Higher Education Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO)

CampusWorks engages experienced interim CIOs to work directly with higher education institutions across the country on short- to long-term consulting engagements. The role requires up to 100% travel and a mix of on-site and remote presence depending on client needs. The Interim CIO oversees all aspects of IT planning, budgeting, governance, vendor management, and end-user support while building a high-performing IT team aligned with institutional strategy.

The successful candidate brings deep familiarity with higher education technology environments, demonstrated change management capability, and the ability to develop trusted relationships across senior leadership, academic units, and technology vendors. Engagements are project-based and suited to consultants seeking varied, high-impact work across multiple campuses.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive IT Strategic Plan aligned with each client institution's mission and goals
• Establish IT governance structures that include business, academic, and student representation to prioritise and approve IT initiatives
• Manage vendor contracts, competitive technology procurements, and service provider partnerships on behalf of client institutions
• Lead the IT department across infrastructure, enterprise applications, systems, and end-user support functions
• Research and evaluate emerging technologies as potential enhancements to existing network, server, and IT infrastructure
• Build trusted relationships with senior leadership, academic units, and technology vendors to align IT with institutional objectives

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, business, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)
• 10 or more years of experience as a CIO or CTO within higher education
• Strong knowledge of higher education technologies, systems, and sector-specific challenges
• Demonstrated leadership and communication skills, including experience leading diverse stakeholder groups to agreed outcomes
• Ability to guide organisations through change and transformation with agility
• Preferred certifications include ITIL, PMP, and CompTIA A+, Network+, or Server+; experience with Banner, Colleague, Jenzabar, Workday, Canvas, Moodle, or Blackboard is advantageous

CampusWorks is a consulting firm specialising in higher education technology and operations. The firm partners with colleges and universities across the United States to deliver project-based engagements, helping institutions improve IT performance, operational maturity, and strategic alignment through its HappyCampus consultant community.