Princeton University is among the world’s foremost educational institutions. The fourth-oldest college in the United States, it is an independent, coeducational, nondenominational university that provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering.
As a global research university, Princeton seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching.
Princeton’s educational mission is to prepare students to pursue meaningful lives and to help address the challenges of the future. To this end, the University aims to enroll the most capable students from all parts of the world and to provide them with an educational experience that strengthens their intellects, sharpens their skills, expands their horizons, and prepares them for leadership—all while pursuing the highest possible standards of excellence.
Living up to its informal motto, “In the Nation’s Service and the Service of Humanity,” the University has educated thousands of individuals who have dedicated themselves to public service and to serving communities in the United States and around the world. This mission also finds expression in the lives of Princeton’s alumni, arguably among the most loyal and generous of any American university. Their level of service and generosity to their university is legendary, exemplified by the extraordinary number of hours they give annually in service to the University and the extremely high participation rates of the Annual Giving program.
Princeton's Office of Information Technology
Princeton's Office of Information Technology (OIT) is committed to technology support and innovation that enables Princeton to achieve its mission: to advance learning through scholarship, research, and teaching of unsurpassed quality. OIT has responsibility for overseeing Princeton’s academic and administrative systems and the information technology infrastructure that supports them. OIT is proud of the fact that Princeton is widely seen as a leader in providing a robust infrastructure for campus computing and in identifying and deploying new technologies that enable academic innovation in teaching, learning, research, and scholarship.
OIT strives to enable communication and collaboration among information technology professionals and users of information technology at Princeton. OIT staff are committed to supporting all members of the University in their academic and administrative work.
Daren Hubbard - Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Daren Hubbard Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Daren Hubbard serves as Princeton’s Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. Hubbard has more than 25 years of leadership in higher education and strategy, having previously served as Vice President of Information Technology and CIO at Georgia Tech and as CIO and Associate Vice President at Wayne State University. He is an active member of several higher education technology advisory groups.
As the chief strategist and operational leader of the Office of Information Technology (OIT), the VP and CIO is responsible for providing strategic leadership to identify, develop and implement information systems, services and the technical infrastructure that enables the Princeton community to achieve its mission to advance learning through research and teaching of unsurpassed quality. The OIT organization has a staff of over 300 people working across six core functions: the information security office, enterprise infrastructure services, software and application services, the service management office, the project and technology consulting office, and operations and planning. Hubbard is responsible for successfully transitioning OIT to a new organizational structure, where it will be strategically aligned with other large, operationally focused units such as Facilities, University Services, Campus Life and Human Resources.
Hubbard holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Library Science and Master of Business Administration, both from Wayne State University.
The Opportunity: Associate CIO, Project and Technology Consulting Office
Reporting to the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, the Associate CIO for the Project and Technology Consulting Office leads an organization of project consulting resources and oversees a complex and broad portfolio of strategic and high impact projects and initiatives to ensure information technology is a vital contributor to the overall mission and success of Princeton University.
The Associate CIO is a key member of the senior leadership team who is principally responsible for the University’s IT governance process, University-wide IT program management, and IT consulting capabilities. The IT governance process facilitated by the Associate CIO ensures that the University’s IT investment portfolio is aligned with the mission and meets organizational needs for high-quality technology solutions. Aligned with this, the Associate CIO is also responsible for establishing and maintaining a culture of professional project and program management at the University and leads a team of strategic IT project managers. The Associate CIO is the principal strategic IT consultant and leads a team of consultants, process analysts and business analysts that are focused on helping our campus partners transform their operations through the use of information technology. The Associate CIO provides high-level thought partnership for the CIO and serves on a variety of University committees representing OIT.
Responsibilities
IT Governance Leadership:
Responsible for the IT Governance process through which University leadership cooperatively develops and establishes IT strategy and policy.
Lead the University’s IT project and portfolio planning process, including proposal review, ensuring efficient resourcing and funding strategies, and preparing the project slate for approval through the governance process.
Establish the overall direction for the methods and practices through which the quality of projects and services are measured.
Project and Program Management and Leadership:
Direct the Princeton Project and Technology Consulting Office, which is responsible for ensuring the success of University-wide strategic IT projects, including technology and infrastructure transformation, deployment readiness; risk management; ERP systems; capability transfer and support; audit and review.
Lead an organization of project and program management consultants who actively manage the complex portfolio University-wide IT projects to improve project success rates, optimize spend, deliver more value by leveraging business process improvements, and maximizing institutional alignment and strategic outcomes.
Work with cabinet-level University stakeholders to identify and manage potential risks and other issues associated with critical University-wide projects.
Develop and sustain a culture of professional project management across the university through Princeton Project Management Methodology training and by providing professional development opportunities across campus.
Responsible for utilization reporting for the entire project portfolio including tracking project progress, key deliverables, milestones and timelines in an open and transparent manner.
Strategic Leadership:
Work closely with the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, in collaboration with the other OIT Associate CIOs on strategic OIT initiatives.
Develop and sustain the practice of professional IT strategy consulting and manage a team of internal consultants that are trusted advisors for university IT leadership.
Lead high-value strategic consulting initiatives for senior university leadership.
Campus IT Leadership:
Serve on a variety of University-wide committees to represent OIT and the University strategic IT mission and objectives.
Establish, enhance and maintain effective relationships and communication with all University constituents.
Job Qualifications
Essential Qualifications:
10+ years of experience evolving and leading program management services for a mid- to large-size IT organization.
Experience leading program management for a large portfolio of complex, high-impact, high-risk IT projects such as digital transformation, ERP implementations, or other mission critical IT projects.
Key involvement in architecting and leading IT Governance practices for a large institution. Proven success partnering with executive-level institutional leadership to progress toward a common vision or mission.
A minimum of 10 years’ staff management experience.
Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, and active listening skills.
A minimum of 15 years of IT project and program management experience, and a demonstrated knowledge and understanding of project management principles, methodologies and of how to successfully implement complex IT projects in federated organizations.
A dynamic leader with excellent interpersonal skills, who values and excels at collaboration and customer service.
Demonstrated ability to think strategically and facilitate strategic planning sessions.
In-depth knowledge of, and familiarity with, IT products and services.
A thorough understanding of IT trends and capabilities.
A commitment to diversity and to serving the needs of a diverse University community.
Education: Bachelor's degree.
Preferred Qualifications:
Professional consulting experience, ideally in the higher education industry.
Experience in mission driven organizations such as higher educational institutions.
Appropriate professional certifications, such as PMP.
Applications & Nominations
Princeton University's Office of Information Technology has partnered with Boyden Executive Search. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:
Lisa Vuona has decades of experience in executive search and human resource management, primarily in the non-profit, healthcare and education sectors. She is distinguished by her track record and network, and by her approach, which combines the strategic power of data with a finely tuned ability to understand the client’s organization and identify high-caliber leaders who fit the culture.
Leslie Smith has helped numerous individuals and organizations achieve their goals. She works with non-profits and educational institutions, helping to define leadership needs and connecting them with the right talent. Along with extensive knowledge of the non-profit sector, she has a passion for strengthening mission-driven organizations and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
Princeton OIT - Associate CIO, PATCO - Job Description (PDF Download)
