Posting Details (Default Section)
Posting Number:20254403SPosition Title:Executive Director, Cloud & Research Computing SystemsPosition Type:StaffLocation:Villanova, PARecruitment Type:Internal/External ApplicantsWork Schedule:full-time/12-monthsAvg Hours WeekDepartment:712-UNIT - OperationsPosition Summary:
Why work at Villanova?
- Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University’s founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
- We believe that an inclusive community fosters an understanding and appreciation for diversity among our students, faculty, staff and administrators.
- Villanova’s most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.
The Executive Director for Cloud and Research Computing Systems provides strategic and operational leadership for Villanova University’s hybrid cloud infrastructure and high-performance computing (HPC) environments. This role ensures that enterprise and research computing platforms are secure, scalable, efficient, and aligned with institutional priorities. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Technology Infrastructure and Research Computing, the Executive Director will guide the technical direction, execution, and service delivery for cloud systems (Azure preferred, AWS, and others), on-prem infrastructure, and HPC resources. This role includes oversight of legacy on-premises infrastructure and data center services. Responsibilities include managing Windows and Linux server administration, storage systems, and hypervisor platforms to ensure stability, performance, and compliance with organizational standards. The position requires deep technical expertise, a strong customer service orientation, and a collaborative leadership style to advance research, teaching, and administrative support services.
Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning
- Translate university-wide IT and research strategies into actionable plans for cloud systems and HPC architecture.
- Provide expert guidance to the AVP and CIO on emerging trends in cloud computing and research technologies.
- Represent Villanova in national and regional forums related to cloud infrastructure and research computing.
- Evaluate technologies and services to develop business cases and ROI analyses supporting cloud and research priorities.
- Contribute to the advancement of digital transformation efforts and alignment of computing capabilities with future institutional needs.
- Contribute to institutional planning efforts and university-wide IT initiatives.
Organizational Leadership
- Foster a high-performing and inclusive team environment committed to technical excellence and service.
- Lead and manage a team of cloud engineers, HPC specialists, and systems administrators.
- Mentor staff, conduct performance evaluations, and support employee professional development.
- Promote cross-unit collaboration and transparency aligned with IT’s RESTLESS values and Villanova’s Augustinian mission.
- Participate in the hiring process for technical staff and facilitate effective team onboarding.
Operational Excellence
- Oversee the implementation, monitoring, and optimization of hybrid cloud platforms and on-prem systems.
- Management of 24/7 operations: central data center and cloud implementations of and development/production environments.
- Lead infrastructure modernization initiatives using automation, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-native services.
- Manage secure, reliable, and scalable HPC systems, including architecture, scheduling, and software deployment.
- Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, data governance, and research regulations.
- Direct vendor management, budget planning, and service delivery performance.
- Maintain current knowledge of, and advise the CIO on, best practices and future trends in cloud architecture, HPC, automation, SaaS, and digital infrastructure.
- Keep the AVP and CIO informed of operational risks, outages, or other issues that may affect service delivery.
- Cultivate, negotiate, and formalize vendor relationships and external partnerships that support or enhance campus digital initiatives.
Additional Responsibilities
- Support faculty in grant proposals involving computational needs.
- Provide technical consultation on research computing projects.
- Represent the department on IT governance committees and working groups.
- Develop a strong network of peers at comparable institutions and represent Villanova at local, regional, or national conferences as appropriate.
- Perform other duties and assist with projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Formal Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
Work Experience
- A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in enterprise IT.
- At least 5 years of experience managing or directly supporting high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
- At least 3 years of leadership experience with cloud platforms (Azure preferred, AWS or similar).
- Experience working in a higher education or research-intensive environment.
Work Skills (e.g., written and verbal communication skills)
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and foster a high-performing, inclusive team culture.
- Strong project management capabilities, including the ability to prioritize competing demands and manage large-scale technical initiatives.
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
- Proven ability to mentor and develop staff through performance management and coaching.
Specific Job Knowledge (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area)
- In-depth understanding of hybrid cloud systems architecture, including deployment, integration, and optimization.
- Familiarity with automation frameworks (e.g., Terraform, Ansible) and scripting languages (e.g., Python, PowerShell).
- Understanding of security, compliance, and data governance requirements related to research computing (e.g., HIPAA, export control).
- Knowledge of budgeting, vendor negotiation, and IT service delivery models.
Preferred Qualifications:
Formal Education
- Master’s degree in a relevant technical or management discipline.
- Certifications in cloud architecture such as Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect or AWS Certified Solutions Architect.
Work Experience
- Experience supporting grant-funded research initiatives or managing IT components of sponsored projects.
- Prior experience modernizing or migrating legacy systems to cloud environments in a university or research setting.
Specific Job Knowledge (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area)
- Familiarity with scientific computing workflows, large-scale data processing, or academic research infrastructure.
Other
- Active engagement with professional communities such as Internet2, EDUCAUSE, or the Campus Research Computing Consortium.
Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours: Special Message to Applicants:
Please Note: To be considered for this role, candidates must live within a commutable distance to Villanova University in Villanova, PA.
Posting Date:06/16/2025Closing Date (11:59pm ET):06/23/2025Salary Posting Information:
Commensurate with experience
Salary Band:21Job Classification:exempt
