The Senior Director of IT M&A Integration & Shared Services is a hands-on technology leader responsible for directly leading post-close IT integration and building a scalable, shared-services IT operating model for Excelsior University and its acquired or merged institutions. This role assumes consultant-led pre-close planning and takes ownership at close to execute Day-1 readiness, post-merger integration, and transition to centralized IT services. The Director will actively manage system consolidation, platform rationalization, data migration, and operational rollout, ensuring continuity of academic and administrative services for adult learners. The role is highly program-oriented and execution-focused, requiring the ability to actively manage complex integrations, lead technical teams, and make hands-on decisions about systems, processes, and shared services.

Core Responsibilities

1. Hands-On Post-Close IT Integration

• Lead Day-1, Day-30, Day-90, and Day-180 IT integration activities, including direct configuration, deployment, and cutover support for systems.
• Translate pre-close plans into actionable, executable integration tasks, coordinating teams and consultants in real time.
• Personally oversee technical execution across:
  • ERP (Finance, HR)
  • Student Information Systems (SIS)
  • CRM, LMS, and academic platforms
  • Integration middleware and APIs
  • Identity & Access Management
  • Data, analytics, and reporting platforms
• Ensure continuity of services for adult learners and faculty with minimal disruption, intervening directly as needed.

2. Program & Portfolio Management (Execution Focused)

• Serve as hands-on Program Director for IT M&A initiatives, not just governance.
• Establish and manage integrated project plans, dependencies, and resource allocations.
• Actively track progress, remove obstacles, and make real-time technical decisions to keep programs on schedule.
• Coordinate internal teams, vendors, and consultants through direct task-level engagement, ensuring execution integrity.

3. Shared Services Design & Implementation

• Lead the hands-on design and rollout of a centralized IT shared-services model for acquired institutions.
• Define and implement shared services, including:
  • Application support and administration
  • Integration and data services
  • Identity and access management
  • IT service management (ITSM)
  • Vendor and contract management
• Personally guide configuration, process standardization, and operational setup, ensuring services are fully operational.
• Transition acquired institutions from transitional support models to Excelsior-led shared services, actively managing tasks and issue resolution.

4. Platform Convergence & Rationalization

• Partner with Enterprise Architecture and functional leaders, with direct hands-on involvement in:
  • Assessing system overlap and redundancy
  • Consolidating platforms
  • Migrating, configuring, or decommissioning applications
• Ensure platform decisions are executed according to plan, maintaining continuity and performance.

5. Vendor, TSA & Third-Party Management

• Manage post-close Transition Services Agreements (TSAs), with hands-on coordination of tasks and dependencies.
• Directly oversee vendor deliverables, milestones, and technical execution.
• Reduce reliance on TSAs through active operational leadership and technical execution.

6. Change Management & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with academic and administrative leaders, actively leading hands-on change execution.
• Communicate integration progress and technical status to stakeholders.
• Support faculty, staff, and learners through transitions, including resolving technical or operational issues directly.

7. Risk, Security & Compliance

• Ensure integration activities meet security, privacy, and compliance standards.
• Directly participate in system configuration, access control, and audit readiness tasks.
• Maintain continuity of critical services during system transitions, including hands-on incident resolution.

Required Qualifications Experience

• 10+ years in IT leadership with hands-on operational and integration experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading post-merger IT integration or large-scale IT transformation programs, including direct technical and system execution.
• Strong background in program and portfolio management, with hands-on accountability for deliverables.
• Experience operating in software-centric environments (ERP, SIS, CRM, LMS, data platforms).
• Experience designing or running centralized or shared IT services, with direct operational involvement.

Skills & Competencies

• Hands-on leadership in complex, multi-stakeholder IT programs.
• Strong governance, risk, and execution discipline.
• Ability to execute technical tasks directly, including configuration, deployment, and operational handoffs.
• Vendor and contract management expertise.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, particularly online or adult-learner institutions.
• Familiarity with SIS, ERP, CRM, LMS, and data platforms commonly used in higher education.
• Experience working alongside consulting firms during M&A integrations.
• Enterprise Architecture exposure, including:
  • Understanding of application, integration, and data architectures
  • Ability to evaluate platform fit, redundancy, and scalability
  • Experience partnering with Enterprise Architects to support system rationalization and convergence
• ITIL, PMP, PgMP, or similar certifications.
• Experience supporting growth through repeatable acquisition and shared-services models.

Success Metrics

• Day-1 and post-close milestones achieved with minimal learner disruption.
• Successful transition from transitional support to shared services.
• Reduction in redundant systems and services.
• On-time, on-budget integration delivery.
• Positive stakeholder satisfaction across institutions.
• Measurable improvement in service consistency and operational efficiency.

Reporting & Collaboration

• Reports to: CIO
• Works closely with:
  • Enterprise Architecture
  • Academic and administrative leadership
  • Finance and HR
  • External consultants and system integrators

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment based in Albany, NY.
• Periodic travel to partner institutions or vendors as needed.
• Travel varies based on active integration programs.

The hiring salary range for this position is $130,000.00 – $140,000.00. The hiring salary range above represents the University's good faith estimate at the time of posting