Executive Director of Academic Information Systems

University of California, Davis Health, is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as the Executive Director of Academic Information Systems . In this role, you will provide enterprise leadership for digital learning, academic platforms, and institutional data strategy across the Schools of Medicine and Nursing. Reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer, and accountable to the Executive Assistant Deans for Administration and Finance, this role is responsible for setting strategic direction for technology-enabled education and data systems across UC Davis Health. The Executive Director exercises significant influence across the Schools of Medicine and Nursing and the health system, partnering with and advising executives, deans, and senior administrators to shape information systems strategy, priorities, and investment decisions. The role oversees a high-impact team responsible for strategic software development and academic IT systems that support clinical education, compliance, and institutional transformation.

This role requires a leader who brings a clear, forward-looking vision for the future of academic information systems and the organizational, operational, and financial capabilities to execute that vision. The Executive Director translates strategic objectives into multiyear roadmaps, governance structures, and measurable outcomes, ensuring innovation and modernization efforts are sustainable, aligned, and deliver meaningful institutional impact. The Executive Director develops a deep understanding of the academic, operational, and technological needs of the Schools of Medicine and Nursing, proactively engaging with faculty, staff, learners, and leadership to translate their programmatic requirements into effective technical solutions. The role directs alignment and collaboration with UC Davis Health IT, ensuring integrated systems, coordinated resources, and prioritized enhancements that meet evolving institutional needs. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Executive Director functions as a senior advisor to executive leadership, making decisions on information systems strategy, governance, and investments, where errors in judgment may have a serious impact on institutional outcomes, compliance, and accreditation.

The Executive Director also leads the design and evolution of academic data infrastructure, including dashboards, pipelines, and analytics environments, ensuring that data is accessible, reliable, and actionable to support institutional planning, continuous improvement, accreditation, and learner success. In addition to educational and clinical systems, the role provides leadership for administrative and operational technology, enabling integrated support for business functions and data use cases. This position requires a visionary, collaborative, and results-driven IT leader with extensive management experience, a strategic mindset, and the ability to operate at both tactical and executive levels within a large, matrixed academic health system.

Why UC Davis Health:

Join a community of world-class clinicians, health care professionals, and innovators at UC Davis Health—one of California’s top-ranked research universities and the region’s second-largest employer. With more than 15,000 staff members, UC Davis Health offers a dynamic environment to grow your career while contributing to a university dedicated to building healthier futures, fostering a sense of belonging, and supporting continuous learning and professional development.

In addition to meaningful work, you’ll benefit from the advantages of being part of the University of California system, including comprehensive benefits , programs that support work–life balance, access to wellness resources, and more.

Visit our website to learn more about working at UC Davis Health and explore our full range of benefits .

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Alignment (35%):

• Articulates a multi-year vision and roadmap for academic information systems and data capabilities, translating strategic goals into executable plans, measurable outcomes, and sustained operational performance.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team including educational technologists, engineers, and software managers.
• Align technology strategy with academic, clinical, and research priorities.
• Formulate long-term strategy, planning, policy development, and institutional engagement at the executive level.
• Lead enterprise innovation and modernization initiatives, ensuring new technologies, platforms, and capabilities are strategically aligned with institutional priorities, operations, academic mission, and UC system standards.
• Define and evaluate performance metrics for direct reports, service lines, and major projects.
• Collaborate and participate as a senior leader with other IT leaders to advance division-wide strategies and ensure cross-functional coordination.
• Represent IT as a senior leader in institutional strategy meetings, UC initiatives, and accreditation activities.
• Exert strategic influence across schools and the health system, aligning academic and administrative constituents around
• Ensure transparency, equity, and accountability in team leadership and organizational collaboration.

Educational Technology Management and Innovation (30%):

• Oversee the evaluation, implementation, and support of learning platforms, instructional tools, and digital content delivery systems.
• Lead educational technology assessments, classroom upgrade planning, and instructional space modernization.
• Partner with academic leadership to support faculty, curriculum delivery, and learner success through technology.
• Promote inclusive, accessible learning experiences through modern platforms and tools.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies (e.g., AR/VR) to support immersive clinical and instructional learning environments.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify opportunities for scalable technology adoption across academic programs.

Educational Data Management & Analytics Development (10%):

• Provide recommendations around the design, implementation, and maintenance of data infrastructure supporting educational systems.
• Collaborate with the Data Center of Excellence to develop pipelines, dashboards, and automated reports for learner tracking, curriculum analysis, and accreditation.
• Ensure alignment with institutional reporting needs, compliance standards, and data governance frameworks.
• Collaborate with academic leaders to identify meaningful KPIs for educational outcomes and learner success.
• Provide recommendations on how to integrate data across systems to support continuous improvement in instructional design and academic operations.
• Promote data literacy within teams and ensure transparency and accessibility of insights to stakeholders.
• Monitor system performance and continuously improve analytics solutions based on feedback and strategic goals.

Software Development & Application Management (10%):

• Direct high-performing Agile development teams that deliver enterprise-grade academic and clinical software systems.
• Make enterprise-level build-vs-buy decisions to maximize value, scalability, and long-term supportability.
• Oversee the design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of internally developed applications.
• Own and evolve a strategic portfolio of 70+applications that support core operations, learner success, and institutional innovation.
• Ensure application architectures are secure, documented, and aligned with institutional standards.
• Promote continuous improvement through product management, user feedback, and cross-departmental collaboration.

Operational, Financial & Policy Oversight (15%):

• Manage an annual $5M+ operating budget, including capital planning, forecasting, and optimization.
• Establish internal controls, fiscal accountability practices, and reporting mechanisms in alignment with UC policy.
• Oversee vendor management, contract negotiation, and service level agreement enforcement.
• Ensure compliance with UC, state, and federal regulations, including audit and accreditation readiness.
• Lead the creation and refinement of internal IT policies, operational procedures, and service standards.
• Support enterprise risk management, business continuity planning, and workforce development efforts.
• Provide leadership and support for IT services that enable SOM/SON business operations, including finance, HR, and planning.
• Collaborate with Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and department administrators to improve service delivery and address gaps in IT support for business processes.
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement technologies that streamline administrative workflows and improve data-driven decision making.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, informatics, instructional technology, or related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in IT management, including at least five (5) years building and leading management teams and/or multiple functional teams within a large, matrixed organization, including developing managers and leading organizations through growth & transformation.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in enterprise-scale software development and IT service delivery.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience with learning management systems (LMS) or comparable digital learning platforms.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering strategic, transformative learning environments in higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to lead institutional data strategy initiatives, including data governance, analytics, and performance reporting from educational platforms.
• Proficiency in Agile methodologies and leading full-cycle software development initiatives.
• Demonstrated success managing large departmental budgets (>$5M) and overseeing complex capital planning efforts.