Position Description – Technology Strategist

Position Details

Position Title: Technology Strategist - Chief Technology Office

Position Number: 50058384

Portfolio: Resources

Campus Location: Based at the city campus, but may be required to work and/or be based at other campuses
of the University.

Classification: HEW 10

Employment Type: Continuing

Time Fraction: 1.0

RMIT University
RMIT is a global university of technology and design, focused on creating solutions that transform the future for the
benefit of people and their environments. We are global in attitude, action and presence; urban in orientation and
creativity; and connected through active partnerships with professions, industries and organisations.
RMIT University enjoys an international reputation for excellence in professional and practical educational
programs and high quality outcome-oriented research.
One of Australia’s original educational institutions founded in 1887, RMIT is now the nation’s largest tertiary
institution. The University offers an extensive range of postgraduate, undergraduate and vocational programs
RMIT has three Melbourne campuses – in the central business district and in Brunswick and Bundoora in the city’s
northern suburbs - campuses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and a site in Barcelona, Spain. With
significant partnerships in Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, RMIT has a strong educational
presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The University’s total student population of 82,000 includes 30,000
international students (onshore and offshore).
RMIT is a leader in technology, design, global business, communication, global communities, health solutions and
urban sustainable futures. It is ranked in the top 150 universities in the world for engineering, computer science and
information systems, economics, communication and media studies, accounting and finance and education in the
2013 QS World University Rankings and 10th in Australia.
www.rmit.edu.au

Information Technology Services

Information Technology Services (ITS) provides RMIT University with Information and Communication Technology
systems and services. Our role is to support RMIT’s high quality teaching, learning, research and administrative
activities.
Information Technology is of increasing importance to the research, teaching and learning life of a university,
particularly a ‘global university of technology and design’ like RMIT. ITS has developed, in conjunction with the
broader University, an ICT Plan to 2020. This plan highlights five goals for ICT within RMIT. They include:
1. Best in class digital student experience – Invest in new technologies which transform the student
experience and underpin the digital strategy
2. Innovative and efficient Service Integrator – Reposition the ICT function to source and manage
services more efficiently and to focus on business outcomes through innovation
3. Elegant global service experience and systems – Move to single global systems and processes
which enable the global operating model
 4. Data to fuel differentiation & decisions – Ensure quality data and integrated systems are available
to support data based decision making, and enable personalised and contextualised services
5. Simple & secure technology foundations – Ensure foundation technology is simplified, free of
duplication, and secure

ITS has an essential role to play in realising these goals.

Website: www.rmit.edu.au/its

Position Summary
The traditional value proposition of Enterprise Architecture has been in the IT planning, governance, standard
setting, and low level technical expertise. But a new work environment has emerged, characterized by growing
project volume through the digitalization of business, expanding technology diversity and usage of non-IT-
supported information and technologies through use of Cloud Computing, creating a need for greater business
partner involvement in IT decision making, and compressed business and technology cycles. With this in mind, the
Office of the CTO has been established which focuses on a broad vision, in which Enterprise Architects evolve
from the CIO’s most senior technical experts, to the CIO’s strategists and digital business advisors. To support this
change in focus, the role of the Technology Strategist has been established.

This role provides the overall direction, guidance and definition of an enterprise’s technology strategy and
architecture in order to effectively support the corporate business strategy. Responsibilities include researching,
analysing, proposing, and driving solutions that are appropriate for the business and technology strategies.
Appointees must have significant business knowledge and have one or more areas of domain expertise in which
they concentrate. Appointees must facilitate interfaces across several business areas, acting as visionary to
proactively assist in defining the direction for future projects. Appointees are also responsible for conception of
solution approaches, building consensus and the selling and execution of such solutions.

The Office of the CTO’s mandate to cut ongoing portfolio costs and accelerate IT performance, delivery, and
business responsiveness demands significant coordination. At the same time, the Office of the CTO will seek to
orient architecture to business outcomes to drive IT performance, speed to delivery, and business responsiveness.
To do these things well, it must employ new approaches to architecture governance, standards, and engagement
tactics that align with the needs and strategy of RMIT, a global university of technology and design.

Reporting Line
Reports to: Chief Technology Officer
Direct reports: 0

Organisational Accountabilities
RMIT University is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff. RMIT and its staff must comply with a
range of statutory requirements, including equal opportunity, occupational health and safety, privacy and trade
practice. RMIT also expects staff to comply with its policy and procedures, which relate to statutory requirements
and our ways of working.

Appointees are accountable for completing training on these matters and ensuring their knowledge, and the
knowledge of their staff, are up to date.

Key Accountabilities
● Defines the technology strategy for the RMIT enterprise aligned to business objectives, and is responsible
for the definition of principles, standards, and technologies that support the implementation of that strategy.
● Builds, communicates, and refines Architecture Roadmaps to align IT priorities with business partner
needs.
● Researches, analyses, and leads proof of concepts around prospective technologies in order to trial new
capabilities as defined in Architecture roadmaps.
● Constantly partners with business and technology subject-matter experts to elicit and translate business
requirements into technological vision, direction and approaches, and ensuring IT develops the capabilities
to support the RMIT business, digital and IT strategies.
● Promotes the ITS goals to facilitate better outcomes for RMIT contributing to a better student experience,
lower costs and reduced risk – key factors include IT operational performance, speed to delivery and
business responsiveness.
● Administers and facilitates the Architecture Review Board (ARB) to evaluate project proposals for
architectural alignment and ensure good architecture governance.
 ● Develops and maintains documentation which defines the appropriate use of technology within an
allocated domain. Acts as the specialist in one or more of the following domains: Cloud, Digital, Information
& Analytics, Core Systems and Integration.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Demonstrated experience in a technology strategy, senior architecture or similar role within a large
enterprise environment, taking a leadership position in one of the following domains: Cloud, Digital,
Information & Analytics, and Core Systems & Integration. Information Security experience within each of
these domains will also be highly regarded.
2. Demonstrated business and technology transformation experience across a wide range of industries and
organizations.
3. Demonstrated experience in the development of policies, principles, hypothesis, strategies, roadmaps and
financials to support the future investment planning of RMIT.
4. Demonstrated ability to analyse issues, develop options, and solve problems, making architecturally sound
decisions within the cost and risk parameters set by RMIT.
5. Highly developed written and verbal communication skills targeted at a diverse audience, with an emphasis
on the ability to influence and negotiate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
6. Demonstrated passion for continuous improvement, through the application of benchmarking and maturity
uplift, across capability/skill, process, and people.
7. Highly developed business partnering and stakeholder management skills.

Qualifications
Tertiary qualifications in Information Technology, a related field or equivalent experience.

Endorsed: Signature: Approved: Signature:

Name: Paul Oppenheimer Name:
Title: CIO, ITS Title:
Date: Date: