IT Officer

The University of New Mexico (UNM) Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) seek a highly motivated, dynamic, detail-oriented, and organized individual to join the OVPR/CIO teams as an Information Technology Officer (ITO).

The OVPR is committed to the advancement, facilitation, and celebration of cutting-edge discovery and innovation. At UNM, we believe research is education, and as New Mexico's premier R1 institution, we are uniquely positioned to provide an unparalleled education for students and world-class opportunities for faculty.

This position is foundational to the UNM IT Campus Outreach program. The matrixed reporting structure integrates operational oversight from the OVPR and planning/coordination from the office of the CIO. This strategy ensures consistent access to the full range of expertise and technology solutions available to campus. Moreover, it integrates research IT services into a support structure that is focused on customer experience.

The selected individual will work independently and as part of the UNM IT team to coordinate the administration of information technology (IT) services for the OVPR, including the operational units and Category 3 Research Centers and Institutes (RCIs) that report to the OVPR. The position serves as the information technology manager for OVPR, while also participating with campus-wide IT resources and initiatives to ensure effective and efficient pathways for the research community. This position will be responsible for promoting, supporting, and advocating for the OVPR's strategic initiatives, as well as for the needs of UNM's research community, especially those that are differentiated from other administrative or academic areas.

UNM has a vibrant research enterprise that continues to stretch in new directions, creating new knowledge, and utilizing new technologies. The OVPR ITO will manage specific research-facing information technology resources and actively participate in supporting these efforts in a variety of ways, including:

• Representing the IT needs of the research community on technology committees and in the specification, development, and deployment of IT services to support research.
• Providing strategic insights into how UNM can best address research-based cybersecurity and data management and sharing needs, including alignment with federal regulatory compliance expectations and the development and deployment of related education and training.
• Serving as the point of contact for communicating major IT-related initiatives of UNM and affiliates to all researchers.
• Developing and managing a shared services model for IT personnel in OVPR units and RCIs to ensure effective and efficient coverage of various IT needs within these entities. The ITO will have an immediate impact on the efficiency of OVPR operations and overall growth within the research enterprise at UNM.

The ideal candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the current and developing strategic information requirements and approaches of a major research university.
• Knowledge of current trends and developments in information technology, particularly related to academic IT research support such as research cybersecurity, data management, and data sharing.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and other regulatory compliance issues, especially those that pertain to research and research IT.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a team environment, and with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present effectively to small and large groups.
• Experience with developing and leading technical training and education programs.
• Ability to provide leadership, strategic planning, and personnel management in a matrixed organizational structure of personnel with diverse skills at multiple distributed locations.
• Ability to provide strategic guidance and counsel to the OVPR executive committee in the assessment and development of existing and/or proposed IT systems specifically for research and/or that might impact research at UNM.
• Ability to develop appropriately structured internal and external request for proposals, along with the ability to evaluate proposals in reference to cutting-edge IT services in the research environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

This is a full-time, benefits eligible position. This position may require limited travel within New Mexico.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a principal point of collaboration, leadership, and expertise as the lead IT liaison with senior administration, faculty, staff, and students in the OVPR, including the operational units and Category 3 RCIs, to understand and interpret client needs and effectively collaborate across the organization.
• Direct, coordinate, and participate in the local implementation of University IT operations, projects, and programs, utilizing established project management principles and practices, thereby ensuring alignment of IT services with the needs of the OVPR and the extended research enterprise at UNM.
• Advocate for and lead the development of new IT services in support of research, including eliciting requirements, advising on best practices at other institutions, managing service development and deployment, and creation of appropriate service level agreements.
• Develop and manage a model for shared IT services within the OVPR units and RCIs; provide supervision, mentoring, and technical leadership to this group; work with this group and other administrative staff to maintain essential IT operations, including operating systems, security tools, applications, servers, software and hardware.
• Participate in and maintain regular cybersecurity assessments within the OVPR units and centers, including applying IT security principles, configuring security settings, completing system audits, and providing expertise and guidance to the entire research community on such matters.
• Lead the development of new IT services in support of research, including eliciting requirements, managing service development and deployment, and creating service level agreements.
• Maintain currency of knowledge with respect to state-of-the-art technology relevant to the research enterprise at UNM.
• Support, either directly or through oversight of and coordination with other UNM personnel, identified enterprise research software systems (e.g. InfoReady, Qualtrics, Huron) and research processes, including developing reporting and metrics, ensuring timely completion of requests, and interfacing with other units on their needs.
• Collaborate on the creation, education, and production of training materials on cybersecurity, data management and sharing, compliance needs, and other aspects of IT necessary for various sectors within the research enterprise at UNM
• Prepare reports, briefings, presentations, and responses on strategic planning issues related to IT issues, as appropriate.
• Review vendor contracts and coordinate IT purchases (hardware, software, and services) to ensure effective deployment of solutions aligned with research and research support staff needs.
• Participate in development of IT Service Catalog offerings, Service Level Agreements, and Operating Level Agreements consistent with the needs of the organization.
• Participate as a member of the IT management team in planning, problem resolution, and reviewing department performance.
• May recommend and participate in the development of university policies and procedures; may serve on university planning and policy-making committees.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.