budget preparation and control.
• Selected candidate must complete fingerprinting and tuberculosis testing before employment, verify identity and authorization to work in the United States, and provide proof of indicated college coursework or degrees.
• Selected candidate must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation; offers are subject to Board of Trustees approval.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience in higher education, preferably at a community college.
• Strong communication and technical skills.
• Ability to mentor a team technically and communicate across departments.
• Strong product and project management skills.
• Ability to balance ERP constraints with innovation.
• Experience with programming languages.
• Exposure to or knowledge of an ERP, preferably Banner.
• Experience in a higher-education development environment.
• Incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion into management approach.
• Student customer service focus.
• Familiarity with cloud architectures.
• Experience managing large budgets.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, control, and direct operations supporting District-wide IT systems initiatives.
• Lead research, acquisition, development, design, operation, and implementation of enterprise software applications.
• Participate in developing the District Technology Plan and create a multi-year software roadmap aligned with academic and administrative objectives.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and stakeholders to ensure applications meet academic and administrative needs.
• Establish application governance for prioritization, funding, and software lifecycle management.
• Communicate application initiatives to stakeholders, explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences, and support change adoption.
• Oversee assessment, selection, design, development, implementation, integration, modernization, and management of enterprise information systems, including SIS, LMS, ERP and financial, and CRM platforms.
• Promote integration of enterprise systems using API strategies and middleware to improve data flow and reduce silos.
• Lead, motivate, and evaluate application and systems staff; set shared goals and foster collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Direct workforce planning and performance management, provide mentorship and technical guidance, establish standards, and coordinate staff training and development.
• Manage software vendor and partner relationships, evaluate proposals and technologies, manage contracts, and support integration of third-party solutions.
• Assess customer needs and improve technology delivery, operations, support, and enhancements.
• Direct project planning and execution, including scope, schedules, resources, and deliverables, using formal project management methodologies.
• Establish application cybersecurity standards and ensure systems meet regulatory, accreditation, and institutional requirements.
• Participate in developing and maintaining business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
• Promote software delivery practices such as automation, CI/CD, and security-as-code.
• Improve support processes and user satisfaction through continuous improvement and best practices.
• Lead data governance frameworks that support data integrity, accessibility, and privacy.
• Promote analytics and business intelligence to support student success, institutional effectiveness, and strategic decisions.
• Coordinate accurate and timely preparation or transmission of IT-related records and reports required by external oversight agencies.
• Explore emerging technologies and identify opportunities to support innovation in learning, research, and administrative functions.
• Participate in the District Technology Committee and attend or conduct meetings, committees, conferences, seminars, and in-services.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Cafeteria-style benefits plan with a District allowance and a choice of medical and dental plans.
• Life and income protection insurance options.
• Vacation days earned and accumulated monthly, based on assigned hours.
• Sick leave earned at one day per month, based on assigned hours, and accumulated from year to year.
• 17 holidays per year.
• Access to services through the Santa Barbara Teachers Federal Credit Union.
• Employees working 20 or more hours per week are covered by the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Social Security, and Medicare.
• Fringe benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director