Senior Director of Academic Platforms

Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its new Senior Director of Academic Platforms. Reporting to the Managing Director of Academic Technology, who in turn reports to the Vice President & University Chief Information Officer, this role is responsible for current and future enterprise technology platforms that enable teaching and learning as well as research computing. The Senior Director engages academic technology staff, faculty, and students broadly across Harvard to support their use of HUIT systems in teaching, learning, and research and contributes to the strategic direction for Harvard and its implementation through Academic Technology, and is accountable for the successful delivery of University-wide services.

The Senior Director of Academic Platforms leads a team of 16 business analysts, product owners, support specialists, and software engineers to: ensure HUIT’s successful engagement with school academic technology groups, professional and lifelong learning (PLL) organizations, and University partners; support the development of a strategy for current, future needs at programmatic levels; oversee consulting around platform technologies; liaise with software vendors and internal technical teams on feature requests and prioritization, and address high-level support needs. The role entails significant engagement across Harvard: the Senior Director represents HUIT to technology staff, support staff, and faculty in Harvard’s 13 schools and enhances HUIT’s understanding of their needs and aspirations.

Qualifications

Success in the role requires a range of qualities and experiences and a core set of interpersonal skills that will enable success in the University’s decentralized organizational environment:
  • Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training, education, and experience through which equivalent technical expertise can be developed
  • Deep understanding of teaching and learning/content management technologies and their application to higher education and executive/lifelong learning
  • 10 years of progressive experience managing teams and stakeholder relationships
  • A track record of advancing equity, inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility
  • Familiarity with WCAG accessibility standards
  • Experience working in or with higher education and/or further and executive education environments, ideally with teaching experience
  • Experience working with agile software development framework and knowledge of software development practices, including the integration of user experience and accessibility into the development process
  • Excellent organizational change management and project management skills
  • Executive-level written, oral, and presentation communication skills


Harvard University has engaged Opus Partners to support the recruitment of this position. Craig Smith, Partner, and Abigail Maynard, Associate, are leading the search. Confidential inquiries, applications, and nominations should be submitted by email to Abigail at abigail.maynard@opuspartners.net .

An application should include a resume and cover letter. Harvard University values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and seeks a leader who is committed to promoting these values throughout the organization. We encourage candidates to address in their cover letters how they might promote these values as the Senior Director of Academic Platforms and to highlight past professional support of initiatives designed to remove barriers and to increase participation by groups historically under-represented in IT.

Accessibility: Harvard University IT plays an important role in supporting Harvard's commitment by seeking to create, procure and deploy technologies that are accessible to all, including and especially those who live with a disability. Harvard welcomes individuals with disabilities to apply for positions and participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact our University Disability Resources Department.

Harvard University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.