Job Overview

job title: executive director-research information technology
location: atlanta, georgia
regular/temporary: regular
full/part time: full-time
job id: 286578
about us overview
georgia tech prides itself on its technological resources, collaborations, high-quality student body, and its commitment to building an outstanding and diverse community of learning, discovery, and creation. we strongly encourage applicants whose values align with our institutional values, as outlined in our strategic plan. these values include academic excellence, diversity of thought and experience, inquiry and innovation, collaboration and community, and ethical behavior and stewardship. georgia tech has policies to promote a healthy work-life balance and is aware that attracting faculty may require meeting the needs of two careers.

about georgia tech
georgia tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. the institute serves more than 45,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. georgia tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. georgia tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and no. 1 among institutions without a medical school.

georgia tech's mission and values
georgia tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. the institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:
1. students are our top priority.
2. we strive for excellence.
3. we thrive on diversity.
4. we celebrate collaboration.
5. we champion innovation.
6. we safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. we nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. we act ethically.
9. we are responsible stewards.

over the next decade, georgia tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

the georgia tech research institute (gtri) is the nonprofit, applied research organization of the georgia institute of technology (georgia tech). founded in 1934 as the engineering experiment station, gtri has grown to more than 2,900 employees supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country.

each day, gtri's science and engineering expertise is used to turn ideas into workable solutions for our customers. we take the best ideas, often co-developed with our georgia tech academic partners, and turn them into systems applications that provide a significant technological advantage over other approaches.

job summary the executive director research information technology is responsible for leading the it department to support the organization's research initiatives while ensuring the security, scalability, and compliance of all research systems and infrastructure. this role oversees the design, implementation, and management of it solutions that align with research objectives, while maintaining adherence to government cybersecurity regulations. the executive director research information technology plays a key role in ensuring that research teams have access to cutting-edge technologies, secure systems, and reliable it support to facilitate their work on dod-related projects.

this is position is with georgia tech research institute (gtri) and will work closely with the gtri's chief information officer to ensure that strategic it initiatives and projects are successfully accomplished in alignment with the organization's overarching goals and compliance requirements.

responsibilities job duty 1 -
lead the strategic planning, design, and implementation of the organization's it infrastructure and systems that support research operations, ensuring they meet the needs of research teams and comply with regulations. establish it goals, objectives, and initiatives that align with the organization's research mission and security compliance requirements.

job duty 2 -
oversee the management and optimization of research it systems, networks, and data storage, ensuring they are scalable, secure, and efficient. ensure that research data and applications are protected. collaborate with senior leadership to ensure that research it strategies align with broader organizational goals. provide regular updates to executive leadership on the status of it projects, security posture, budget performance, and any significant issues or risks related to it systems.

job duty 3 -
direct the it team to design and implement secure research infrastructure, including systems for data storage, compute, networking, and cloud solutions. ensure that it solutions enable seamless collaboration across research teams and are tailored to the specific needs of the dod research environment.

job duty 4 -
ensure all research it systems and infrastructure comply with dfars , nist sp 800-171, and other relevant cybersecurity regulations and standards. lead efforts to implement and enforce security best practices, including data encryption, access controls, and continuous monitoring to safeguard sensitive research data and intellectual property. collaborate with cybersecurity teams to conduct risk assessments, audits, and vulnerability management to maintain a secure it environment for research activities.

job duty 5 -
develop, implement, and manage it policies and procedures that ensure the security and compliance of all research systems and operations. ensure that policies cover areas such as data protection, network security, access control, disaster recovery, and business continuity, and that they are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in regulations, technology, or organizational needs.

job duty 6 -
provide leadership in the selection and procurement of it technologies and services that support research objectives. evaluate new technologies and recommend innovative solutions that can improve the efficiency, performance, and security of research operations. manage vendor relationships and negotiate contracts for it services, software, and hardware.

job duty 7 -
ensure that it projects related to research systems are executed on time, within budget, and in alignment with the organization's security and compliance requirements. collaborate with cross-functional teams, including research leaders, compliance officers, and cybersecurity experts, to define project requirements, assess risks, and ensure successful project outcomes.

job duty 8 -
oversee the it department's budgeting and resource allocation to ensure that research it initiatives are adequately supported and aligned with the organization's financial objectives. optimize it resource utilization, including human resources, hardware, and software, to ensure cost-effective and efficient operations.

job duty 9 -
foster a culture of continuous improvement within the it department, encouraging innovation, skills development, and the adoption of best practices. provide mentorship and career development opportunities for it staff, ensuring they are equipped to meet the challenges of supporting research systems in a regulated environment.

job duty 10 -
perform other job-related duties as assigned.

required qualifications educational requirements
bachelor's degree in related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.

required experience
eight or more years of relevant experience, including three or more years of supervisory experience.

preferred qualifications

• experience or proven ability to transition and centralize processes and business unit structures to streamline operations, optimize resource allocation, and enhance the overall effectiveness and security of the organization's research it infrastructure.
• previous experience preparing strategic plans to address customer's requirements.
• excellent communication skills with extensive experience in delivering presentations and conducting meetings in a clear, effective, and professional manner to both internal and external high-level executives and other stakeholders.
• experience leading and managing strategic it initiatives and supporting compliance for organization.

preferred educational qualifications
master's degree in related discipline; advanced certification may be preferred or required (some profiles may require additional education).

knowledge, skills, & abilities work closely with the chief information officer to ensure that strategic it initiatives and projects are successfully accomplished in alignment with the organization's overarching goals and compliance requirements.
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