Director of Data Platform and Applications Services

Job description

Posting Details Dickinson College is a premier four-year residential liberal arts institution chartered in 1783 and widely recognized as a leader in global and sustainability education. Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, named a “most livable city” by Forbes and is minutes from the state capital of Harrisburg. The campus is connected to a vibrant downtown that offers eclectic dining, shopping and entertainment options. Within a two-hour drive are Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.; New York City is three hours away. Dickinson College offers full-time employees a broad range of benefits, including a comprehensive medical insurance plan, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, generous time off, parental leave, homebuyer assistance, and tuition benefits for eligible employees and dependent children under the age of 24. Upon eligibility, the College contributes 8% of an employee’s base salary to a retirement account with an additional .5% matching contribution; all money paid by the college into the employee’s retirement plan is immediately and fully vested in the employee. Below you will find the details for the position, including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the "Apply" for this job link button above. Position Department Information and Technology Services Job Summary/Basic Function The Director of Data Platform and Application Services leads Dickinson College’s enterprise data platform, systems integrations, automation solutions, and custom applications. The director guides a team of technical professionals, establishes the architecture and standards that connect the college’s technology ecosystem, and partners with campus leaders to support secure, reliable access to institutional data. The position also serves as ITS co-chair of the Data Governance Council. Position Summary Provides strategic leadership for Dickinson College’s enterprise data platform, systems integration, and application development capabilities. Champions a mission-aligned, data-informed approach to technology that enables the college to connect systems, manage institutional data effectively, and support operational and strategic decision-making. Serves as the college’s lead architect for enterprise data and integration services. Leads a team of technical professionals responsible for the enterprise data platform, systems integrations, automation solutions, and custom applications that extend institutional capabilities beyond commercial platforms. Partners with institutional leaders, Analytics and Institutional Research, data stewards, and campus stakeholders to ensure institutional data is accessible, reliable, secure, and governed responsibly. Brings both strategic vision and technical expertise to the role, translating institutional priorities into sustainable technology solutions while communicating effectively with technical and non-technical audiences. Reports directly to the CIO and Vice President for Information and Technology Services and serves as ITS co-chair of Dickinson’s Data Governance Council. Essential Functions Strategic Leadership and Departmental Direction: Provides strategic leadership for the Data Platform and Application Services department. Establishes the vision, priorities, and operating model for the team in alignment with the ITS strategic plan and institutional goals. Develops and advances a technology roadmap for enterprise data architecture, systems integration, and application services. Represents the department in institutional planning efforts and contributes to division-wide strategy. Fosters a collaborative team culture focused on continuous learning, service, and institutional impact. Enterprise Data Architecture and Platform Development: Leads the design, development, and evolution of Dickinson’s enterprise data platform and integration architecture. Establishes the standards and frameworks that govern how institutional data is structured, integrated, accessed, and managed. Oversees data warehousing and institutional data platform capabilities that support reporting, analytics, operational processes, and institutional decision-making. Ensures the data environment is scalable, secure, interoperable, and aligned with evolving institutional needs. Partners with campus stakeholders to translate business and data needs into durable, well-governed technical solutions. System Integration and Application Development: Leads the design, development, support, and lifecycle management of integrations between enterprise systems and third-party platforms. Ensures Dickinson’s technology ecosystem is securely and reliably connected through APIs, middleware, automation, and modern integration practices. Oversees the development and support of custom applications that extend institutional capabilities beyond commercial platforms. Establishes standards for development practices, documentation, code quality, integration management, monitoring, and operational resiliency. Data Governance Partnership: Serves as ITS co-chair of Dickinson’s Data Governance Council and partners with institutional stakeholders to strengthen data governance practices across the college. Contributes technical expertise related to data quality, stewardship, access, metadata, and institutional data standards. Promotes a campus culture that values institutional data as a strategic asset and supports its responsible and effective use. Team Management and Staff Development: Leads, mentors, and develops a team of technical professionals responsible for enterprise data, integration, and application services. Establishes clear expectations, supports professional growth, and fosters a collaborative and service-oriented team culture. Oversees hiring, onboarding, performance management, and staff development for direct reports. Campus Partnership and Communication: Builds strong partnerships with administrative and academic offices across the college. Consults with campus stakeholders to understand operational, data, and application needs and communicates technical capabilities and constraints clearly and effectively. Prepares and delivers reports, presentations, and briefings for leadership, governance groups, and campus audiences. Serves as a trusted liaison between the department’s technical work and institutional priorities. Other Duties and Responsibilities Participates in ITS leadership team activities, divisional planning, and cross-functional initiatives. Maintains current knowledge of emerging technologies, higher education IT trends, and best practices in data architecture, integration, and application development. Maintains professional knowledge through participation in professional organizations, conferences, and continuing education. Displays a high level of discretion in handling administrative, financial, and student information in accordance with institutional policies and applicable regulations, including FERPA. Other duties as determined or assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities Supervises work of others, including planning, assigning, scheduling and reviewing work, ensuring quality standards. Is responsible for hiring, terminating, training and developing, reviewing performance and administering corrective action for staff. Plans organizational structure and position content. Requirements Bachelor's degree, required in Information Science, Computer Science, or a related field. Experience may substitute for some or all of the required education. Master's degree, preferred in Computer Science, Data Science or a related field. Technical expertise in the following areas: Enterprise data architecture, including institutional data platforms, governed data access, and scalable data delivery. Systems integration architecture and implementation, including APIs, ETL/ELT processes, middleware platforms, workflow automation, and secure data exchange. Design and support of cloud-based data and application ecosystems, including integration between SaaS platforms and institutional systems. Custom application development and software development lifecycle management. Data governance practices, including data quality, stewardship, metadata management, and access governance. Cloud-based enterprise platforms and integration patterns, particularly within ERP environments. Leadership and professional competencies: Ability to lead and develop technical teams within a collaborative, service-oriented culture. Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to translate institutional priorities into technical direction. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences. Ability to manage multiple priorities, lead complex initiatives, and collaborate across organizational boundaries. Strong partnership and relationship-building skills with a commitment to institutional mission and service. Experience in higher education or a similarly complex, mission-driven organization preferred. Minimum Work Experience More than 8 years. Independence of Action Results are defined; incumbent sets own goals and determines how to accomplish results with few or no guidelines to follow, although precedents may exist; supervisor/manager provides broad guidance and overall direction. Equipment Used Standard office equipment. Physical and Environmental Demands Office environment no unusual environmental demands. No specific or unusual physical demands. This position is considered on-campus, with the possibility of a hybrid work arrangement based on departmental and institutional needs. Please address each of the following questions within your cover letter. Responses should be concise yet sufficiently detailed to demonstrate your experience, judgment, communication style, and approach to the responsibilities of this position. 1. Describe an enterprise integration or data platform project you personally led. Include the systems involved, the biggest obstacle you encountered, one decision you made that changed the project's direction, and the outcome. 2. Imagine you have been in this role for two months. Workday Student implementation begins in six months. Several critical integrations have no clear owner, application developers have a six-month backlog, and departments disagree about institutional data definitions. What would be your first three priorities and why? 3. After reviewing the position description, what do you believe will be the most difficult aspect of this role during the first year? Explain why you selected it and describe an experience that has prepared you to address that challenge. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools Dickinson College recognizes that applicants may use AI tools to assist in preparing application materials. Thoughtful use of these tools is acceptable; however, all submitted materials should accurately reflect your own experience, judgment, critical thinking, and communication style. We reserve the right to discuss any portion of your application materials, including responses to these questions, during the interview process. EEO/Diversity Statement: The College is committed to building a representative and diverse faculty, staff, and student body. We encourage applications from all qualified persons.