Executive Director, Network, Data Center and Communications Services - 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.

• 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., * 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., 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 (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/eligibility/index.html) employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/health-welfare/index.html) as well as a generous retirement savings program (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/retirement-savings/index.html) with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/tuition/index.html) , take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/time-away/pto.html) and observed holidays (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/time-away/holidays.html) , 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 (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/work-life/support/family-child-care-resources/index.html) to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access (https://athletics.cmu.edu/recreation/facilities) , and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/index.html) .

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., Interested in a career with Carnegie Mellon University but not finding anything that currently aligns with your interests, background, or experience? Learn how to sign up for Job Alerts (https://www.cmu.edu/jobs/external-applicants.html#job-alerts) through your candidate profile.

If your heart is in your work, come work with us. Carnegie Mellon University isn’t just one of the world’s most renowned educational institutions - it’s also a hotspot for some of the most talented doers, dreamers, and difference-makers on the planet. When you join our staff, you’ll become an important part of our mission to create a healthier, safer, and more just life for all. No matter what your role or location, you’ll connect and collaborate with dedicated, passionate colleagues - and you’ll have the satisfaction of delivering work that truly matters.

We cultivate a vibrant, welcoming environment where everyone is valued and encouraged to contribute and achieve. In addition to competitive benefits and a robust support network, you’ll have access to many tools and resources to sharpen your abilities and professional skills, as well as opportunities to engage and share perspectives with a dynamic and inspiring community of uniquely talented staff, faculty, students, and alumni.