Executive Director, Network, Data & Communications – Computing Services

As a technology leader at Carnegie Mellon University, you will provide executive leadership for the network, data center, and communications services that support the university’s academic, research, and administrative missions. You will lead an organization responsible for critical infrastructure and services, balancing operational excellence with the continued evolution of how those services are designed, delivered, and managed.

Building on a strong technology foundation, supported by sustained investment and regular technology refreshes, the next phase of that evolution is an automation-first operating model spanning university-operated, hosted, and cloud environments. The goal is to make services more consistent, scalable, and easier to deliver while preserving the reliability and service quality the university depends on. Your leadership will be central to that transition.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Infrastructure Services, you will lead directors and senior technical experts and engage closely with IT teams and university partners to align capabilities, investments, and service delivery with evolving institutional needs.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop and implement a cohesive, multi-year strategy across the portfolio, including infrastructure architecture, software platforms, management, and automation. Build automation into the operating model through consistent configuration management, standard interfaces, observability, and shared automation platforms and practices.
• Ensure services are secure, scalable, sustainable, and reliable while continuously improving how they are operated and delivered. Collaborate with IT and campus partners to establish clear service standards and improve resource management, availability, performance, incident response, and lifecycle management. Develop reusable capabilities that enable teams to consume infrastructure consistently, automate processes, and innovate more quickly.
• Negotiate major vendor contracts, service level agreements (SLAs), and pricing for enterprise networking and services in your portfolio.
• Lead architecture, capacity, resilience, sustainability, and capital planning across the portfolio, including determining the right balance of university-operated, hosted, and cloud infrastructure and services to meet evolving institutional needs.
• Set direction for the organization, develop leaders and technical talent, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and engineering rigor. Lead the organizational and operational changes required to expand automation at scale while maintaining the reliability of critical services.
• Establish priorities and make decisions within delegated authority, balancing institutional needs, technology, risk, service quality, staffing, and cost. Provide financial stewardship and oversee strategic vendor relationships.
• Represent the portfolio in university planning, governance, and major institutional initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Significant progressive leadership experience (10+ years) in enterprise networking, data centers, IT infrastructure, or related technology services, including leading managers and senior technical contributors.
• Demonstrated success leading architectural, technical, and organizational change to advance standardization, automation, and service delivery without sacrificing the reliability, availability, and stability of critical infrastructure services.
• Experience with operational resilience, service management, financial planning, strategic sourcing, vendor management, and contract negotiation.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex, high-value vendor contracts and
• managing strategic network provider agreements.
• Ability to discuss technical issues with engineers, frame choices for executives, and build productive relationships with technical and nontechnical collaborators and partners.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent advanced experience.
• Experience in higher education, research computing, or another complex, distributed organization.
• Experience leading infrastructure automation at scale, including infrastructure as code, software-defined and intent-based networking, configuration management, observability, service APIs and interfaces, and hybrid cloud and hosting environments.

Why Carnegie Mellon?

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We support equal opportunity and value diversity within our staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we provide reasonable accommodations for the application process, job duties, and employment benefits. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Seize this exceptional chance to join a group committed to quality, creativity, diversity, and both collective and personal development. Flexibility, excellence, and passion are essential traits. We highly value inclusion, cooperation, and cultural awareness. Thus, we seek a colleague who can connect effectively with a diverse range of internal and external partners with strong integrity.

Our benefits philosophy emphasizes Choice, Control, and Well-being. We have excellent retirement and healthcare options, as well as tuition remission for employees and dependents. Learn more at https://www.cmu.edu/jobs/benefits-at-a-glance.

Come join an institution and inspire innovations that change the world!

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

IT Management

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

More Information:

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
• Statement of Assurance

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