AVP, Infrastructure Services

Position Summary

Reporting to the Interim Vice President & CIO of Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT), the AVP, Infrastructure Services will create a vision and strategic roadmap for IT infrastructure services at Columbia University, including providing direction and investments required in the areas of network engineering, database administration, servers and systems, research computing and data center environments. This individual will be responsible for maintaining key relationships with senior business and information technology positions within CUIT and across departments and schools of Columbia University and has supervisory responsibility for a team of 90+ infrastructure skilled individuals.

The Infrastructure Services teams support mission critical technology for over 40,000 faculty, staff and students.

Responsibilities

• Works in partnership with the divisions, schools, departments, centers, institutes and administrative units within Columbia University to provide campus-wide services in the area of infrastructure services and research computing to promote effective and efficient administrative functions.
• Develops strategic plans and practices that support an integrated and progressive infrastructure environment for the campus to best meet current and future business needs. Obtain feedback and recalibrate priorities and activity based on such feedback.
• Implements best practices for infrastructure services development, which include program management, proven infrastructure methodologies, service management processes, systems integration, quality assurance, and operational support.
• Coordinates definition of a long-term architectural vision and strategy in partnership with the CUIT Chief Technology Officer.
• Directs delivery of reliable and high-performing network, systems and data center infrastructure to support client and application needs.
• Builds a strong customer service orientation within the Infrastructure Services organization.
• Develops a clear and comprehensive portfolio of services and targeted service levels.
• Leads the evaluation, implementation and support as appropriate of alternative sourcing options such as outsourced or offshored application management, external hosting, and cloud services.
• Serves as a member of the CUIT Senior Leadership Team.
• Manage and lead a team of approximately 90+ skilled individuals.
• Manages a budget of several million dollars.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 8-10 years of experience managing enterprise level large-scale IT operations and services.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Linux, Windows, VMware or similar technologies.
• A thoughtful leader with a collaborative leadership style and can-do attitude.
• Extensive background in and understanding of the spectrum of Information Technologies.
• Experience with concepts such as the DevOps organizational approach and related tools.
• Specialized knowledge of IT infrastructure standards and methodologies in the IT industry as well as across higher education.
• Track record of sound personnel and financial management.
• Track record of excellent customer service and support.
• Specialized knowledge in IT applications architectural issues and challenges.
• Specialized knowledge in software design and coding practices and techniques.
• Diplomacy skills and the ability to moderate between competing parties.
• Ability to develop cooperative agreements and OLAs/SLAs with appropriate partners.
• Ability to explain technical issues and policies to non-technical persons.
• Ability to give presentations on technical issues to a broad range of audiences.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal communication, human relations and team building skills.
• Ability to foster and maintain good working relationships with faculty, administrators, students, senior management, and other IT leaders.
• Ability to develop budgets and technical proposals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred.
• ITIL v3 Foundations (and higher levels) certification.
• Prior experience with either integrated or reference architecture highly preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.