Director of IT Operations

The Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia
$4,360 after your first year for combined use of tuition toward a degree-seeking program or up to $2,000 for professional development including classes, certification training and conferences; and more!
dental insurance, life insurance, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, short term disability
United States, Virginia, Charlottesville
1215 Lee Street (Show on map)
Jan 14, 2025
Research Computing at the University of Virginia (UVA-RC) is seeking candidates for the newly created Director of Operations position. UVA-RC is a growing unit under the University of Virginia's centralized IT organization (ITS). With a staff of 30, two HPC systems (Rivanna and Afton), and a broad set of service offerings, UVA-RC is focused on ensuring that researchers across all of UVA's domains of inquiry have the computational expertise and resources to move their projects forward. UVA-RC is made up of 5 teams, Infrastructure, DevOps, User Support, Data Analytics and Digital Technologies, with expertise ranging from system administration to bioinformatics. UVA-RC is serving a growing community which has increased the importance of providing an efficient and reliable set of foundational services that meets the majority of needs while developing new services to sustainably address emerging use cases. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Research Computing (AVP-RC), this role is a senior leadership position within Research Computing and will coordinate the operational activities of units within Research Computing, primarily focusing on the areas of Infrastructure, DevOps and User Support. The Director of Operations will work closely with the AVP-RC to identify key Research Computing services and ensure their continued alignment with the Universities strategic direction and researcher needs. This will include a portfolio of university of initiatives where the Director of Operations is serving as UVA-RC's senior representative. The preferred candidate will be driven by an interest in furthering the research mission of the University of Virginia, experience in adapting communications for a variety of audiences and the technical background to provide leadership in the design and delivery of computing and storage services. The Director of Operations will have 3 direct reports and a purview that covers the breadth of Research Computing's mission. The candidate selected for this role will be provided a salary line for an intermediate level technical role to provide additional support for the listed responsibilities. Responsibilities: Set the priorities for new infrastructure purchases in conjunction with the AVP-RC, lead the architecture and design for new infrastructure purchases, and help coordinate activities between the infrastructure, procurement and user support teams. Partner with IT directors across UVA's schools, as well as within central IT. Identify broad researcher needs and propose services to address those needs. Develop charter documentation to guide internal UVA-RC projects, communicate project requirements and track staffing commitments. Identify areas of need and work with the AVP-RC to prioritize investment in staff positions and infrastructure to maintain a strong foundation for UVA-RC's day-to-day operations. Requirements: Minimum of 11 years' relevant or relevant work experience or post-secondary education including a combination of these two. Demonstrated experience in the development and/or operation of advanced computing resources relevant to computationally driven domain fields such as high-performance computing, high-throughput computing, and cyberinfrastructure. Experience leading and managing teams with diverse backgrounds and skillsets. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, evidence of ability to translate technical concepts for a non-technical audience. Attention to detail including comfort with formulating and documenting policies and requirements. Preferred: PhD or other terminal degree with a research-based dissertation Proven record of collaborating with academic researchers on the adaptation of generalized advanced computing resources to address specific research requirements. Experience developing scalable service offerings and infrastructure, including infrastructure setups outside of classical HPC such as cloud environments and bursting. A track record of forming and sustaining professional relationships across disciplines, schools or colleges, or other organizational lines Designed and operated environments to meet specific compliance requirements such as HIPAA, CUI/CMMC, etc. Research Computing operates as a flexible work environment with staff members ranging from largely on-site to fully remote. Given the responsibilities of the Research Computing Director of Operations role, this position will be expected to be on site an average of three days a week. Research Computing's offices are housed in the Michie North building near the University of Virginia's central grounds. Research Computing's High Performance Computing infrastructure is housed in the University Data Center (UDC) ITS at UVA is a phenomenal place to lead, grow, and deliver impact. It's an organization that values results and teamwork. We strive to create a welcoming, supportive workplace in an agile group where everyone feels empowered to be their authentic selves and share ideas. We embrace a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. ITS values work-life balance and provides flexible work location options where possible. Please see additional information about joining our team. Benefits Include: The choice between 3 different health plans; vision and dental insurance; life insurance; benefits savings accounts; starting with 22 days of paid time off a year in addition to 12 or more paid holidays; 8 weeks of paid parental leave; short term disability; up to $4,360 after your first year for combined use of tuition toward a degree-seeking program or up to $2,000 for professional development including classes, certification training and conferences; and more! Interview Timeline: Research Computing intends to begin interviewing candidates in mid February. To Apply: Complete an application online and attach: http://jobs.virginia.edu/us/en/ and search R0068321 * CV/Resume * Cover Letter detailing your interest in this position and highlighting knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences Click the link below: *Please note that you MUST upload ALL documents into the CV/Resume box. * For questions about the application process please contact Bill Crane , Senior Academic Recruiter, xer5ff@virginia.edu MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Education: Bachelor's Degree Required. Equivalent combination of experience, education and/or certifications may be substituted in lieu of degree. Experience: Ten years Licensure: None PHYSICAL DEMANDS This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs. The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.