Associate Director of IT Operations & Infrastructure

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

Inquiries Regarding Application Status
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of submitted applications. Applicants selected for interviews will be contacted using the email and/or phone information provided in the online application. For information regarding our general staff recruitment process, please click here to visit our FAQs web page to see answers for frequently asked questions, including what to expect, timelines, requests for special accommodation, and interviews. 

Location:

Claremont, CA

Job Posting Title:

Associate Director of IT Operations & Infrastructure

Job Details and Requirement:

Position Title: Associate Director of IT Operations & Infrastructure

Department: IT                                     Supervisor: Executive Director of IT

The Associate Director of IT Operations & Infrastructure provides leadership and oversight of the College’s core technology operations, including infrastructure, systems, identity services, and operational reliability.

This role is responsible for ensuring that the College’s technology environment is stable, secure, and well-managed, supporting the day-to-day needs of faculty, staff, and students while enabling long-term sustainability and growth.

Reporting to the Executive Director of IT, the Associate Director serves as a senior leader and trusted advisor, contributing to operational strategy, institutional risk management, and cross-functional coordination. This position plays a key role in translating technical complexity into clear operational direction and ensuring that technology services are delivered consistently and effectively.

A core expectation of this role is to lead and further develop a high-functioning team, establishing clear ownership across infrastructure and systems operations, reducing reliance on any single individual, and creating processes that support scalability, reliability, and continuous improvement.

IT Operations and Service Reliability

• Provide leadership oversight of day-to-day IT operations across infrastructure, systems administration, and identity services.
• Ensure the stability, availability, and performance of core technology platforms, including servers, storage, networking, cloud, and directory services.
• Establish and monitor operational standards for system monitoring, patching, maintenance, and lifecycle management.
• Define and track key performance indicators related to system health, service availability, and overall operational effectiveness
   

Team Leadership and Accountability

• Supervise and support infrastructure and systems staff
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and service ownership across the team
• Provide coaching, prioritization, and performance management to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality services.
• Promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional support both within the team and with The Claremont Colleges Consortium
   

Infrastructure and Platform Oversight

• Oversee administration of enterprise infrastructure platforms, including on-premises and cloud-based systems
• Ensure effective execution of system updates, patching, backup, and disaster recovery activities
• Provide direction on infrastructure architecture and modernization in coordination with technical staff
• Ensure systems are maintained in alignment with institutional standards, regulatory compliance, and best practices
   

Identity, Automation, and Systems Integration

• Provide oversight and coordination for identity lifecycle operation and automation initiatives
• Ensure reliability, security, and consistency of account provisioning, directory services, and system integrations
• Support the adoption of automation to improve operational efficiency and consistency
   

Security and Operational Risk Alignment

• Ensure infrastructure and systems operation align with institutional security standards
• Partner with security and risk functions to support monitoring, incident response, and risk mitigation
• Ensure operational readiness for system disruptions and recovery scenarios
   

Incident and Problem Management

• Lead response efforts for major incidents impacting infrastructure and core services
• Ensure timely escalation, communication, and resolution of operational issues
• Oversee root cause analysis and implementation of preventative improvement
   

Process, Documentation, and Continuous Improvement

• Establish and maintain operational processes, including change management, system lifecycle management, and service documentation
• Ensure documentation is current, accessible, and aligned with operational practices
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reliability, and service delivery
   

Strategic and Executive Support

• Serve as a key advisor to the Executive Director of IT on infrastructure strategy and operational priorities
• Translate technical issues and risks into clear, actionable insights for leadership
• Contribute to planning, budgeting, and long-term technology strategy

The individual must possess knowledge, skills and ability to be able to successfully perform the essential functions of the position, or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex IT environments, including infrastructure, identity and access management, enterprise platforms, and cloud services
• Experience leading operational teams in a service-oriented environment, including responsibility for system reliability, incident response, and service continuity, preferably within higher education or similarly complex organizations
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to direct technical teams, set priorities, and ensure consistent delivery of infrastructure and operational services
• Demonstrated ability to establish clear ownership, accountability, and operational discipline across a team supporting enterprise systems and services
• Ability to translate complex technical systems, risks, and dependencies into clear, actionable information for leadership and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong understanding of enterprise IT infrastructure, including hybrid infrastructure, cloud platforms, identity and access management, networking, and systems administration
• Experience developing and implementing operational processes, including change management, system lifecycle management, service documentation, and platform governance
• Ability to lead incident response and problem resolution efforts, including coordination of technical teams, communication with stakeholders, and follow-through on remediation and prevention
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess risk, prioritize effectively, and make informed decisions across infrastructure, security, and service delivery
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic planning with operational execution in a dynamic environment
• Ability to cultivate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement across a team, including the development of sustainable practices that support consistency and resilience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with technical staff, leadership, and campus stakeholders
• Working knowledge of enterprise technology domains such as Microsoft 365 and Azure administration, identity lifecycle management, infrastructure operations, and security practices, with the ability to oversee and guide technical implementation
• Commitment to maintaining an inclusive, accessible, and equitable technology environment that supports the College’s mission and core values

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in IT infrastructure, systems administration, or enterprise technology operations, including oversight of hybrid environments spanning cloud and on-premises systems
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a supervisory or leadership role overseeing technical staff and ensuring consistent and reliable delivery of IT services

Supervisory Responsibility: Yes

Time Type: Full-time

Work Schedule: This is a regular, exempt, full-time, staff position. The regular hours for this position are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, with a one-hour meal break.  These hours may vary due to needs of the College or department. May be required to occasional evenings, weekends or overtime.

Work Model: Hybrid (2days/Wk Remote)

• *Must have access to reliable and secure computer and internet connection.
• *Must have access to a dedicated and suitable workstation at remote location, including desk or table and supporting, upright chair. Must ensure workstation is safe and free from hazards and ergonomically appropriate.

Compensation: Budgeted Salary Range: $112,000-$118,000 per year

Pitzer College is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, tuition exchange program participation and more.

Physical Requirements:  This position is generally sedentary and requires the ability to sit for prolonged periods of time and operate a computer for extended durations. The role may occasionally require standing, walking, and light physical activity within office and data center environments. The individual must be able to access and inspect equipment, including reaching, bending, or working in confined spaces as needed to support infrastructure oversight, troubleshooting, and coordination of technical work.

Classifications:

CSA Reporter: No

Mandatory Reporter: No

AB1825: Yes

FERPA: Yes

Responsible Employee: No

Instructions:  Only qualified applicants please.

Application Materials: Upload the following materials to complete your application:

• Cover Letter:  Indicate your reason for interest in this position, describe how your qualifications make you an ideal candidate, and explain which of Pitzer’s core values best relates to your own. 

• Resume: List relevant qualifications and dates of experience.

• Professional References: References will be contacted for select applicants and advance notice will be provided. Provide the names of at least three (3) individuals who can speak to your professional qualifications. Include their business titles, contact information and an indication of how you are acquainted with them (e.g., former supervisor, coworker, etc.).

Employment Requirements
Employment is contingent upon a candidate possessing the knowledge, skills and abilities to be able to successfully perform the essential duties of the position, or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities. Employment is also contingent upon new employees providing documents verifying U.S. citizenship or, for aliens, documents verifying legal permission to work in the United States. For positions requiring the use of a college-owned vehicle, employment is contingent upon a driving record acceptable to the colleges’ automobile liability insurance. Final candidates in all staff positions will be required to undergo a background investigation; in addition some positions may require a physical lift test and pulmonary function test.

Covid-19 Vaccination

Pitzer College has mandated the COVID-19 vaccination for all employees.  New employees are required to show proof of full vaccination, including booster, against COVID-19 or request a Pitzer College approved medical or religious exemption on or before their first day of employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

Pitzer College adheres to both the letter and the spirit of Equal Employment opportunity and Affirmative Action. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, disability, medical condition, or veteran status, in the administration of its admission policies, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other College-administered programs, and employment policies. Pitzer strongly encourages candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. 

Safety Report  

In compliance with applicable law, Pitzer College publishes an annual report containing statistical information concerning the occurrence of crime on campus and adjacent thereto, as well as policies and practices concerning security. A copy of this report is online at http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/cs/index.asp or by contacting The Claremont Colleges Department of Campus Safety: 251 E. Eleventh Street, Claremont, CA 91711-3947; (909) 621-8170.

Reporting Definitions

• Campus Security Authority Reporter (CSA): Employees responsible for reporting crimes that are disclosed to them, so that crime statistics reporting is as accurate as possible.
• Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act Reporter (FERPA): Employees with access to student records and information must adhere to the privacy protection requirements under FERPA, which restricts what student information may be disclosed and to whom.
• Mandatory Reporter: Employees who have frequent contact with children are required to report all known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.
• Responsible Employee: Any employee who has the authority to take action to redress sexual violence, who has been given the duty of reporting incidents of sexual violence or any other misconduct by students to the Title IX Coordinator or other appropriate School designee; or whom a student could reasonably believe has this authority or duty.