Job Function: The Director of IT Planning & Governance is responsible for collaborating with the CIO/CTO on strategic oversight, direction, and leadership across all technological initiatives within the organization. This position ensures the organization’s technology strategy is innovative, aligned with business objectives, and forward-looking. This leader will manage technology governance, innovation, and digital transformation efforts while fostering collaboration between IT and business leaders. This role will also ensure that emerging technologies are leveraged for competitive advantage and operational efficiency.

Job Responsibilities    

Technology Strategy and Vision:

• With CTO guidance and collaboration, develop and implement a comprehensive technology roadmap aligned with the business strategy.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to define and execute the organization’s long-term technology vision.
• Lead digital transformation initiatives to modernize the organization’s technology infrastructure and enable business growth.

Business Relationship Management (BRM):

• Mature and manage the BRM function.  Define frameworks for IT to improve business and internal engagement.  Train and communicate the internal IT workforce on standardization and best practices.
• Build strong relationships with Product Managers/Owners and senior business leaders to understand business needs and help refine the NCAA technology roadmap.

Vendor and Partner Management:

• Manage relationships with strategic technology vendors and partners, ensuring they provide value, innovation, and meet the organization's needs.
• Lead contract negotiations and ensure service level agreements (SLAs) are aligned with organizational expectations.
• Evaluate new vendor solutions that align with the organization’s technology architecture and goals.

Technology Innovation & Research:

• Drive innovation through research and adoption of emerging technologies, such as AI.
• Develop and lead pilot programs for new technologies, including proofs-of-concept (POCs) to assess their feasibility within the organization.
• Foster a culture of innovation, encouraging experimentation and creative problem-solving.

Program & Portfolio Management:

• Oversee the strategic maturity, planning, and execution of major IT initiatives and technology programs through the IT PMO (ePMO)
• Manage a portfolio of technology projects, prioritizing according to business value, needs, risks, and resource availability.
• Ensure change management processes are in place to support smooth transitions during project execution.

IT Financial Management:

• Oversee the budgeting, financial management, and cost optimization of IT investments.
• Ensure efficient allocation of resources to technology initiatives that deliver the most business value.
• Implement financial governance for technology projects, ensuring return on investment (ROI) and cost control.

IT Workforce Development:

• Shape the IT workforce strategy, ensuring the development of skills that align with the organization’s evolving technology needs.
• Promote a culture of learning and professional development within the IT organization.
• Ensure that IT leaders are empowered to foster innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across teams.

Technology Marketing & Communication:

• Drive internal communication of the technology vision and roadmap to ensure transparency and alignment across the organization.
• Showcase the value of IT initiatives to business stakeholders, ensuring they understand how technology supports business outcomes.
• Promote the successes of the IT organization internally and externally, building a positive reputation for technology leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements   

• Bachelor's degree required in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.
• Master’s degree or relevant certifications (e.g., TOGAF, PMP, ITIL) preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive IT leadership experience required.
• Minimum of 5 years in a senior strategic role within technology governance, enterprise architecture, or digital transformation required.
• 10 -15 years of progressive IT leadership experience highly preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years in a senior strategic role within technology governance, enterprise architecture, or digital transformation highly preferred.
• Extensive experience in technology strategy, digital transformation, and enterprise architecture.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale technology initiatives, including vendor management, project execution, and governance.
• Expertise in emerging technologies, such as cloud computing and AI.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large IT budgets and technology investments.
• Ability to balance innovation with operational excellence.
• Estimated Travel Required <10%
• This position will be based out of the national office in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current work environment is hybrid; 3 days in the office and 2 days are remote.

Key Competencies

• Self-Management | Takes responsibility of one’s behavior, work, priorities, and time management accordingly.
• External Awareness | Understands and keeps up to date on local, national, and international policies and trends that impact the association and shapes stakeholders’ views; is aware of the association’s impact on the external environment.  
• Strategic Agility | Sees ahead clearly, can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately, has broad knowledge and perspective, is future oriented, can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods, can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans. 
• Motivating Others | Creates a climate in which people want to do their best, can motivate many kinds of direct reports and team or project members, can assess each person's hot button and use it to get the best out of him/her, pushes tasks and decisions down, empowers others, invites input from each person and shares ownership and visibility, makes each individual feel his/her work is important, is someone people like working for and with. 
• Effective Communication | Can exchange ideas, thoughts, opinions, knowledge, and data so that the message is understood with clarity and purpose. 

Core Values

• LEADERSHIP | We actively listen and continually strive to provide vital solutions, counsel and advocacy for student-athletes and intercollegiate athletics.
• INCLUSION | We seek and incorporate different perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and impact.
• COMMUNICATION | We commit to an environment of openness to build trust and make timely decisions.
• COLLABORATION | We work together, based on mutual respect, to lead and serve our stakeholders.
• ACCOUNTABILITY| We take ownership for our actions and results to add value every day.

Experience

Required

• Experience managing large-scale technology initiatives, including vendor management, project execution, and governance.
• Expertise in emerging technologies, such as cloud computing and AI.
• 5 year(s): Experience in a senior strategic role within technology governance, enterprise architecture, or digital transformation
• 5 year(s): Progressive IT leadership experience

Preferred

• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large IT budgets and technology investments.
• 8 year(s): Experience in a senior strategic role within technology governance, enterprise architecture, or digital transformation
• 10 - 15 years: Progressive IT leadership experience

Education

Required

• Bachelors or better

Preferred

• Masters or better

Licenses & Certifications

Preferred

• PMP

Equal Opportunity Employer
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