Senior Director, Information Technology

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Primary Purpose

The Senior Director, Information Technology (SDIT) leads the Faculty of Engineering’s information technology strategy and operations and is accountable for the overall results of Engineering IT. The role translates institutional priorities into innovative, reliable, and service-oriented solutions that support excellence in teaching, learning, research, and administration.

The SDIT provides strategic leadership and oversight for the Faculty's technology services, infrastructure, and innovation portfolio, including IT support services, enterprise infrastructure and application services, audiovisual and classroom technologies, and research computing. The role ensures technology services are responsive, scalable, and aligned with the Faculty's academic, research, and operational objectives, while fostering strong stakeholder partnerships, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across all technology functions.

Reporting directly to the Executive Officer, the SDIT provides strategic and operational leadership for information technology across the Faculty of Engineering. The SDIT is accountable for translating priorities into coordinated technology strategies, initiatives, and services that advance the Faculty’s mission and core values. As the information technology expert, the SDIT oversees all information technology functions and personnel, ensuring the delivery of reliable, secure, innovative, and client-focused technology solutions.

The role is responsible for establishing a service-oriented culture grounded in continuous improvement, operational excellence, collaboration, and accountability while aligning technology investments and resources with the Faculty’s strategic objectives. The SDIT leads a diverse portfolio of IT professionals operating within an academic environment, providing direction for technology governance, infrastructure, enterprise applications, information security, research computing support, digital transformation initiatives, and user services.

Through strong operational leadership and strategic partnership with academic and administrative leaders, the SDIT enables the Faculty to maintain and enhance its reputation as a world-class leader in engineering education and research. The SDIT fosters effective partnerships with academic, administrative, and external stakeholders to advance the Faculty’s strategic objectives. The role is responsible for bringing critical issues, risks, opportunities, and emerging trends to the attention of leadership, providing informed strategic advice, and driving the evolution and execution of the Faculty’s information technology vision to support innovation, operational excellence, and long-term institutional success.

Key Accountabilities

• Defines, establishes, and continuously evolves a Faculty-wide information technology operating model that supports the strategic priorities and enables excellence in teaching, learning, research, and administration.
• Provides overall leadership for the Faculty’s information technology organizational structure, ensuring roles, responsibilities, reporting relationships, and service delivery models are clearly defined, strategically aligned, and well positioned to meet current and future business needs.
• Establishes a cohesive and integrated technology organization by bringing together distributed and centralized IT functions under a common vision, governance framework, service standards, and operating principles.
• Creates and aligns strategic, governance, standards-setting, and operational activities across all Faculty information technology functions and personnel to ensure the consistent delivery of reliable, secure, scalable, and innovative technology services.
• Works with Engineering leadership and the Chief Information Officer to align the development and implementation of technology governance structures within Engineering to the institutional IT governance framework.
• Oversees the organizational design and workforce planning of Faculty IT teams, ensuring the appropriate structure, capacity, capabilities, and succession strategies are in place to support evolving academic, research, and administrative requirements.
• Fosters collaboration among technology teams and stakeholders to establish shared goals, common service standards, and integrated approaches to technology planning, implementation, and support.
• Ensures the effective coordination of infrastructure, enterprise applications, information security, research computing support, client services, instructional technologies, and emerging technology initiatives within a unified service delivery framework.
• Establishes performance expectations, service metrics, and operational standards that promote accountability, continuous improvement, service excellence, and the effective stewardship of Faculty information technology resources.
• Leads organizational change initiatives associated with technology transformation, ensuring stakeholders are engaged, informed, and supported throughout the implementation of new processes, systems, and service models.
• Promotes a culture of innovation, collaboration, and client-focused service across all information technology functions.
• Ensures technology services, organizational structures, and operational practices remain aligned with university priorities, best practices, and the long-term strategic direction of the institution.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree in engineering, computer science, information systems, data science, business or a related field. Advanced degree (MBA, MPA, or similar) or related certifications, specializations preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience leading information systems, data management, analytics, information architecture, enterprise systems and minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Highly developed people management and leadership skills with demonstrated ability to develop and support a professional, service oriented and continuous improvement focused workplace culture.
• Demonstrated experience with IT service delivery in a large, decentralized, research intensive, academic environment.
• A thorough understanding of research computing needs and the operational realities of specialized instructional and laboratory environments.
• Evidence of being a persuasive and dynamic leader with highly developed communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in planning for and overseeing interrelated, complex projects, and coordinating and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver quality results within deadlines.
• Ability to form relationships and build trust with all levels of the Faculty and university community.

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.