Manager Enterprise Application

Manager (to move into a Director role) Enterprise Applications (Contract-to-Hire) The Opportunity We are seeking a strategic and technical leader looking to move into a Director of Enterprise Applications role. This position is offered on a contract-to-hire basis (typically 3–6 months), offering a "trial run" to ensure a perfect fit before transitioning into a permanent, full-time leadership position. This is a critical hire as the institution transitions leadership of their application ecosystem from an outsourced consultancy to an internal Director. We are open to Lead Systems Analysts or ERP Managers who are ready to take the next step into a formal Director-level role. Role Overview As the Director, you will be the primary architect of the institution’s software vision. You will bridge the gap between technical execution and executive strategy, ensuring that mission-critical platforms like Jenzabar are optimized for student and staff success. Ideal Profile • Higher Education Veteran: You understand the unique lifecycle and departmental needs of a college environment. • "Many Hats" Mentality: You thrive in smaller institutional settings where you can pivot between high-level strategy and hands-on technical troubleshooting. • Aspiring Director: You have a proven track record of leading projects or teams and are ready to own the entire enterprise application roadmap. Core Responsibilities • Strategic Project Management: Own all IT project deliverables and timelines, specifically driving the upcoming Jenzabar Financial Aid implementation. • Operational Leadership: Manage and mentor a technical team of analysts and developers; coordinate with help desk and server teams to ensure seamless system uptime. • Vendor & Stakeholder Liaison: Act as the primary point of contact for IT vendors (Jenzabar) and facilitate communication between campus departments (Finance, Enrollment, HR). • Data & Reporting: Utilize SQL Server to lead reporting efforts, ensuring leadership has the data visualization needed for informed decision-making. • Governance: Ensure data integrity, regulatory compliance, and robust disaster recovery protocols across the Azure Cloud environment. Technical Qualifications • Experience: Proven background in a Higher Education IT environment. • Systems: Hands-on experience with Student Information Systems (SIS); specific exposure to Jenzabar is highly preferred. • Data: Strong proficiency in SQL database reporting. • Cloud: Experience working within a Microsoft Windows and Azure Cloud ecosystem. • Leadership: Demonstrated ability to manage project lifecycles and update executive leadership on status and risk.