Apply For the Position Of Chief Information Officer. Corvallis, Oregon

Transcription

1 Apply For the Position Of Chief Information Officer Corvallis, Oregon The Opportunity The Oregon State University Foundation (OSUF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the mission of Oregon State University (OSU). As OSU aspires to become even more instrumental to the well-being of Oregon and the nation by offering cutting edge research and scientific programs, the Foundation aspires to develop into one of the premier public University fundraising programs. As such, it seeks to capitalize on past successes, an engaged and committed alumni body and the talents and experiences of its Foundation President and Senior Vice President, both nationally known leaders in the field of higher education advancement and administration. This new leadership at the Foundation, as well as at the University, is fostering an environment of innovation and excitement for this unique career opportunity. The following pages will inform prospective applicants regarding the specifics of the Chief Information Officer position, the mission and strengths of the University, the nature of the information technology program, an overview of the first campus-wide campaign and importantly, how technology is envisioned to support the efforts of the Foundation. We are excited to discuss this opportunity further with you. Chief Information Officer Reporting to the Foundation s President and CEO, and as a member of the Foundation s management team, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) will provide vision and leadership for developing, implementing, and managing information technology resources in support of the Foundation s business plan and goals. The specific responsibilities of the CIO are to: Perform strategic and tactical planning, development, evaluation and coordination of information technology systems for Foundation activities including oversight of hardware, software, networking, communications, database management, internet access, security and other technology systems. Provide the strategic vision for developing and managing programs which will meet the needs of the

2 fundraising, accounting, human resources and operations management of the Foundation. The tools developed should be cutting-edge, cost effective and represent best practices; Participate as an integral and active member in the strategic planning process with all business units. Create and foster a customer service culture that provides for quality service to end users in needs analysis, solution recommendations, vendor selection, implementation, training and post-installation support. Ensure that technology initiatives are integrated with and responsive to business objectives; Communicate technology plans, policies and trends throughout the organization. Provide technology advocacy by participating in senior management meetings and in University wide technology initiatives. Represent the interests of the Foundation effectively on University panel and committees; Provide and oversee successful project management by approving, coordinating and ensuring effective completion of all technology projects. Develop project management processes and procedures to ensure that technology projects are delivered on time and within set budget. In consultation with key users, set technology and computing priorities, develop project execution plan, set accountabilities for work units; Develop and enforce policy and procedures to ensure the protection of enterprise technology assets and the integrity, security and privacy of information entrusted to or maintained by the Foundation. Develop and maintain an enterprise-wide business recovery plan to ensure timely and effective restoration of technology services in the event of a disaster; Develop and maintain corporate technology policies and standards relating to the acquisition, implementation, and operation of information technology and communication systems; Ensure appropriate receipting of donations to OSUF, and serve as a member of the OSUF Gift Acceptance Committee; Manage and supervise technology staff following sound human resources best practices. Develop annual accountabilities, ensure staff receives needed training and development to stay current with changing technology; Develop, oversee and effectively manage technology budgets; Explore and evaluate new technologies and best practices in technology services, recommending changes when appropriate; and Perform other duties as assigned. 2

3 Oregon State University OSU started as an academy incorporated as Corvallis College in 1858 just prior to being provided Land Grant status in the late 1860s. The second Morrill Act of 1890 and the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 further provided for the teaching function of the institution and for programs of research and extension. Today, as Oregon s land grant institution, Oregon State University has crafted a mission for the 21 st century that puts the needs of Oregon and the nation first and foremost. Oregon is also one of only two universities in the United States with land, sea, space and sun grant designations, thus having been selected by the federal government to be a nexus of teaching and research that benefits the country and the world. At the same time, OSU has become even more instrumental to the well-being of Oregon itself. As higher education, breakthrough ideas, and new knowledge become increasingly important to our economy and society, OSU has provided the accessible education and practical research that Oregonians and Oregon businesses need to thrive in changing times. Oregon State University is a comprehensive public research university and a member of the Oregon University System. The University has programs and faculty located in every county of the state. OSU views the state of Oregon as its campus, and works in partnership with Oregon community colleges and other OUS institutions to provide access to educational programs. Departmental strengths include forestry; sciences including nanotechnology, oceanography/tsunami research; engineering; marine biology; agricultural sciences; and nutrition (the famed Linus Pauling Institute). OSU s sports teams compete in the PAC 10. Recent large scale construction projects funded by donations include a new football stadium which seats 43,000, a $20 million engineering center, a renovation of Valley Library and Weatherford Hall and a brand new state-of-the-art home for the College of Veterinary Medicine. Mission and Goals Oregon State University aspires to stimulate a lasting attitude of inquiry, openness and social responsibility. To meet these aspirations, the University is committed to providing excellent academic programs, educational experiences and creative scholarship. Recently, OSU completed a strategic plan that outlines its goals, including its aspiration to become one of the top 10 land grant universities in the United States. Three strategic objectives guide Oregon State University in meeting its mission: (1) Statewide Campus. Oregon State University has a historic and unique role in Oregon. As a land-grant university, its heritage is articulated in the statement "the state of Oregon is the campus of Oregon State University." OSU emphasizes the importance of extending the university into every community in Oregon. The University will provide learning opportunities for Oregonians, and will create and apply knowledge that contributes to the prosperity of the state and its quality of life. 3

4 (2) Compelling Learning Experience. Oregon State University is committed to creating an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity, academic freedom, diversity, and personal empowerment. This compelling learning experience celebrates knowledge; encourages personal growth and awareness; acknowledges the benefits of diverse experiences, world views, learning styles, and values; and engenders personal and societal values that benefit the individual and society. OSU will develop curricula based on sound disciplinary knowledge and input from practitioners. Students will acquire skills and knowledge for a lifetime of learning, and will be involved in scholarly and creative pursuits. (3) Top-Tier University. Oregon State University aspires to be a top-tier university. It is a Carnegie Doctoral/Research-Extensive University, a sea-grant institution and space-grant program, in addition to being a land-grant institution. OSU will measure its success by: the caliber of entering students, the accomplishments of students and alumni, the quality of the faculty, the quality of instructional and research facilities, the effectiveness and productivity of engagement with businesses and constituents, and the support for research and scholarship. Outstanding programs, people, and location make Oregon State an exciting and vibrant university--one that is internationally renowned. OSU s student body is comprised of nearly 19,000 students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. The average high school GPA of entering students is 3.48 and the Honors College currently houses 469 students. For more information on OSU and its strategic plan, visit Oregon State University Foundation The OSU Foundation is the non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing Oregon State University. The Foundation achieves this mission by raising and managing private gifts that transform OSU s programs beyond what is possible through the state funded higher education budget. While public funds maintain the university, private gifts provide an additional margin of excellence through donor funded scholarships, professorships, program and endowments and other opportunities that provide depth and richness to the OSU experience. Legally independent from the University, the Foundation is led by a Board of Trustees. It enjoys the involvement and commitment of more than eighty volunteers who assist in development activities. In addition, the Foundation employs over 100 professional staff, with approximately 80 in Corvallis and others in offices in Portland and around the state. It is anticipated that the professional fundraising staff will double in size over the next 2 years to provide the resources necessary to increase its fundraising levels and accomplish the goals of its first comprehensive campaign. At the close of FY05, the Foundation had total assets of $467.4 million with an endowment of $300.7 million. In 2005, the Foundation raised $51.9 million, one of the best years in its history. The Foundation s 4

5 primary office complex in Corvallis is a contemporary structure just blocks from the main campus and its buildings and activities. The Foundation is committed to bringing the most talented professionals to Oregon to work for the benefit of Oregon State University and successfully plan and execute the University s first comprehensive campaign. It needs successful strategic planners, fundraisers, development services professionals and managers to help ensure its success in this exciting endeavor. The OSUF management team is looking for executive level talent anxious for the opportunity to be part of a new team and who see challenge as a chance to build something great. For more information on the Foundation, go to The Campaign The OSUF launched its first University wide comprehensive campaign to benefit Oregon State University on July 1, Three mini-campaigns were successfully launched in 2002 and to-date have raised $75 million which will be counted toward the overall campaign. The 7 year campaign goal is anticipated to be at the $550-$625 million level % of the dollars raised will go toward the University s endowment, 15-25% toward facilities and the remaining dollars toward current use. Campaign priorities were established based on the goals of the University s strategic plan, the needs of the different colleges and programs and in collaboration and consultation with University leadership. Alumni Base and Notable Alumni Oregon State has 140,000 living alumni. Feasibility studies have indicated that there are 13,000 alumni prospects with the capacity to give $25, alumni live in the wealthiest zip codes in the country, half of which are in California. The University enjoys a 15% annual fund participation rate which is in the upper tier of participation for state universities. 70% of the alumni live in Oregon with many of the others residing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Hawaii and Alaska. Notable alumni include Linus Pauling, the only person to ever win two unshared Nobel Prizes, the first Americans to climb Mt. Everest, Bernie Newcomb, co-founder of E*Trade, two Oregon governors, Donald Bower the first President and CEO of Standard Oil of California, all four founders of CH2M Hill a leading engineering consulting firm, Doug Engelbart, the inventor of the computer mouse, Lowell Edwards, the inventor of the artificial heart valve, John Young, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, the world s tallest basketball player, and Terry Baker, the Pacific Northwest s only Heisman Trophy winner. 5

6 Management Team The CIO is a key member of OSUF s management team and reports directly to Foundation President, Michael (Mike) Goodwin. Mike became the Foundation s President in November He came from Georgetown University where he oversaw all development and fundraising operations for the University. Under Mike s leadership and direction of 200 staff, Georgetown closed its first $1 billion campaign, the Third Century Campaign, in Prior to his position at Georgetown, Mike was with Washington State University for 9 years, including as their Campaign Director. Mike is considered one of the top fundraising executives in the United States and has successfully led 3 Campaigns for private and public Universities. He is well known for his outstanding management, talent development and fundraising skills. Other members of Mike s management team include Shawn Scoville, Senior Vice President and Campaign Director, Patricia Kenney, Senior Director of Human Resources, Megan Gillick, Senior Director of Development for Intercollegiate Athletics, Bob Westlund, Vice President Principal Gifts, Athletics, John Blanchard, Vice President and CFO and Lynne Fullerton-Baham, Director of Board Development. The CIO will join a new and energized fundraising team with the experience, dedication and history of success to make a difference at OSU. Qualifications and Requirements A Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Business Administration or a related field is required with evidence of relevant technical expertise; an advance degree is preferred. Ten years of progressively responsible experience in information technology with demonstrated experience in personnel management. Experience should also include substantial familiarity with IT operations in support of institutional advancement in a notfor-profit environment, preferably in higher education. As the Foundation uses BSR Advance to manage its fundraising activities, experience with BSR Advance or a compatible system is preferred. The successful candidate will have an in-depth understanding of business principles and techniques of administration, organization, and management to include familiarity with the key business issues that exist in the development industry. He/she should be an expert in data processing methods and procedures, and computer software systems as well as the equipment and software characteristics of various computer systems and a general understanding of system features and their integration capabilities. The CIO will possess excellent written and verbal communications skills along with experience successfully negotiating with vendors, contractors and others. Prior responsibility for budget preparation and monitoring, project planning and organizing and management in a leadership capacity is essential for this position. 6

7 The CIO should expect to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, anticipate consequences of proposed actions, and implement approved recommendations. Mandate for Information Technology During 2005, the Management Team focused its attention on campaign planning, staffing and budgeting, organizational structure and governance. Several months ago it also began an analysis of the state of the technology work units within the Foundation and an assessment of how well the units support the work of the Foundation. Grenzebach, Glier and Associates (GG&A) was hired to conduct a program review and to present its general findings. In October 2005, GG&A compiled a report on their analysis and recommendations. They emphasized the critical role played by technology in supporting the campaign and the overall functioning of the Foundation. While several observations of strength and excellence were made by GG&A, recommendations were made to help positively influence the direction of the technology units. The most significant recommendation was to create the position of Chief Information Officer to integrate the units and develop a cohesive strategy moving forward. The four information and services departments comprising the new IT function are gift processing, information systems, information technology and data management. Each unit has a Director (one is interim). A consultant from GG&A is serving as the interim CIO until a hire is made. Key technical projects include a migration to Oracle, the mapping and building of a comprehensive fundraising reporting system, migrating from People Soft to Fundware for the accounting system and the implementation of a web based version of BSR Advance. First 12 Months and Anticipated Challenges The first 12 months in the job will be filled with opportunities and challenges. The priorities for this time period are to: (1) Create a plan/strategy for developing the necessary fundraising reports so they meet the needs of the advancement team and are self-service/user initiated; (2) Create a long range business plan with an approved budget and specific goals for hardware needs, software upgrades, database management and infrastructure that meets the goals of all functional areas; (3) Effectively prioritize current projects and establish the necessary processes and procedures to ensure successful completion of projects; and (4) Build a team of information technology staff that is well trained, mentored and works collaboratively to achieve established goals. The current IT staff is excited and supportive of the changes which will result from the creation of an integrated program. It is expected however, that creating a customer service culture and the change in reporting, will be a multi-step process. The accomplishments of the CIO will be critical to the success of the Campaign and therefore, he/she will need to quickly assess the most important projects and move them forward expeditiously. In addition, under prior leadership, the University and the Foundation have been challenged by turnover in their key positions. The University is fortunate to 7

8 now be under the leadership of Edward Ray as its President and Mike Goodwin as the Foundation President. One executive described the new atmosphere as refreshing and similar to that found at a start-up/dot-com. Among the leadership there is a sense of let s do it. Personality Traits and Compatibility Profile Successful candidates should possess strong leadership skills in an effort to motivate others and move initiatives forward in a matrix organization. Candidates should also be able to apply sound judgment, maintain the confidentiality of proprietary data, develop and sustain long-term relationships and conduct oneself with integrity and focus. The CIO will be building programs and processes that reflect the best practices in the industry. He/she should be interested in staying current with technology trends and management tools. The CIO will be a change agent and thus he/she will frequently be called upon to make presentations to a lay audience, provide concise and effective proposals and make decisions based on careful consideration of data, the Foundation s needs and long term plans. The CIO will be expected to be proactive. All members of the Foundation staff are expected to operate as part of a team without the promotion of personal agendas and to exhibit a commitment to the profession and the University. All executives should possess honesty and a sense of humor. The Foundation aims to attract candidates with a long term interest in working for OSU. Benefits, Compensation and Community Information The OSUF will offer a competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the finalist. The benefits package will be clearly defined in accordance with OSUF s standard benefits and existing policy. Corvallis is a college town with 50,000 residents, 18,000 of which are from the student body. Hewlett Packard is the largest corporate employer in the area. The University and Corvallis are located alongside the vineyard region, 90 miles south of Portland, and a similar distance from both the Oregon coastline and ski resorts in the Cascades. The area is known for offering unlimited hiking, biking, camping and other outdoor activities. For information on Corvallis, Oregon, go to You can also view a slideshow of Oregon at the Foundation s website at and click on the slideshow under the employment opportunities website. 8

9 Search Process and To Apply The OSUF has retained Higher Talent, Inc. to manage the search process. Interested candidates should direct inquiries, resumes, cover letters and compensation history to one of the firm s principals: Diane Charness, President at or dc@highertalentinc.com or Mindy Suissa, Vice President at or ms@highertalentinc.com Higher Talent Inc River Road #320 Bethesda, MD Phone: Fax: OSUF makes hiring decisions on the basis of merit and ability and encourages all qualified applicants to apply. 9