Assistant Director of IT Operations

University of Maryland•College Park, MD

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Organization's Summary Statement: The Assistant Director of IT Operations is a full-time leadership position responsible for overseeing the operational management and continuous improvement of enterprise information technology systems at ARLIS. Reporting to the Director of Computational and Information Technologies, this role provides operational oversight of ARLIS’s IT infrastructure, cybersecurity posture, service delivery, and staff performance. The Associate Director plays a key role in ensuring compliance with federal security requirements, and fostering a culture of collaboration, performance, and continuous improvement across all IT functions. The ideal candidate is a seasoned IT leader with experience managing complex, mission-driven environments, particularly within organizations that include unionized or represented technical staff.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Seven (7) years of professional information technology project management experience.
Two (2) years of experience supervising or managing professional staff.
Knowledge of tools and technology utilized to support project management.
Skill in oral and written communication.
Skill in the use of Microsoft Office and Google Workplace products.
Ability to perform set priorities, and meet deadlines.
Ability to multitask while demonstrating a commitment to customer service.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading IT operations in federally funded research, defense, or similarly regulated environments.
Demonstrated experience managing compliance with cybersecurity and risk management frameworks such as CMMC, NIST, or RMF.
Proven success managing enterprise IT infrastructure teams and improving operational service delivery and reliability.
Experience developing and managing IT operational budgets, procurement processes, and vendor relationships to ensure cost-effective and compliant service delivery
Demonstrated experience building and mentoring high-performing IT teams while implementing clear performance standards, accountability measures, and professional development practices.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, vision, and direction for ARLIS IT operations, ensuring secure, reliable, and efficient delivery of all technology services.
Oversee daily IT operations and staff key performance indicators, including infrastructure, systems administration, cybersecurity, network management, and service desk functions.
Lead implementation of enterprise IT initiatives and key performance metrics that support ARLIS’s mission, research objectives, and compliance mandates.
Maintain IT governance frameworks, policies, and standard operating procedures through measured accountability and performance management of ARLIS IT staff. This includes setting standards for ARLIS IT staff to achieve that they will be measured internally during quarterly CMMC 2.0 compliance reviews.
Manage and mentor IT managers and technical staff, fostering professional growth, operational discipline, and team cohesion.
Maintain documented weekly staff performance assessments aligned with documented goals set by ARLIS CIT directors and managers.
Partner with Human Resources and leadership to ensure effective communication and compliance with collective bargaining agreements and workforce policies.
Oversee technology modernization efforts, assessing emerging tools and systems to enhance operational efficiency and security.
Ensure compliance with UARC, federal, and institutional technology standards, including cybersecurity and risk management frameworks.
Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs), dashboards, and operational reports to inform executive decision-making.
Serve as a liaison among executive leadership, technical teams, HR, and external partners to promote strategic alignment and resource optimization.
Manage IT budgets and procurement processes to ensure cost-effective and compliant resource utilization.