Senior Director of Enterprise Applications

Relay Recruiting

Oberlin, OH 44074, USA

Published: 6/14/2022

Technology

Full Time

Job Description

Senior Director of Enterprise Applications, Private Liberal Arts College
Location: Southwest of Cleveland, Ohio (Hybrid: 3 days onsite, 2 days remote)

Job Summary

A private liberal arts college located southwest of Cleveland seeks a strategic, hands-on, and experienced Senior Director of Enterprise Applications to lead a campus-wide ERP modernization initiative.

This is an especially exciting time to join the institution. The college is deeply invested in providing cutting-edge technology to all students, faculty, and staff, and has made tremendous progress toward this vision. Significant resources are being dedicated to strengthening the IT department, and the successful implementation of Workday in January will mark a pivotal milestone. This role is not only critical to the institution’s immediate success but also central to shaping the future of its technology landscape.

This is a full-time, hybrid leadership role (three days onsite), offering the opportunity to guide meaningful transformation at one of the nation’s premier liberal arts institutions.

Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, the Senior Director will oversee the planning, implementation, and support of a modern, cloud-based ERP platform aligned with the institution’s academic and operational goals. The ideal candidate brings a blend of technical depth, strategic vision, and strong leadership, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, accessible information for non-technical users.

As a member of the IT Leadership Team, this individual will join a dynamic group of leaders committed to building a high-performing, service-oriented, and collaborative culture. They will lead an incredible team of 12 staff members, including two direct reports. The successful candidate is a relationship-builder who can lead through influence, inspire teams, and thrive in a collaborative academic environment.

Key Responsibilities

ERP Transformation: Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of the institution’s transition from Ellucian Banner to Workday, with go-live in January.
Business Process Improvement: Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to redesign administrative and academic workflows for greater effectiveness.
Change Management: Develop and lead strategies for stakeholder alignment, communication, and training to support adoption.
Cloud ERP Support Model: Implement and manage a support structure tailored to Workday and other cloud-native ERP environments.
System Integration & iPaaS: Oversee enterprise application integration using modern platforms such as iPaaS.
Enterprise Applications Portfolio: Manage and evolve a portfolio of applications that support critical academic and administrative functions.
Cybersecurity & Compliance: Partner with the Information Security team to ensure systems align with security, privacy, and compliance standards.
Hands-On Technical Leadership: Contribute to system design, cloud architecture, and application development as needed.
Data Governance: Lead efforts to improve data quality, stewardship, and institutional reporting capabilities.
Project Management: Direct cross-functional project teams using best practices in project delivery and risk management.
Mentorship & Team Development: Coach and inspire IT professionals, fostering collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
Vendor Management: Oversee ERP vendor relationships, contracts, and performance management.
User Engagement: Serve as a bridge between technical teams and campus users, simplifying complex technology and supporting adoption.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business, or related field
7+ years of progressive leadership in higher education IT
Direct experience leading and/or migrating ERP systems, including Workday (required) and Ellucian Banner (preferred)
Knowledge of application development, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and iPaaS
Strong background in business process improvement and system integration
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences
Demonstrated ability to lead campus-wide change management initiatives
Proven success in project management and team leadership

Desired Qualifications

Master’s degree in IT, MBA, or related field
Experience in a liberal arts college or similar academic environment
Experience managing or supporting on-prem Banner ERP systems
Demonstrated success managing Workday or similar cloud ERP environments
Solid foundation in cybersecurity and compliance for enterprise systems
Familiarity with institutional planning, student lifecycle systems, and shared governance in higher education

Compensation

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.
The position includes an excellent benefits package.

Commitment to Diversity

Relay Recruiting and the private liberal arts institution are committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse and inclusive community. We believe diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and the inclusion of all members of the community, especially those who experience discrimination or underrepresentation. This is a core value as we strive for a culturally diverse student body, faculty, and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of the nation and our world.

Relay Recruiting and the private liberal arts institution is an equal opportunity employer.

Company DescriptionThis is a leading global manufacturer with nearly a century of success and innovation. With operations spanning worldwide, the business has established itself as a trusted name in the industry. Today, the company is entering a pivotal period of growth in North America, with ambitious plans to double in size over the coming years. This role offers the unique chance to join a thriving organization at an exciting time — helping to shape the future of its operations across the U.S. and Canada while contributing to a long-standing legacy of excellence in manufacturing.

Company Description

This is a leading global manufacturer with nearly a century of success and innovation. With operations spanning worldwide, the business has established itself as a trusted name in the industry. Today, the company is entering a pivotal period of growth in North America, with ambitious plans to double in size over the coming years. This role offers the unique chance to join a thriving organization at an exciting time — helping to shape the future of its operations across the U.S. and Canada while contributing to a long-standing legacy of excellence in manufacturing.