Research Lab IT Manager

Tufts University•Medford, MA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Research Lab IT Manager coordinates technology services for the Allen Discovery Center, ensuring that the Center’s technology environment supports the mission and needs of its researchers, faculty, staff, and students. The role serves as the Center’s primary technology partner and advisor, managing research data and infrastructure, consulting on complex scientific and technical initiatives, and providing operational and user support. Working with Center leadership, researchers, and Tufts Technology Services (TTS), the manager plans and evolves the Center’s technology environment; identifies emerging technologies and best practices; and evaluates, selects, implements, and optimizes hardware, software, and services for research use. The manager represents researchers’ interests in institutional technology discussions, triages issues before escalation, and follows central IT governance, standards, security requirements, service-management practices, and established processes. When central frameworks do not meet local research needs, the manager develops alternatives and reviews them with central IT partners. The position oversees daily operations, maintenance, asset management, and support for research technology infrastructure, computing systems, collaboration platforms, and large-scale research data resources. It also coordinates access, licensing, vendor agreements, upgrades, migrations, and lifecycle replacements; maintains documentation and operational standards; and supervises, trains, and mentors junior technical staff, student workers, or interns. This is a full-time, primarily on-site role working 35 hours per week over five days. Up to one remote day per week may be arranged.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least five years delivering IT support in a research or scientific environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Proficiency with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems and server administration.
Knowledge of local area networks, network administration, network protocols, firewalls, and data security practices.
Experience supporting a research-intensive environment, including familiarity with scientific computing environments and software such as MATLAB, R, and Python.
Technical skills configuring, installing, and troubleshooting email and web clients, antivirus software, TCP/IP, imaging software, peripherals such as printers and scanners, and handheld devices such as mobile devices and tablets.
Working experience with endpoint-management and remote-support tools, such as Ivanti Endpoint Manager, Microsoft SCCM/MECM, Microsoft Intune, JAMF Pro, or BeyondTrust Remote Support.
Understanding of emerging AI technologies and the ability to evaluate and recommend their research-enterprise applications while navigating university review and approval processes and considering intellectual property, security, privacy, and other relevant requirements.
Resourcefulness in using AI tools to help diagnose and resolve unfamiliar, undocumented, or older systems.
Strong knowledge of desktop security and standards, including security and networking.
Significant experience with backup and recovery strategies, WINS, DHCP, DNS, and TCP/IP, including backup products and solutions suitable for a dynamic research environment.
Working knowledge of scientific-computing data-management best practices, including organizing, archiving, and backing up large research datasets, verifying that backups can be restored, and evaluating backup solutions.
Ability to independently evaluate technology options, vendors, and central-IT proposals; identify gaps between proposed solutions and research requirements; recommend alternatives; and clearly explain trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders.
Experience with IT asset lifecycle management, including hardware inventory, tagging, tracking, and retirement.
Experience mentoring, training, or overseeing junior technical staff, student workers, or interns.
Experience configuring, setting up, and supporting laboratory instrumentation and complex laboratory functions in a scientific or research setting.
Experience supporting legacy or vendor-locked computers attached to laboratory instruments, including systems that cannot be upgraded or patched and must be kept running safely.
Experience researching and comparing storage, hardware, software, and service options and presenting clear recommendations and trade-offs to non-IT stakeholders.
Strong organizational and attention-to-detail skills.
Commitment to the Center’s mission and flexibility to solve problems in ways that enable scientists to achieve their goals.
Excellent communication and professional customer-service skills, including end-user training and consultation, effective teamwork and project work, and the ability to build durable working relationships with TTS colleagues while representing the Center’s needs.

Nice To Haves

A+, Network+, ITIL, or other industry-standard certifications.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary technology consultant and trusted advisor to Center leadership, researchers, faculty, staff, and students.
Provide expert consultation on complex scientific and technical initiatives and advise on technology strategies from project concept through implementation.
Assess emerging technology needs and opportunities with Center leadership and researchers.
Participate in budget planning for Center equipment and operational resources.
Collaborate with central IT to plan and evolve the Center’s technology environment, evaluating emerging technologies, best practices, and solutions.
Represent Center researchers’ technology interests in discussions with TTS and other institutional partners, and evaluate proposed solutions against research priorities, operational needs, standards, and the Center’s mission.
Develop and maintain informational resources, documentation, and communications about Center technology services and initiatives.
Oversee day-to-day operation, maintenance, and support of research technology infrastructure, computing systems, and collaboration platforms.
Serve as the primary liaison with TTS, laboratory vendors, and university partners regarding space and technology needs.
Maintain technology asset inventories, including hardware tagging, tracking, retirement, documentation, and operational standards.
Supervise, train, and mentor junior technical staff, student workers, or interns supporting the Center’s technology needs.
Advise and collaborate with Center stakeholders on technology and operational practices that meet research needs and align with university policies, safety requirements, and industry best practices.
Manage and maintain research computing systems, workstations, servers, storage, software, and related infrastructure.
Manage shared computing resources and coordinate with central IT to align solutions with institutional services while addressing research-specific needs.
Research, evaluate, recommend, configure, implement, and maintain hardware, software, and technology services for research and operations.
Provide first-line technical support, troubleshooting hardware, software, systems, and connectivity issues.
Coordinate user access to technology resources, applications, research computing environments, and data resources.
Manage large-scale research data resources and data-management practices to support availability, integrity, and compliance with institutional requirements.
Coordinate software licensing, vendor support agreements, technology inventories, and lifecycle management.
Monitor, test, troubleshoot, and optimize systems for reliability, security, and performance.
Coordinate technology projects, upgrades, migrations, and lifecycle replacement initiatives.
Develop and maintain technical documentation, system standards, operating procedures, and knowledge resources.