SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY SERVICES - University Information Technology
University Information Technology (UIT) is Tufts University’s central IT organization and is responsible for providing shared, campus IT systems and services in support of Tufts University’s missions and goals. UIT provides a spectrum of campus-wide services, including academic technology support, administrative computing services, networking and telecommunications, information security, data center operations, systems management, and applications services, including user support, training and outreach. UIT works in partnership with schools, business units and other academic support organizations, such as Tufts business units, libraries, centers and institutes. Because IT has become an inherent and indispensable component of teaching, research, and campus life initiatives, UIT is involved in many campus and school initiatives.
The Senior Director for Academic Technology Services reports to the Vice President for Information Technology & CIO and is responsible for development, management and evaluation of all central academic technology services and technologies that support teaching, learning and research at Tufts University. This position is responsible for defining and communicating an academic technology vision and provides overall leadership for the design, development and implementation of university-wide academic technology services. Responsibilities include:
* Aligning AT strategy, services and investment decisions with the research and education priorities of the Tufts schools and university IT strategic plan;
* Fostering the development and broad awareness of innovative technologies and effective services for advancing teaching, learning and research with technology;
* Partnering with academic deans, faculty and academic service leaders to develop coordinated technology programs and services for faculty and students across the university;
* Participating on the UIT Senior Management Team that sets organizational directions and priorities;
* Overseeing budgeting, resource planning processes and staff development programs within Academic Technology to ensure high-quality delivery of services for the Tufts academic community. The current portfolio of Academic Technology services includes instructional design, curricular software development, high performance and scientific computing, faculty development, GIS and learning management and digital library systems.
In addition to activities within the University, the Senior Director for Academic Technology Services will also collaborate with academic and IT leaders within and external to Tufts to identify funding opportunities, e.g., grants, and to develop external partnerships that advance the positive and effective uses of technologies in higher education. The Senior Director will also present Tufts' programs at local and national conferences and serve as Tufts' AT representative to external organizations and initiatives.
Basic Requirements:
* Master’s degree in related technical/business area
* Minimum of ten (10) years of related experience
* Solid experience with current communication, collaboration and media technologies as well as enterprise digital information systems within higher education
* Qualified candidates for the Senior Director of Academic Technology Services position will have a demonstrated record of developing and managing innovative and effective learning and research technology services for a diverse community of learners and researchers. A deep awareness of the affordances of current and emerging technologies to advance collaboration, exploration and discovery across academic disciplines and significant experience leveraging these opportunities for practical and measurable gains in teaching, learning and research is essential. The ability to set and effectively communicate a vision for academic technology that is aligned with university priorities and skill at enlisting support and participation from members of the community is necessary for the development and maintenance of university-wide education and research technology services. The Sr. Director must be able to translate vision into practice through competency in IT analysis, budgeting and planning, assessment and evaluation and IT service management. Strong communication skills including writing and presenting for a variety of audiences is essential.
Preferred Qualifications: Successful experience in grant writing is preferred. Candidates should have project management skills and familiarity with ITIL frameworks. Experience overseeing a broad portfolio of teaching and research support services that includes curricular technology development, distance education support, learning management, high-performance and scientific computing and faculty development is desired.
Special Work Schedule Requirements: The demands of senior management positions within UIT frequently require effort beyond standard working hours.