Information Technology is fundamental to Vancouver Island University’s teaching, learning, research, student experience, and administrative operations.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer & Vice-President, Administration, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) serves as Vancouver Island University’s senior technology leader and a trusted strategic advisor on enterprise-wide technology strategy, digital transformation, enterprise architecture, technology governance, cybersecurity and information security, data governance, and emerging technologies.
Working closely with the President, executive leadership, and senior academic and administrative leaders, the CIO provides strategic direction for the planning, implementation, operation, and continuous improvement of enterprise technology services. The CIO ensures that technology investments, systems, infrastructure, data, and digital services advance VIU’s strategic and academic priorities while remaining secure, reliable, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of students, faculty, and employees.
The CIO leads Information Technology Services (ITS), creating an integrated enterprise technology environment that supports institutional effectiveness, innovation, service excellence, and long-term sustainability.
Division
VP Administration and Finance
Department
Information Technology
Campus
Nanaimo campus *Successful candidates must be able to attend in person on campus as required.
Location
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Appointment Type
regular full-time
Workload
35 hours per week
Pay Level
Excluded Pay Band 16: Minimum salary is $167,908 and maximum salary is $190,804.
Starting Salary
Normal salary placement at the time of hire is $167,908 (prorated if part-time). This position is eligible for annual performance-based salary increases.
Start:
As soon as possible
Additional Information
Open until filled. Review of applications will begin the week of September 21, 2026
Applicant Documents
CV/Resume, Cover Letter, Qualifications , Name and contact information of recent supervisors willing to provide a reference
Duties:
Strategic Leadership, Digital Transformation and Enterprise Architecture
- Serve as VIU’s senior technology advisor, providing strategic counsel to the COO, executive leadership, and institutional leaders on technology strategy, digital opportunities, emerging technologies, risks, and major investments.
- Lead the development and implementation of VIU’s enterprise technology roadmap, ensuring alignment with the university’s long-term strategic, academic, and operational priorities.
- Champion digital transformation initiatives that enhance teaching, learning, research, student services, and administrative operations.
- Provide strategic leadership for enterprise architecture, ensuring technology platforms, systems, infrastructure, and digital services are integrated, scalable, secure, sustainable, and responsive to evolving institutional requirements.
- Translate emerging institutional needs into technology priorities and enterprise solutions.
- Integrate enrolment-focused models and processes to optimize service delivery and student outcomes.
Enterprise Systems and Technology Services
- Provide executive oversight of enterprise systems, technology infrastructure, cloud services, business applications, digital services, and related technology platforms.
- Ensure effective planning, implementation, operation, and support of technology serving finance, human resources, student services, advancement, faculty and staff, teaching and learning, distance education, and research, including applications and services connected with national research networks.
- Establish long-term infrastructure and service strategies that ensure technology services remain reliable, secure, responsive, scalable, and sustainable.
- Ensure enterprise platforms and services are designed and managed using an institution-wide approach that supports consistent and effective service delivery.
- Promote the continuous improvement of technology services and the effective adoption and use of institutional technology.
Technology Governance, Investment and Resource Management
- Provide executive oversight of VIU’s technology investment portfolio, ensuring initiatives are evaluated, prioritized, and governed through transparent processes aligned with institutional strategy, risk, value, and available resources.
- Approve and prioritize major technology projects related to the selection, acquisition, development, and implementation of information systems, infrastructure, and digital platforms.
- Establish effective project and portfolio management practices that support clear accountability, timely communication, risk management, and delivery of initiatives on time and within budget.
- Lead technology budgeting, forecasting, procurement, vendor management, contract negotiations, and resource planning.
- Establish appropriate technology policies, standards, governance practices, and performance measures that promote accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement.
- Foster financial stewardship and value-based decision-making to optimize institutional technology resources and investments.
Data Governance and Information Management
- Provide strategic leadership for institutional data and information management.
- Co-lead, with the University Registrar and the Director, Strategic Planning and Initiatives, implementation of VIU’s Data Governance Framework.
- Strengthen institutional practices related to data stewardship, data quality, accountability, accessibility, security, and appropriate use.
- Ensure technology platforms and processes support reliable institutional information, analysis, reporting, and evidence-informed decision-making at university, faculty, and departmental levels.
Cybersecurity, Privacy, Risk and Institutional Resilience
- Provide executive leadership for identifying, assessing, communicating, and mitigating technology-related risks within VIU’s enterprise risk management framework.
- Establish and promote a strong culture of cybersecurity and information security across the department and the broader university.
- Ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect university information, personal information, systems, infrastructure, and digital assets.
- Oversee cybersecurity incident response and recovery, technology business continuity, and disaster recovery planning.
- Ensure compliance with applicable privacy legislation, regulatory requirements, security frameworks, and industry standards, including British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the BC Government Defensible Security framework, and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.
- Provide executive direction on the interpretation and application of technology, privacy, security, and related technology policies and standards.
- Advise the President’s Executive and Board of Governors on emerging cybersecurity risks, institutional resilience, and technology-related risk mitigation.
People Leadership and Service Excellence
- Provide visible, collaborative leadership to Information Technology Services, establishing clear direction, priorities, expectations, and accountability.
- Build and sustain a high-performing, service-oriented technology organization characterized by collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and professional excellence.
- Attract, develop, motivate, and retain talented technology professionals while building organizational capacity and encouraging knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
- Support department leaders and employees through clear goal setting, performance management, learning and development plans, coaching, mentorship, succession planning, and professional development.
- Monitor and report on the department’s objectives, service performance, and activities in support of the university’s strategic and academic priorities.
- Provide effective leadership within a unionized environment, including appropriate administration and interpretation of collective agreements in consultation with Employee Relations.
Stakeholder Engagement, Communication and Partnerships
- Build trusted and collaborative relationships with academic and administrative leaders, faculty, employees, students, governance bodies, unions, and other institutional partners.
- Ensure technology and information needs are proactively identified through meaningful consultation and engagement across the university.
- Communicate complex technology issues, opportunities, risks, priorities, and investment decisions clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Develop productive relationships with government, post-secondary institutions, industry, community organizations, technology partners, and sector networks.
- Represent VIU’s technology interests with provincial and post-secondary organizations and identify opportunities for strategic partnerships and shared services.
- Represent the university on relevant internal and external committees, working groups, associations, and sector initiatives.
- For more detailed information see attached position profile
Required Qualifications:
The successful candidate will be an accomplished technology leader with demonstrated strategic leadership experience within a large and complex organization. Experience within post-secondary education, the broader public sector, or another similarly complex environment is highly desirable.
The Search Committee recognizes that no single candidate is likely to demonstrate all qualifications and experience in equal measure. Candidates should bring a strong combination of the following:
- Degree in Computing Science, Information Technology, Business, or a related discipline. A master’s degree is preferred. Additional education in business administration, leadership, project management, or related fields is an asset.
- Progressive senior leadership experience in roles of increasing scope and responsibility, preferably within a complex and unionized organization.
- Demonstrated success developing enterprise technology strategy and translating that strategy into digital transformation, enterprise solutions, and significant organizational change.
- Experience leading large, cross-functional technology teams responsible for strategic planning, project and portfolio management, change management, budgeting, service delivery, and continuous improvement.
- Executive-level experience overseeing enterprise systems, technology infrastructure, cloud services, cybersecurity, digital services, data governance, and information management.
- Experience providing senior-level advice on technology strategy and investment, cybersecurity, technology risk, emerging technologies, and digital innovation.
- Proven ability to manage significant budgets, establish investment priorities, optimize resources, oversee procurement and vendor relationships, and deliver complex initiatives on time and within budget.
- Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture, technology infrastructure, information systems, cybersecurity governance, privacy requirements, data governance, business continuity, disaster recovery, and technology risk management.
- Demonstrated understanding of project and portfolio governance, enterprise-wide technology planning, prioritization, and investment decision-making.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and determine their appropriate application within a complex institutional environment.
- A record of building collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships with institutional stakeholders, government, post-secondary institutions, industry, community organizations, and sector networks.
- An understanding of the role technology plays in supporting teaching, learning, research, student services, and administrative operations within a complex institution.
VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.
Note:
- Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
- All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
- Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.
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