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Shanghai American School · 4 weeks ago

Director of Technology

San Francisco Bay Area

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

Shanghai American School (SAS) is a premier English-language day school in Shanghai, serving expatriate families with a comprehensive American curriculum. They are seeking a Director of Technology to lead the school’s technology program, focusing on technology operations leadership and strategic planning to support educational goals and ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks.

Education

Growth Opportunities

Responsibilities

Oversee the school’s core technology functions, including IT infrastructure, data and systems, cybersecurity, and client services, and ensure effective coordination across these operational units

Serve as the direct supervisor to the technology team and the SIS/data coordinator, and collaborate closely with the educational technology team to support the integration of technology in teaching and learning

Allocate time and resources toward sustaining a positive departmental culture, including goal setting, clear communication, and professional growth opportunities for all team members

Cultivate a proactive service culture with consistent visibility and support across both campuses

Maintain regular leadership presence on both campuses

Report directly to the chief financial officer and perform other duties as assigned

Lead a collaborative process to develop a strategic vision for technology that is aligned with the school’s overall strategic plan, values, and culture, and oversee the implementation of that strategy

Lead the consolidation, integration, and optimization of core systems to reduce redundancy and improve data flow, user experience, and long-term sustainability

Run a technology department that supports academic and operational needs in a scalable, secure, and sustainable fashion, while adhering to best practices for an enterprise environment

Build and maintain connections with academic, administrative, and operational constituents throughout the school to ensure that technology systems effectively support institutional priorities

Lead change management for technology initiatives, ensuring clear communication, stakeholder engagement, and smooth adoption

Establish and maintain local, regional, and national partnerships to support the strategic goals of the school’s technology program

Oversee strategic vendor management, ensuring transparent evaluation, competitive sourcing, and alignment with school procurement policies

Ensure that the department responds to end-user needs, provides a reliable IT backbone, delivers excellent training and support, and aligns procedures to support school-wide operations

Implement technology governance, planning, policies, and procedures within a management framework that both department members and constituents support

Establish IT governance structures that clarify decision-making, accountability, and cross-department alignment

Implement KPI and SLA frameworks to ensure consistent operational performance, service quality, and measurable outcomes

Create and maintain clear operating procedures and documentation standards across all technology functions

Ensure transparency in cross-department decision rights related to systems, data, and technology services

Lead strategic decisions regarding hardware, software, systems, back-end infrastructure, and services to ensure cost-effectiveness, customer satisfaction, asset management, quality of service, and performance

Ensure institutional compliance with China’s cybersecurity and data protection regulatory frameworks, including PIPL and related requirements

Provide executive oversight for compliance, data governance, and cyber resilience, safeguarding the school’s digital assets and operational continuity

Qualification

Technology managementCybersecurityData systemsProject managementEnterprise ITClient servicesLeadership experienceCultural responsivenessFluency in EnglishMandarin proficiencyCollaborative approach

Required

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required

Leadership experience managing technology departments and supervising technology staff, preferably in educational or nonprofit settings

Proficiency in key areas of technology management, including enterprise IT, data systems, cybersecurity, and client services

Experience successfully leading concurrent technology-related projects, with a proven ability to set priorities and deliver results

Expertise in fostering team growth, managing change, and setting strategic goals for a dynamic and collaborative department

Fluency in English is required

An enterprise approach to technology management that supports individual needs within a scalable framework for a multifaceted department at a dynamic K–12 school

An ability to plan and oversee concurrent technology-related programs and projects, and empower departmental leads to ensure completion and success

A passion and interest for managing all areas of technology including IT infrastructure and data systems

An ability to build consensus among diverse groups, facilitate critical discussions within large groups, and instill confidence in colleagues during times of transition

Culturally responsive, able to operate effectively in a bilingual, international school environment and within the regulatory context of China

A collaborative and supportive approach to developing staff capacity and fostering departmental culture