Inside Higher Ed · 1 month ago
Sr. Director Infrastructure
Albany, NY
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$120K/yr - $135K/yr
10+ years expExcelsior University is seeking a visionary and results-driven Senior Director of Infrastructure & Operations to lead and transform the university’s technology foundation during a period of growth and expansion. This executive-level leader will provide strategic direction and oversight for all infrastructure and operations services, including network and telecom, cloud and hosting environments, end-user computing and collaboration, and IT operations.
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Responsibilities
Develop and articulate a comprehensive infrastructure strategy aligned with the university’s growth, digital transformation initiatives, and mission-critical priorities
Lead architecture, design, and implementation of scalable, secure, and resilient infrastructure solutions across campuses, hybrid sites, and cloud environments
Continuously evaluate emerging technologies, trends, and vendors, with a focus on leveraging AI, machine learning, and automation to optimize operations and service delivery
Develop long-term infrastructure roadmaps, including budgeting, resource planning, and risk management
Drive transformative change through proactive planning, measurable outcomes, and continuous improvement
Accelerate and optimize the university’s cloud adoption strategy (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), integrating on-premise and cloud resources efficiently
Implement cloud-native principles, containerization, and serverless architectures where appropriate
Manage strategic relationships with cloud providers, ensuring alignment with university needs, cost optimization, and security compliance
Oversee the design, implementation, and management of secure, high-performance networks supporting all campuses, hybrid sites, and remote users
Implement software-defined networking (SDN), network virtualization, and other advanced networking practices to optimize connectivity, performance, and scalability
Ensure robust LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, and private network performance to support academic and administrative operations
Strategically manage and optimize data center footprints, including modernization and consolidation initiatives
Develop and implement edge computing strategies to meet real-time operational and academic technology needs
Ensure infrastructure aligns with institutional goals for efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability
Collaborate closely with the CISO to embed security into all infrastructure services and operations
Ensure disaster recovery, business continuity, and high availability strategies are robust and operationally effective
Leverage AI and predictive analytics for threat detection, risk mitigation, and proactive incident prevention
Drive operational efficiency through Infrastructure as Code (IaC), orchestration, AI-driven operations (AIOps), and predictive analytics
Establish and monitor KPIs, SLAs, and performance trends to ensure proactive, measurable service management
Introduce innovative solutions that reduce operational toil, accelerate incident resolution, and improve service quality, while maintaining rigorous core operational standards
Implement robust monitoring, alerting, and incident response processes grounded in industry best practices
Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of infrastructure architects, engineers, and operations specialists
Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and operational rigor
Manage vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and partnerships with technology providers
Partner with other ITS leaders (CIO, CISO, Applications, BI, Help Desk, Web Services) and university stakeholders to align infrastructure services with institutional priorities
Communicate complex technical concepts and strategies clearly to non-technical audiences and executive leadership
Support institutional initiatives by projecting impact, enabling informed decision-making, and ensuring operational readiness
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree preferred
Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in infrastructure, cloud, and operations management
Demonstrated success in building high-performing, proactive, and forward-looking teams aligned with institutional mission and culture
Proven experience in implementing ITIL-based service management, agile practices, and continuous improvement initiatives
Deep technical expertise across hybrid/multi-cloud environments, enterprise networking, end-user computing, storage, compute, and application support
Experience in leveraging AI, machine learning, or analytics to improve operational efficiency, reliability, and performance
Track record of leading complex technology transformations, including cloud adoption, data center modernization, and network optimization
Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, resource planning, and vendor management
Exceptional communication, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills
Experience in higher education or similarly complex, mission-driven organizations
Experience leading technology integration following mergers, acquisitions, or multi-site expansions
Knowledge of regulatory and accreditation requirements (FERPA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR)
Demonstrated success in leading data-driven operations and infrastructure modernization initiatives
Benefits
Paid time off
Retirement
Excellent health insurance
Company
Inside Higher Ed
Inside Higher Ed is the online source for news, opinion, and jobs related to higher education.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknown2022-01-10Acquired
2006-08-31Series Unknown
Leadership Team
Stephanie Shweiki
Director, Foundation Partnerships
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