POSITION SPECIFICSThe Pennsylvania State University seeks an accomplished and forward-looking leader to serve as the
Director of IT Governance. Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Information Officer, the Director leads the design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Penn State's enterprise-wide IT governance framework spanning all of IT at Penn State.
This is a pivotal role at a defining moment for Penn State IT. As the University advances a multi-year operating model transformation and strengthens alignment between technology investment and institutional strategy, the Director of IT Governance will help establish the decision rights, policies, standards, portfolio practices, and collaborative forums necessary to accelerate strategic outcomes, manage risk, and deliver measurable value to students, faculty, researchers, and staff.
The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in IT governance frameworks, a collaborative and consultative leadership style, and the ability to translate complex governance concepts into practical structures that enable - rather than constrain - innovation across a decentralized, research-intensive university environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIESEnterprise IT Governance Strategy and Framework- Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing maturity of a comprehensive IT governance framework that operates at both the enterprise level and within colleges, campuses, and administrative units.
- Define clear decision rights, accountability structures, escalation paths, and authority matrices (e.g., RACI models) for IT investment, architecture, data, security, and service decisions.
- Establish and steward governance bodies and councils - including executive steering committees, architecture review boards, portfolio review forums, and domain working groups - ensuring they are well-charged, appropriately staffed, and outcome-focused.
Policy, Standards, and Compliance- Direct the development, review, publication, and lifecycle management of University IT policies, standards, procedures, and guidelines in partnership with the Office of Information Security, the Office of General Counsel, Internal Audit, and Research.
- Ensure alignment with applicable regulatory, contractual, and accreditation requirements, including FERPA, HIPAA, GLBA, GDPR, export controls, PCI DSS, and federal research compliance mandates.
- Operationalize policy adoption through clear communication, training, exception-handling processes, and governance-as-a-service support for units.
IT Portfolio and Investment Governance- Partner with IT portfolio leaders, Finance, and the CIO's office to embed governance into IT portfolio management - including intake, prioritization, stage-gate reviews, benefits realization, and portfolio health reporting.
- Support the evolution of a sustainable IT funding model by providing governance structures that align demand, capacity, and investment decisions across enterprise and unit portfolios.
- Champion data-informed decision-making through governance dashboards, decision trackers, and risk registers that are transparent to senior leadership and University stakeholders.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement- Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the CIO, Deputy CIO, CISO, IT Senior Leadership team, Strategic Partners and IT stakeholders on matters of governance, policy, and strategic alignment.
- Build and sustain productive relationships with other governance bodies across Penn State.
- Lead change management and communications strategies that socialize governance practices, build literacy, and foster a culture of shared accountability for IT outcomes.
Risk, Performance, and Continuous Improvement- Establish governance-related performance metrics and maturity models; regularly assess and report on effectiveness to executive leadership.
- Identify governance gaps and risks; recommend and implement improvements using industry-recognized frameworks, adapted thoughtfully to the higher education context.
- Benchmark governance practices against peer R1 research universities and emerging industry standards, incorporating insights from EDUCAUSE, Internet2, and AAU/AAUDE communities.
Team Leadership and Talent Development- Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development to governance staff and cross-functional team members assigned to governance workstreams.
- Model servant leadership, intellectual humility, and a bias for action in the face of ambiguity.
QUALIFICATIONSRequired- Degree in Information Technology, Information Systems, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
- Progressive leadership experience in IT, with substantial experience focused on IT governance, strategy, policy development, portfolio management, or enterprise architecture.
- Demonstrated success designing and implementing IT governance structures in large, complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
- Working knowledge of established IT governance and management frameworks (COBIT, ITIL, TOGAF, NIST CSF) and the judgment to apply them pragmatically rather than prescriptively.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and facilitation skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts for executive, academic, and non-technical audiences.
- Proven ability to lead through influence, build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups, and navigate matrixed and decentralized organizations.
- Experience leading or contributing to enterprise-scale organizational change initiatives.
- Commitment to the mission of public higher education and to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
Preferred - Graduate degree in a related discipline, such as Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Information Systems, Information Management (MSIS), or a related field.
- Prior experience in a large, research university, academic medical center, or comparably complex public-sector institution.
- Experience with IT operating model design, service taxonomy, and product management methodologies in addition to traditional ITSM.
- Relevant professional certifications (e.g., COBIT, ITIL Expert/Strategic Leader, TOGAF, CGEIT, PMP, Prosci Change Practitioner).
- Experience with data governance, AI governance, or emerging technology policy development.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONSBachelor's Degree8+ years of relevant experience, includes 3+ years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience acceptedRequired Certifications:None
SALARY & BENEFITSThe salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $115,860.00 - $173,844.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICSPursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
