Chief Digital And Project Officer

Chief Digital & Project Officer

About MICA:

Established in 1991, MICA is the only residential management institute in the Asia-Pacific region dedicated to creating leadership in Strategic Marketing and Communications. MICA is an autonomous, non-profit institution and offers a wide range of academic programmes, including four residential programmes: a Post Graduate Diploma in Management- Communications (PGDM-C), a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), a Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) and a Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Crafting Creative Communication (CCC)

MICAs spirit lies in grasping contextually evolving sensibilities and addressing the needs of fluid and ever-changing environments. The institute prides itself on its effective delivery of Strategic Marketing and Communication solutions to the industries we cater to, the government, and the communities we are embedded in. Today, we are the alma mater of professionals serving in leadership positions in some of the best-known companies in India (and globally) in marketing, brand management, research & analytics, advertising, media, digital ventures, and other businesses.

The Need:

The MICA Foundation & Governing Council and the Director& CEO realise that MICA needs a different type of leadership team to help MICA realise its ambitions of excellence in the next 5 years.

The role of the Chief Digital & Project Officer is a critical one. MICAs Vision states that MICA shall be the premier Management School for Marketing, Communication, and Creativity in a design led and digitally enabled world. This vision is likely to be changed to MICA shall be the premier Management School for Marketing, Communication, and Creativity in a data led and AI enabled world to reflect the transition from Digital to AI. Please note, this does not mean that design and digital are not important, they are simply considered to be subsumed under the broader data and AI umbrella. Our Vision back then and even now requires that every experience with MICA should have a design, digital, data and AI element in it. Unfortunately, the MICA experience has remained steadfastly analogue with systems and an IT estate stuck in the early 2000s. Given MICAs ambitions to be the global leader that produces and nurtures talent and creates and expands impactful knowledge in the areas of strategic marketing, communications and creativity in a data led and an AI driven world, it is imperative that MICAs IT infrastructure and experience modernise.

Historically at MICA, project management has been the responsibility of faculty. While the faculty are extremely capable in providing design and oversight, optimizing for efficiency, both budget and time are not exactly what they are famous for. It is also not the best use of highly expert faculty talent for project co-ordination, project assistance and project management jobs when otherswith specialized skillsin project management are available that offer better value. Since all projects are primarily executed on or supported by technology and applications, it made sense to roll project management under the Digital Function, while keeping the design of the Programme with the faculty.

:

IT -Stack Modernisation for Corporate Services & Cybersecurity

• Modernise MICAs IT infrastructure and applications for Corporate Services including creating an enterprise grade secure stack in the cloud
• Own and lead Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery
• Protect and mitigate against any security breaches ensuring a zero-trust policy

MICA Online Platform & Digital Twin

• Modernise MICAs IT infrastructure for the Classroom, creating a future ready digital twin and online platform that provides the best of breed student, faculty, learning and teaching experience
• Ensure that MICA is ready to offer online programmes and certifications that can be run end to end on MICAs own stack thereby removing MICAs dependency on edtech partners
• Provide a seamless journey for all users but especially for students from aspirant to alumni

Smart Campus

• Own and lead MICAs ambition to be a smart campus
• Collaborate with the Head of Corporate Services to ensure the integration of best of breed technology into the classrooms and the campus
• Ensure mobility of smart campus infrastructure to allow physical MICA pop-ups across various physical locations
• Lead MICAs sustainability initiatives using technology (ex. Use of digital billboards rather than printed billboards, technology enabled green buildings, etc)

MICA Lab Infrastructure

• As part of MICAs pedagogy, each area is to offer interaction with relevant technology to its students (for example Strategic marketing will enable student interaction with world leading CRM systems such as Salesforce, MSFT Dynamics etc). The role will own the design, development, deployment and maintenance of these technology labs for each area as well as any technological inputs to the subject/area

Data & AI for MICAs use

• 
  Own and lead the data collection that emerges because of the use of the Corporate systems, MICA Online Platform, Digital Twin, Smart Campus and MICA Lab Infrastructure
• Ensure proper data governance and help each leader create management information systems built on data and insights
• Effectively integrate AI capabilities into the stack to extend capabilities of staff and faculty and provide training to each to everyone on the same Comply with all data privacy regulations

Project Management

• Create the right project teams for various programmes and projects
• Ensure that projects run to time and budget and objectives are met as set by the Oversight teams
• Ensure that all process are documented, communicated and well established
• Ensure that all compliances (non-financial) are met especially related to data protection and privacy
• Ensure that processes get translated into technology platforms, digital and AI applications/tooling increased efficiency of processes

Partnering with the Leadership Team

• Work collaboratively with the leadership team to create a culture of high performance

People development & culture creation

• Lead the function and team as an empathetic leader
• Be a role model for all of MICA representing the values and DNA of MICA
• Own and drive the technology and project budget

Requirements:

• Strong organizational skills:

Ability to manage complex schedules, prioritize tasks, and maintain attention to detail.

• Excellent communication skills:

Clear and effective communication with clients, staff, and other departments to resolve scheduling issues.

• Problem-solving abilities:

Identifying and addressing scheduling challenges, finding solutions to conflicts.

• Technical proficiency:

Expertise in scheduling software and relevant data management systems.

• Leadership skills:
• Ability to motivate and guide a scheduling team to achieve performance goals.

Desirable :

• Experience in Educational Institutions of repute

Remuneration : Commensurate with qualification and skillsets.

Sphere of influence:

• The role reports to the Director & CEO
• The candidate will work with the Director& CEO to shape the role as things evolve
• The role will be expected to build an appropriate team to deliver stated impact, KPIs and success metrics. The team should be internal, contractors and partners to enable scaling
• The role will own a budget
• Role will be based in Ahmedabad

The Selection Process:

Step 1. informal conversation with the Head of HR

Step 2: Potential candidates will have an interview with an external subject matter expert.

Step 3: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an In person interaction on campus.

• Presentation to the Interview Panel (Director & CEO, Dean, Sr Faculty & HR) on the candidates strategy for creating a digital twin of the MICA experience with an emphasis on smart classrooms and cybersecurity. Candidate will also be expected to do an additional 15-minute presentation on how programmes can be run effectively by using technology. Presentation will be for one hour. Please come prepared to explore ideas. Please note this is part of the candidate selection process.
• 45 minutes conversation with the Head of HR, Head of Finance, Registrar and Head of Estate along with the Dean and Director. Please note this is NOT part of the candidate selection process. This is to get the candidate comfortable with MICA teams and provide an opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification if any

Stay, travel and all other logistical costs will be borne by MICA

Step 4: Candidate will have an online conversation with a few Governing Council members This will be a 45 minute conversation. The Director & CEO will be a part of this conversation. Please note this is part of the candidate selection process

Step 5: Compensation conversation and onboarding logistics conversation with Director & CEO and Head of HR. We will share a list of mandatory documents required for onboarding and completion of formalities. This is not a part of the candidate selection process

Step 6: Issue of formal employment contract

We expect the process to complete within 6 weeks of Step 1

Professionals interested in the CDPO role at MICA are requested to reach out to:

Dr Nirja Sharma

Chief Talent & Skills Officer, MICA

+91 9167213288

careers@micamail,in