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Title: Applications Manager
Division Name: Student Affairs
Department: Student Affairs Information Technology

Job Summary

The Applications Manager plays a vital leadership role in Student Affairs Information Technology orchestrating the analysis, procurement, management, integration, and security of both custom-developed and vendor-provided business applications. This position is responsible for evaluating departmental needs and translating them into effective application solutions, demonstrating a thorough understanding of both technical requirements and business goals. By outlining projects, defining resource needs, and prioritizing staff activities in collaboration with the Director, the Applications Manager ensures that technology initiatives are strategically aligned with the Division’s objectives and deliver measurable impact across the University.

This role requires a dynamic, self-motivated professional with excellent judgment and decision-making skills, capable of setting both day-to-day and long-term goals within broad management guidelines. The Applications Manager leads the development and support of application solutions, supervises a dedicated applications team, and mentors student workers to foster the next generation of IT professionals. By collaborating with customers, students, IT staff, outside vendors, and University committees, the Applications Manager strengthens the Division of Student Affairs ability to deliver high-quality services. Their work not only advances the Division of Student Affairs but also enhances the overall student experience, making a significant contribution to the University’s mission and success.

Additional Information

University Benefit Highlights:

- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$95,000 - $100,000 annual

Required Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent
2. Any combination of the following totaling six (6) years:
A. 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)
B. Professional level, progressively more responsible work experience in IT-related profession, two (2) years of which must include management and support of line of business applications and systems.
3. Demonstrated experience in performing business analysis techniques including how to interpret customer business needs and translate them into application requirements.
4. Demonstrated experience in providing leadership to information technology projects.
5. Demonstrated technical understanding of application architecture to include application servers, web servers, configuration files, relational databases, interfaces, SQL, and reporting applications.
6. Experienced with database technologies including management of SQL Server/MySQL and the ability to construct SQL queries.
7. Experienced in project management methodologies and techniques.
8. Strong vendor management skills.
9. Experience in supervising personnel, including work allocation, training, and evaluating performance.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Demonstrated experience developing and implementing standards, processes, and procedures related to the acquisition, support, and maintenance of business applications.
2. Demonstrated experience managing a large portfolio of line of business applications.
3. Demonstrated experience managing the application lifecycle from acquisition to implementation to support and eventually to decommissioning, including the ability to oversee a robust Change Management process.
4. Demonstrated experience researching new IT solutions and engaging vendors to obtain answers, technical details, and potential pitfalls of product solutions.
5. Demonstrated experience communicating about technical topics with a broad range of people with varying levels of technical expertise, including end users, super users, and IT professionals.
6. Demonstrated experience mentoring student workers so they develop into IT professionals who are ready to enter the workplace upon graduation.
7. Demonstrated experience troubleshooting technical problems, including the ability to isolate the problem, collect data and related information, perform independent research, to engage in application testing, and to communicate with the vendor as means of resolving technical issues.
8. Certified in ITILv4 Foundations.

Work Hours

Core work hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
2. Distinguish colors on a monitor
3. Move about in various locations across campus as needed to complete day-to-day work.
4. Effectively communicate on a daily basis.

Proposed Starting Date

March 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume
Cover Letter
References

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Optional Applicant Documents

Transcripts - See Special Instructions section for additional options
Certification of Retirement Annuity

Please Note: These documents may be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Please fully complete the entire application including, but not limited to, the education and work history portions. Be specific on your work history, including employment dates (if part-time you must list the number of work hours) and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Please do not put "see resume" in the duties and responsibilities section of the work history. This will be considered an incomplete application and incomplete applications will not be considered.

If using education to qualify, college or university transcripts (may be unofficial) must be submitted prior to the application deadline to receive full consideration. Transcripts can either be uploaded with your application or submitted via the options listed below.

To be eligible for Veteran's Preference points on the exam, appropriate military service documentation such as a DD-214 must be submitted prior to the application deadline.

Transcripts and/or military service documentation may be faxed or mailed to Human Resources by the application deadline:

Fax: 309.438.0011, Attn: Breanna Crippen
Address: Illinois State University
Human Resources
Campus Box 1300
Normal, IL 61790-1300

The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of applicant materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview. The active register for this classification will be voided when the position is filled.

Illinois State University is authorized to do business within the State of Illinois. All work under this appointment is required to be performed from within the State of Illinois. If hired, out-of-state candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days from the start date for this position. Illinois residency requires proof of a valid Illinois driver’s license or a valid State of Illinois ID card. Failure to produce the required documentation within 180 calendar days will result in immediate termination of employment.

Applicants for this position must be authorized to work in the U.S. without ISU sponsorship. Sponsorship for work authorization will not be considered for this position.

Contact Information for Applicants

Breanna Crippen
Human Resources
309-438-8315
bcplese@ilstu.edu 

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.