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Opportunities

Associate Vice President, Digital and Technology Services

NorQuest College

Status: Open Location: Edmonton, AB

The Organization

NorQuest College is the largest Community College in Alberta. Located on traditional lands referred to as Treaty 6 territory, it serves 12,573 full-time and part-time credit students, and 7,894 non-credit or continuing education students, including assessment examinations.

NorQuest has always been shaped by the people and communities it serves. Its alignment between people and place defines its capacity for social, economic, and cultural impact beyond our campus. NorQuest is devoted to changing lives, fulfilling dreams, and creating belonging for everyone and will accomplish this goal, in part, by continuing to deliver workforce-relevant education.

At NorQuest, creating an engaging, supportive, and vibrant culture is a top priority. The College believes that it can best elevate its learners and the community when its people are doing their best, most gratifying work. Today, Norquest’s culture is shaped by its purpose, its values (known as “the nine Qs”), and its commitments to anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion. It is further shaped by the practical changes to its processes and systems it has made and intends to make. This commitment to culture has resulted in Norquest being named one of Alberta’s Top 75 Employers in 2022 and being recognized as a Most Admired Corporate Culture by Waterstone Human Capital in 2023.

NorQuest is a place of connection, a hub for business leaders and innovation, a catalyst for research focused on society’s biggest challenges, and a vital partner to government, industry, and the community. NorQuesters can engage in work they are passionate about, constantly learn, try new ideas, and know that being bold is behavior that’s sought after.  

For more information on NorQuest, please visit our website.

The Opportunity

Reports to:VP, Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Direct Reports:All Technology Divisions and Departments, including:
Business Technology Services
System Development and Architecture
Digital Security
Help Desk
Network and Infrastructure
Project Management Office
Location:Edmonton, AB

Mandate

The AVP, Digital and Technology Services, is responsible for overseeing and providing the overall strategic direction for NorQuest College’s technology divisions and departments. They are the most senior leader responsible for digital services and technology at the College.

The AVP, Digital and Technology Services, is a cross-institutional role focusing on long-term strategy (3 to 10 years out). They will provide ongoing expertise and advice to the Executive and Board levels. This will include overseeing the development of strategic plans as they relate to technology, cybersecurity, and cyber risk, optimizing technology cost, and developing an exceptional user experience.

The AVP, Digital and Technology Services, will promote collaboration and communication across the College, ensuring a cohesive and coordinated approach designed to facilitate and enable the College’s strategic plans. They will oversee all divisions responsible for technology and project management, enabling the divisions to reduce overall costs, promote business development, and communicate effectively. The AVP will work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders through various operations and initiatives.

This position works with a high degree of autonomy, accountability, responsibility, and influence. Work initiated by this position is rarely clearly defined and large portions of the College will rely on the expertise of this role to inform their decision-making. This position’s ability to effectively communicate the current state of the technological environment in an understandable and accessible way is critical for the organization’s future. The impacts of decisions made by this AVP, either directly or through others, will have significant downstream effects and hold a great deal of risk reputationally, financially, and otherwise.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership

  • Oversee the provision of technology services and solutions to support the academic and operational needs of the College;
  • Provide innovative strategic leadership in developing, executing, monitoring, and adjusting technology systems, policies, and processes across the organization;
  • Oversee the implementation and maintenance of a College-wide Digital Strategy that focuses on business processes, applications, and capabilities; digital literacy; data; and artificial intelligence;
  • Oversee and guide Digital and Technology governance across the College;
  • Ensure that technology and network infrastructure evolve in a manner that supports College-wide strategic plans;
  • Ensure a secure technology environment through strong controls and leading cybersecurity posture;
  • Partner with leaders and individuals across the College to help implement technology into NorQuest’s teaching, learning, and classroom operations;
  • Collaborate with the Director of Information, Risk, and Compliance to ensure effective governance of College information and data;
  • Provide data-driven advice to teams within the Technology division and across the organization;
  • Promote technology innovation to improve the College’s efficiency and performance;
  • Monitor the return on investments in technology;
  • Ensure all necessary roles are established to meet the College’s technology needs;
  • Coach and mentor senior members of the division;
  • Ensure continuous delivery of Information Technology (IT) services by overseeing service legal agreements and monitoring IT system performance;
  • Guide IT investments;
  • Oversee the administration of the central enterprise systems and ensure the effectiveness of IT systems and services
  • Work cross-divisionally to advise the Strategic Operations Committee, Executive Committee, and the Board of Governors; and
  • Communicate the current state of the technology environment in a way that is understandable for all audiences.

External Research and Integration

  • Assess research and collaborate with external parties to ensure the College’s technology thrives and remains appropriate in a dynamic technology environment;
  • Develop strategies for advancing relationships with external parties and technology providers;
  • Monitor the management of hardware and software licenses in the context of long-term College needs; and
  • Communicate technology strategies in partnership with divisional leaders.

Project Management

  • Approve, prioritize, and control projects and project portfolios as they relate to the selection, acquisition, development, and installation of major information systems;
  • Review IT contracts and master agreements to capitalize on economies of scale;
  • Establish lines of control for current and proposed information systems;
  • Actively work to remove barriers that may put projects at risk; and
  • Oversee the lifecycle of transformational projects managed by the Strategic Project Management Office.

First-Year Deliverables / Measures of Success

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

  • Effectively build strong and trusted relationships within the NorQuest community, and be seen as a collaborative IT partner to the organization;
  • Learn NorQuest’s existing frameworks, policies, and culture;
  • Establish a roadmap and governance structure for digital strategy;
  • Work collaboratively and cross-departmentally to advance digital literacy throughout the organization;
  • Review and optimize the IT department’s reporting structure;
  • Ensure continued excellence in IT operations and service; and
  • Make substantial strides for the organization in the realms of digital strategy, preplacement, and good IT governance.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education:

  • A Masters Degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Science, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, or related discipline; and
  • A certification in enterprise architecture, project management, change management, and other Information Technology Systems areas is desirable.

Experience:

  • 15-20 years of broad experience in Information Technology with a proven track record of remaining up-to-date with emerging trends and considerations;
  • A minimum of 10 years leading within a large, complex organization;
  • Proven strategic planning, organization, and execution skills in an IT setting; and
  • Thorough experience with systems designs and development from business requirements analysis through day-to-day management.

Competencies and Attributes:

  • The ability to quickly comprehend complex technologies;
  • Flexibility and the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing market;
  • Sound judgment in high-pressure situations;
  • Outstanding analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills;
  • Highly developed strategic leadership skills;
  • Strong teambuilding skills;
  • Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills, including the ability to motivate a large, diverse employee base and maintain a collaborative environment;
  • Ability to oversee the successful management of multiple complex projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment;
  • Excellent understanding of project management principles;
  • Considerable knowledge of business theory, business processes, management, and budgeting;
  • Expert technical knowledge of data processing, hardware platforms, computer systems, enterprise software applications, and outsourced systems;
  • In-depth knowledge of federal and provincial laws and regulations related to IT;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively convey technical information to a wide range of audiences; and
  • Proven persuasion and negotiation skills.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

NorQuest College is on a journey to become an inclusive, anti-racist, and decolonized organization. NorQuesters are trailblazers – we are curious, creative, and innovative – our lived experiences are honoured, creating accessibility and a sense of belonging for everyone.  

NorQuest 2030 We Are Who We Include illustrates that NorQuest’s strength and our difference comes from who is included, and along with our students, we are learning and growing to listen deeply and say what we feel.  

NorQuest College is committed to being an employer of choice for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people by recognizing, respecting, and supporting Indigenous people’s self-determination through the institution’s work in decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization.  

NorQuesters are Difference Makers.

So, how do we make a difference?

  • We empower NorQuesters. When it comes to working, we offer flexibility in terms of where and how you work (on campus or at home). NorQuesters are expected to embody our Qs—lead from where you are, be dependable, find ways forward, to name a few — but how you do that is your choice!
  • We unlock potential. Whether it’s newcomers to Canada who want to improve their English, students who want to complete their academic upgrading, learners pursuing post-secondary education, or anyone who wishes to strengthen their skills through professional development, our passion to educate touches people of all levels and all backgrounds.
  • We strengthen Alberta. From our graduates who hit the ground running, to our partnerships with government, industry, and business, to our commitment to communities, including a dedicated focus on Indigenous communities, we contribute to the province and make it stronger. We strive to be an employer of choice for First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in Canada by leading, supporting, and being an ally through our work toward decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization.

Application Instructions

If this opportunity excites you, please send a resume and cover letter to connect@mullenleadership.com with the job title in the subject line of your email before 11:59 PM MDT on October 25th 2024.

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