Chief Information Officer

About University of the People

University of the People (UoPeople) is a pioneering non-profit, tuition-free, accredited American university that operates entirely online. It serves more than 170,000 students across over 200 nations, including approximately 18,800 refugees. Accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, UoPeople is dedicated to the belief that higher education is a fundamental human right capable of transforming individual lives, families, communities, nations, and the global society. The university is recognized globally and has been featured in prominent media such as The New York Times, BBC, NPR, and more.

Role Purpose

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) will lead and oversee the University’s global information technology and systems functions. Reporting directly to the President, the CIO will develop and implement strategies that support the university’s mission and long-term growth objectives. This includes managing product development, engineering, data analytics, AI initiatives, architecture, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and IT operations to ensure scalability, security, and innovation while enhancing user experience for students, faculty, and staff worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a global team of approximately 50 IT professionals, fostering leadership development, succession planning, and a culture of high performance and collaboration.
• Partner with university President as an executive team member to align IT strategies with institutional priorities across regions and departments.
• Develop and execute an overarching information systems strategy aligned with university goals, establishing governance, standards, and modern architecture across a multi-year roadmap.
• Manage lifecycle and continuous improvement of internal systems in cooperation with academic and business stakeholders to deliver meaningful impact.
• Supervise engineering, quality assurance, DevOps, and enterprise applications, promoting modern, scalable, and reliable solutions, cloud adoption, and informed technology sourcing decisions.
• Drive AI strategy and implementation, ensuring responsible and effective deployment in academic and administrative areas with appropriate governance.
• Lead enterprise data strategy, ensuring data governance, quality, security, and development of scalable analytics to support data-driven decisions.
• Oversee global IT infrastructure, networks, cloud services, end-user support, cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance with regulatory standards for secure and resilient operations.
• Manage vendor relationships through strategic procurement, contracting, and performance oversight, optimizing investment costs, quality, and dependability.

Key Competencies

• Ability to translate institutional vision into actionable IT strategies.
• Strong stakeholder management and trusted advisor capabilities with executive influence.
• Innovative mindset with forward-looking perspectives, especially regarding AI and digital advances.
• Expertise in leading complex organizational change and driving widespread adoption.
• Proven skills in building and nurturing high-performing global teams and leadership.
• Business-oriented focus on connecting IT investments to measurable outcomes.
• Financial acumen to optimize costs and articulate value and return on investment.
• Commitment to governance, risk management, security, and ethical use of data and technology.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a closely related field is required; Master's degree is preferred.
• More than 20 years of progressive leadership experience in information systems, including senior executive roles.
• Previous role as CIO or equivalent in a mid-to-large global organization with comprehensive responsibility for enterprise IT and digital capabilities.
• Demonstrated skill in defining and implementing enterprise strategies that promote growth, innovation, and tangible business impact.
• Track record of driving transformational change in complex, customer-facing (B2C) settings with solid stakeholder engagement.
• Experience within EdTech or education-related organizations is highly advantageous, with insight into digital learning platforms and student-focused solutions.