Villanova University · 1 day ago
Director of Systems Administration & Operations
Villanova, PA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$131K/yr - $170K/yr
10+ years expVillanova University is a mission-driven organization dedicated to service and community values. The Director of Systems Administration & Operations oversees IT infrastructure operations, ensuring reliability, performance, security, and user satisfaction while aligning resources with strategic objectives.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Lead planning activities to define future directions for enterprise systems based on support metrics, customer experience, and alignment with Villanova’s mission
Assist UTS leadership in the development and enforcement of forward-looking IT guidelines, standards, procedures, and policies
Research and evaluate emerging technologies to inform future infrastructure strategies that enhance scalability, automation, and security across on-premise and cloud environments
Collaborate with peer institutions and external partners to exchange best practices and identify innovative solutions that advance Villanova’s IT strategic plan
Collaborate with leadership and the Project Management Office to develop project plans, resource estimates, and cost-of-service analyses aligned with institutional priorities
Foster a high-performing, inclusive team culture committed to technical excellence and customer service
Mentor and coach staff, conduct performance evaluations, and support professional growth and career development
Participate in recruiting, hiring, and onboarding technical staff to ensure strong team alignment and integration
Promote cross-unit collaboration, transparency, and accountability aligned with UTS’s RESTLESS values and Villanova’s Augustinian mission
Lead and manage a team of systems administrators, including Linux and Windows platforms, responsible for enterprise service delivery across on-premise and cloud environments
Facilitate knowledge transfer and collaboration between teams within UTS and across campus departments
Provide oversight of 24×7 operations across physical data centers and cloud environments supporting production and development/test systems
Monitor and analyze system health, utilization, capacity, and performance through enterprise monitoring and planning tools
Oversee and approve change requests for all production systems to ensure stable, secure, and predictable operations
Develop and maintain documented system policies, procedures, and operational standards to ensure consistency, compliance, and efficiency across UTS
Manage a complex portfolio of operational projects related to enterprise architecture and service delivery lifecycle, including work prioritization, resource allocation, and maintenance scheduling for reliable, predictable performance
Prepare business cases, quotes, and procurement justifications for equipment and services to support ongoing infrastructure operations and projects
Contribute to the design, testing, and maintenance of Villanova’s Continuity of Operations, Disaster Recovery, and Business Continuity plans to ensure system resilience and compliance
Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of enterprise monitoring, alerting, and backup/recovery platforms
Engage in Continual Service Improvement (CSI) activities to evaluate systems and processes, identify opportunities for efficiency, and enhance overall service quality and customer experience
Ensure infrastructure operations support compliance, business continuity, and disaster recovery requirements
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related discipline
Minimum of 10 years of experience in information technology, systems administration, or infrastructure operations
Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience managing cross-functional technical teams
Proven experience overseeing enterprise-level systems and hybrid environments (on-premise and cloud)
Demonstrated success improving reliability, performance, and security in complex IT environments
Strong leadership, strategic planning, and project management skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences
Proven ability to foster collaboration, transparency, and accountability consistent with Villanova's RESTLESS values
Demonstrated success managing multiple priorities and initiatives in a fast-paced environment
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation
Commitment to customer-focused service delivery and operational excellence
Broad understanding of enterprise infrastructure, including servers, storage, virtualization, and network technologies
Knowledge of cloud-based platforms (Azure preferred; AWS or similar acceptable)
Familiarity with business continuity, disaster recovery, and security best practices
Working knowledge of IT service management frameworks (e.g., ITIL)
Preferred
Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field
Advanced training or professional coursework in cloud computing, systems architecture, or information security
Relevant industry certifications such as ITIL Foundation, Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate, or AWS Solutions Architect
Experience leading modernization or transformation initiatives in hybrid on-premise and cloud environments
Prior experience in higher education or other complex, service-oriented organizations
Demonstrated success developing infrastructure roadmaps or strategic modernization plans
Benefits
Holistic benefits package
Generous paid time off
Competitive retirement savings plan
Flexible work options
Wellness programs including gym membership
Professional development
Tuition assistance
Company
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Villanova University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (15)
2024 (7)
2023 (12)
2022 (11)
2021 (15)
2020 (4)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$16.52MKey Investors
Andrew W. Mellon FoundationU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyNational Science Foundation
2023-06-06Grant
2022-06-28Grant· $0.03M
2022-02-23Grant· $13.5M
Leadership Team
Raymond D. Duffy
Vice President for Human Resources
Recent News
The Philadelphia Inquirer
2025-11-09
GlobalFinTechSeries
2025-11-03
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