Senior Manager of Enterprise Applications & Data

Position: The Senior Manager of Enterprise Applications & Data supports SURS’ vision by providing leadership and technical expertise in planning, selecting, implementing, upgrading, and maintaining key custom developed and Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) applications. They will guide a team of incredible individuals responsible for the development & maintenance of SURS’ enterprise applications. This position will report directly to the Chief Strategy & Technology Officer.

Position: Senior Manager of Enterprise Applications & Data

Position Type: Full-time | Based in Champaign, IL

Civil Service Classification: Information Technology Manager/Administrative Coordinator

Main Duties

• Leadership & Strategy:
• Lead a team throughout all phases of design, implementation, and support of critical business applications, including Pension Administration System (PAS), web, and low-code applications.
• Develop and manage the applications roadmap in alignment with organizational needs and best practices.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to understand business processes and identify opportunities for system improvements and automation.
• Provide strategic direction for integrations & data usage.
• Team Leadership & Development:
• Lead and mentor a team of application & data managers, ensuring continuous improvement and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Provide performance feedback, training, and professional development opportunities for team members.
• Project Management:
• Plan, coordinate, and execute application development projects, including upgrades, enhancements, and new implementations in conjunction with product owners and PMO.
• Manage cross-functional teams, including internal staff and external vendors, to deliver projects on time and within scope.
• Compliance, Data Management, and Reporting:
• Act as control owner and coordinate with business process owners and other control owners to execute on applicable compliance requirements.
• Evaluate control deficiencies and track remediation to completion.
• Consult, advise, and participate in the design of various IT processes and controls to support compliance with policies, standard, & regulatory requirements.
• Oversee data management practices, ensuring accurate reporting and analytics capabilities across platforms.
• Develop custom reports and dashboards to provide actionable insights for business leaders.
• Business Process Improvement:
• Identify and implement process improvements through better utilization of applications and data.
• Conduct regular system reviews, data analysis, and user feedback sessions to identify opportunities for optimization.
• Vendor & Stakeholder Management:
• Act as the primary point of contact for germane vendors and external consultants.
• Negotiate contracts, licenses, and service agreements with vendors to optimize costs and service quality.
• Maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including department heads, to ensure business needs are met.
• Documentation and Training:
• Maintain documentation of configurations, processes, and technical solutions.

Required Qualifications

1. Any one or any combination totaling 5 years (60 months) from the following categories:
2. College coursework which includes Information Technology (IT), IT Management, Programming, IT Systems, or a closely related discipline, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:

• 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
• Associate’s Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
• 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
• Bachelor’s Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)

1. Work experience in IT-related functions such as hardware/software support, programming, network design, network engineering, IT systems integration, or closely related field, which includes supervisory or lead worker capacity.

   2. Based on position requirements, additional education, training, and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position may be required.

1. 7+ years of experience managing enterprise applications, particularly PAS, ERP or other enterprise-scale software system environments.
2. 3+ Supervisory/Management experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• Ability to interact with all levels of the organization
• Strong knowledge of data governance and compliance standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with configuration, administration, and customization of large-scale enterprise platforms. PAS-specific experience is a big plus!
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture, ERP/CRM systems, and cloud-based technologies.
• Excellent project management skills with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results on time.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across departments and teams.
• Experience with integration tools like Azure Logic Apps or Power Automate a plus.
• Experience working in an Agile development environment.
• Experience in managing vendor relationships and negotiating contracts.
• Proven experience leading large-scale system implementations, migrations, and integrations.

Location

This position is based in Champaign, IL. During the initial training period, fully in-office workdays may be required. After successful completion of the initial training period. this position may transition to a hybrid role. 

Benefits

• Insurance benefits, including medical, vision and dental
• Participation in SURS retirement plan
• Paid vacation, sick leave and 11 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave after six months of employment
• Casual/business casual attire (dependent on job duties)
• Flexible work environment
• Free parking
• 37.5-hour standard work week
• Find more details regarding the benefits SURS offers at: SURS Employee Benefits - SURS

Application Process

To apply for this position, please click the apply button at the top of this job posting. Please fill out the online application and attach a copy of your resume and cover letter.

About SURS

SURS is the administrator of a cost-sharing, multiple-employer, public employee retirement system that provides retirement, survivor, disability and death benefits to employees of Illinois state universities, community colleges, and certain other affiliated organizations and agencies. SURS was created in 1941, by an act of the Illinois General Assembly, and is governed by the Illinois Pension Code (40 ILCS 5/15-101 et seq.). SURS provides benefit services to over 250,000 members who work for 61 employers. SURS is responsible for investing assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S. and foreign stocks, bonds, real estate and alternative investments. SURS maintains a defined benefit plan, which on June 30, 2023, had assets valued at approximately $23.2 billion. SURS also administers two defined contribution plans, the Retirement Savings Plan, which on June 30, 2023, had assets of approximately $3.7 billion and the Deferred Compensation Plan, which had assets of approximately $28.5 million. Northern Trust serves as SURS’ master trustee custodian.