The Opportunity Competition #2526-AP-MP-14 Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) is looking for a Director, Information Technology who is responsible for setting the strategic direction and ensuring the effective delivery of all IT services at AUArts. Reporting to the Vice President, Finance and Operations, the Director plays a critical role in advancing the University’s digital transformation agenda, ensuring technology investments, services, and governance frameworks support institutional priorities and enhance the student and employee experience. With accountability for infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, and service delivery, the Director leads both the operational performance and long‑term evolution of the IT function. This role requires a forward‑thinking leader who can assess current capabilities, identify opportunities for modernisation and improvement, and drive execution of initiatives that strengthen service quality, resilience, and organisational effectiveness. As a member of the senior leadership team, this role is responsible for championing and integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion, strategic partnerships, and enrolment management principles. Key leadership initiatives include programme and curriculum innovation, diversification of revenue and Work‑Integrated‑Learning. This is a full‑time permanent management position starting as soon as possible. Hours of work are 35 hours per week, 7 hours per day. Key Responsibilities Leadership and Digital Strategy Define and execute the University’s IT strategic plan, budget, and digital roadmap. Develop, prioritise, and execute improvement plans based on internal assessments and external reviews, ensuring recommendations translate into measurable outcomes. Lead initiatives that enhance technology accessibility, reliability, and security for students, faculty, and staff in alignment with institutional values and strategic priorities. Provide leadership and direction to Service Desk, Network Infrastructure, Data Centre, Applications, and Security teams. Develop and manage departmental budgets, resource allocations, contracts, service agreements, and performance metrics. IT Governance, Risk & Compliance Oversee the development and enforcement of IT policies, security frameworks, and compliance with legislative requirements (ATIA, POPA, PCI DS, NIST, etc.). Provide executive oversight for the institution’s cybersecurity programme, ensuring proactive, risk‑based protection strategies and continuous monitoring of vulnerabilities. Guide risk assessments, incident response planning, and data protection initiatives. Develop and maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans to ensure organisational resilience and continuity of operations. Establish and mature governance structures, including COBIT, ITIL service management, project portfolio governance, and cybersecurity governance. Technology Operations & Service Excellence Ensure the effective delivery of IT services, including service desk operations, infrastructure, enterprise applications, and end‑user support. Continuously evaluate and improve IT service delivery, user experience, and customer engagement models. Assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and integration of enterprise systems and infrastructure, identifying opportunities for optimisation, modernisation, and standardisation. Establish and monitor service performance metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Project Portfolio & Change Leadership Provide executive oversight of enterprise IT projects and programmes, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy, priorities, and resource capacity. Lead the prioritisation and portfolio management of IT initiatives, balancing risk, value, cost, and organisational impact. Establish and enforce project governance frameworks, including standards, methodologies, and reporting practices. Sponsor and guide large‑scale, cross‑functional technology initiatives from planning through execution. Ensure effective change management strategies are integrated into project delivery to support adoption and minimise disruption. Monitor and report on project and portfolio performance, providing actionable insights to senior leadership. Stakeholder Engagement & Institutional Partnership Act as a strategic liaison between IT and academic and administrative units to ensure technology solutions meet institutional needs. Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation across IT and client groups. Collaborate with senior leadership and stakeholders to define priorities, scope initiatives, and align technology investments with business needs. Manage relationships with external vendors and partners, ensuring accountability and value for investment. Build and mentor high‑performing teams, fostering a culture of service excellence, continuous improvement, and results. Qualifications The following qualifications have been determined to promote the likelihood of success in the role. In alignment with the principles of inclusion, individuals with an alternative equivalent qualification may be considered. Mandatory Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field. 8–10 years of progressive IT leadership experience within higher education, public sector, or complex enterprise environments. Demonstrated experience managing diverse IT teams across infrastructure, applications, and cybersecurity domains. Demonstrated ability to assess organisational functions, identify gaps, and lead successful improvement initiatives across services, systems, and operations. Proven track record in strategic planning, service delivery management, and technology modernisation. Strong knowledge of IT service management (ITIL), project management, and governance frameworks (COBIT, NIST). Experience with network architecture, virtualisation, cloud computing, and enterprise applications (e.g., Ellucian, Workday, or Microsoft 365). Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder‑engagement skills. Ability to lead change, inspire teams, and build consensus across diverse groups. Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and digital accessibility. Preferential Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field. Certification in project management (PMP or equivalent). Familiarity with higher‑education technology environments, including student information systems, learning management systems, and research computing. Competencies Healthy Spaces Create and maintain a respectful working environment. Lead by example creating respectful dialogue standards. Champion expectations related to physical and mental health, safety, and wellness. Active Inclusion Create and maintain an environment of active inclusion. Lead by example implementing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility principles. Champion Indigenous strategies, equity, diversity and inclusion programmes, policies, and communications. Creative Innovation Evaluate current practices and propose innovative solutions. Lead implementation of projects with a change management focus. Champion change and actively support new initiatives. Collaborative Practice Create and maintain active collaboration within and between teams. Lead by example cultivating effective communication throughout the organisation. Cultivate strong relationships with internal stakeholders. Strategic Leadership Create and implement operational plans, reviews, and projects. Ensure policy, budgetary and legislative compliance within department. Champion employee engagement by establishing and expanding best practices, employee development and continuous learning. What We Offer Comprehensive benefits package including pension and health spending account. Annual vacation accrual starting at 24 days, 9 Flex days, personal days, and other types of leave. Paid time off over the University closure from December 24 – 31. Flexible / hybrid work arrangements. The starting annual salary will be dependent upon skills, education and experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr