Director - Enterprise Services

Overview

Director - Enterprise Application Services

Cookeville, TN, United States – Job Description

Description of Job Duty:
Provides strategic and operational leadership for the university’s enterprise application environment, ensuring systems and services align with institutional priorities and deliver high-quality, customer-focused support. This role oversees the management, support, and continuous improvement of enterprise platforms—including student information systems, ERP, CRM, learning management systems, data integrations, and workflow solutions—to enhance academic and administrative business processes and advance digital transformation.

The Director leads and develops a team of technical and functional professionals, fostering performance excellence through coaching, feedback, and clear prioritization aligned with university decision-making and IT–business objectives. Working collaboratively across IT and campus stakeholders, the role drives integrated IT initiatives, application modernization, automation, and the adoption of emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools. The Director evaluates internal and external trends, leads continuous improvement efforts, and ensures accountability for process adherence while identifying opportunities for optimization and increased customer satisfaction.

Additionally, the role guides build-versus-buy decisions, manages vendor and contractor relationships, and provides transparent project and service status reporting to leadership. The Director supports workforce planning and change management by anticipating future skill needs, ensuring staff are equipped to meet evolving demands, and developing communication, process, and training strategies to support successful transitions. Through proactive planning and execution, this position ensures technology investments effectively support student success, operational efficiency, and long-term institutional goals.

Tennessee Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for enterprise applications aligned with the institution’s mission and priorities in technology, innovation, and service advancement.
• Assess new technologies—including AI, automation, and next-generation cloud platforms—to recommend and implement transformative solutions.
• Lead enterprise-wide modernization initiatives, including cloud migrations, system upgrades, and digital workflow transformations.

• Develop and manage budgets for enterprise applications, including staffing, licensing, cloud subscriptions, and vendor contracts.
• Optimize resource allocation and evaluate cost/benefit of new technologies and services.

• Ensure compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, PCI, accessibility standards, data governance policies, and industry best practices.
• Establish governance processes for system changes, integrations, and data quality.
• Work in partnership with Information Security to proactively assess and mitigate risks.

• Oversee major enterprise application projects and manage an ongoing portfolio of enhancements and integrations.
• Apply project management best practices, ensuring timely delivery, alignment with scope, and effective change management.
• Coordinate with vendors, consultants, and third-party partners to ensure value, performance, and accountability.

• Collaborate with academic leaders, administrative units, and technology partners to understand needs and translate them into system capabilities.
• Communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences and guide decision-making with clear recommendations.
• Drive improvements in service delivery, user experience, and system usability across the institution.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of analysts, developers, architects, and support specialists.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, customer service, and operational excellence.

• Oversee the university’s portfolio of…