Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Computing

This is a hybrid position.

HOW TO APPLY

Opus Partners is facilitating the search for this role.

Applications should be sent to Thomas Lapierre of Opus Partners at thomas.lapierre@opuspartners.net. Applications must include a resume, job specific cover letter and a statement of contributions to diversity, equity and inclusions. Information on the DEI statement can be found at https://chancellor.ucsc.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion-contributions-statements/.
For more information, contact Thomas Lapierre.

For guidance related to the UCSC application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our Talent Acquisition website.

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. Materials submitted after the IRD will ONLY be forwarded at the request of the hiring unit. To ensure your application is routed for consideration, submit your materials before 11:59 p.m. on the IRD. Talent Acquisition cannot accept application materials outside of the jobs portal, and is unable to update submitted applications on an applicant's behalf, or forward communications to the hiring units. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 09-05-2024

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Information Technology Services (ITS) is the campus's centralized resource to support and amplify research, instruction, learning, and digital experiences at UC Santa Cruz. We are a group of over 200 diverse, enthusiastic people who produce extraordinary results. Our guiding principles are integrity, client focus, teamwork, knowledge, and fulfillment. We are looking for people who are deeply curious, hard-working, resourceful, kind, and committed to inclusion.

Under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Office of Research has primary responsibility for research policy, planning and administration of the UC Santa Cruz Research enterprise. The Office of Research (OR) supports the research community through five units: the Office of Sponsored Projects, Research Development, the Office of Research Compliance Administration, the Innovation & Business Engagement HUB and the Office of Research Business & Operations.

University of California offers competitive benefits including Medical, Dental & Vision Care Insurance Plans, University of California (UC) retirement, Paid Family Leave, and Paid Holidays plus accrued vacation and sick leave. Visit the UC benefits page for more information at UC Compensation and Benefits.

Information Technology positions are responsible for the security of UC Institutional Information and IT Resources. The incumbent is required to follow all applicable information security policies, procedures, and standards to maintain minimum standards of information security for data, systems and applications. Supervisors are responsible for making sure their staff have appropriate security skills and qualifications, and complete all appropriate and required security training.

More information can be found at https://its.ucsc.edu

JOB SUMMARY

The Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) of Research Computing is a key leadership role responsible for driving the strategic vision and oversight of research computing initiatives at the University of California Santa Cruz. This position plays a pivotal role in advancing the university's research capabilities by leveraging cutting-edge computing technologies, data analytics, and information management systems. The incumbent will collaborate with faculty, researchers, and administrators to enhance the university's research computing infrastructure, ensuring it aligns with academic goals and contributes to the overall advancement of knowledge.

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor of Information Technology and taking direction from the Vice Chancellor of Research, the AVC of Research Computing will work closely with their organizational peers and associated teams to build cross-functional teams focused on meeting the current and evolving needs of the UCSC research community. The AVC of Research Computing will also partner with leadership in UCSC institutes and organizations to facilitate cutting-edge advances in research. These teams offer the individual the opportunity to participate in and direct the development of advanced research information technology solutions.

UCSC also has departmentally based ITS teams that provide specialized support to our research community. The AVC of Research Computing will serve as the key individual to develop collaborative relationships, processes, and services that appropriately enable that community to execute its mission while keeping UCSC's IT environment secure and sufficiently cost-effective. Establishing the IT services and computing architecture that meets these goals is central to the AVC of Research Computing role. To do so, the AVC of Research Computing needs to be aware of and respond to newly emerging national initiatives that need a computational platform, such as "digital twins," functional genomics, and AI.

Finally, the AVC of Research Computing will participate in IT Governance structures such as the Research Computing and Data Infrastructure Committee, the IT Systems and Data Governance Committee, the Academic Senate's Committees on Information Technology and Research, and the University of California system-wide IT committees, such as the Research IT Committee.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $165,000 - $200,000/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 000668 (INFO SYS MGR 2) Grade 27

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

35% - Research Computing Strategic and Operational Leadership

• Oversees the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic vision for research computing that aligns with the university's research and academic objectives.
• Collaborates with university leadership to integrate research computing initiatives into the broader institutional strategy.
• Establishes and evolves new ways of working together that enable the research community and advance a cohesive information technology strategy for UCSC.
• Oversees the design, implementation, and maintenance of advanced research computing infrastructure and associated services, including high-performance computing (HPC), data storage, and networking resources.
• Leads and directs the activities of the research IT organization.
• Provides secure and cost-effective solutions for the UCSC research community that meets Faculty needs.
• Executes broad decisions over data, analytics, and computing services for the research community.
• Works closely with partners in ITS to appropriately make data available to researchers in a secure, timely, and cost-effective manner.
• Ensures reliability and security for research administrative systems, research computing platforms, and third-party services supporting the research community. This includes ensuring cybersecurity measures are implemented and maintained throughout the research community with direction from the Chief Information Security Officer and in coordination with the overall security strategy for UCSC.
• Stays abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends to ensure the university's research computing capabilities are cutting-edge.
• Maintain deep knowledge of emerging trends, conduct pilot deployments of new services, and seek ongoing feedback to improve existing services.

15% - Internal and External Leadership

• Ensures the development of highly skilled staff to support strategic business outcomes and operational service delivery.
  Provides guidance and direction for the achievement of objectives, including hiring, professional development, retention, and succession planning, to create high-performing teams. Develops and coaches teams on effective feedback and development tools through talent processes including goal-setting and evaluation processes.
• Leads and participates in team building for the ITS Division. Defines principles of community for large, and diverse technical teams. Oversees organizational structures, processes, and culture for the effective delivery of IT operations.
• Serves as a member of the ITS leadership team to collaborate on divisional vision, strategy, goals, operations, and staff and leadership development. Contributes to strategic planning and execution for the division. Creates and executes strategic plans, sets tactical goals, and monitors metrics and KPIs for the ITS unit(s), based on rotational oversight.
• Builds and maintains strategic partnerships with organizations that bring value to ITS.
• Engages in ongoing organizational development to drive effectiveness, problem-solving, and performance by aligning strategy, people, and processes.
• Develops collaborative relationships with campus stakeholders, other institutions of higher education, and IT organizations. Participates and contributes to relevant communities of practice.

15% - Collaboration and Engagement

• Serves as liaison and evangelist for research computing across the UCSC campus, including colleges, institutes, centers, and programs.
• Creates strong relationships with academic leadership, administrative leadership, and the Office of Research.
• Fosters collaborative relationships with faculty, researchers, and external partners to understand their computing needs and facilitate the integration of research computing into academic endeavors.
• Works closely with academic departments to identify opportunities for interdisciplinary research that benefits from advanced computing resources.
• Ensures effective communications to and from the research community to ensure available IT services are widely known and understood and that they can be accessed and provisioned efficiently and cost-effectively to simplify and incentivize the use of these services.

15% - Resources Allocations and Funding

• Creates and maintains financially viable and sustainable models for service and varying levels/methods of infrastructure use.
• Creates and manages the budget for research computing infrastructure and services.
• Advocates for appropriate investments in information technology capabilities to meet the needs of the research community.
• In collaboration with ITS Finance, develops and implements resource allocation strategies, including securing external funding, grants, and partnerships to support research computing initiatives and infrastructure.
• Collaborates with university administration to create and manage budgets for research computing infrastructure and services.

10% - Policy Development and Compliance

• Develops and enforces policies related to research computing, ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and granting agency requirements.
• Provides guidance on data management and security practices to safeguard research data.

10% - Training and Support

• Implement training programs and support services to enhance the digital literacy of faculty, researchers, and students using research computing resources.
• Works with academic units to integrate computational and data science into the curriculum.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Senior management experience in a large, complex research environment.
• Experience in managing research computational and data science needs to develop, create, and sustain the UCSC research information ecosystem for the next decade.
• Direct management experience of significant information technology service development and delivery. Demonstrated experience in research information technology needs.
• Experience leading large change management projects and the ability to obtain buy-in and active participation from stakeholders across the organization. Proven ability to lead people, continuously evolve, and improve the relationship, services, and culture between central IT and the research community.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build inter- organizational and intra-organizational relationships across complex organizational boundaries to support the IT needs of the research community.
• Proven ability to establish priorities and achieve results in a multi-purpose, multi-unit, multi-site system through shared governance and a service-orientated approach.
• Excellent written skills, including presentation to executive leaders and large, diverse audiences.
• Excellent verbal including presentation to executive leaders and large, diverse audiences.
• Leadership skills as evidenced by one who possesses broad vision of the future of the organization, assertiveness, and diplomacy in the presentation of ideas and initiatives, sensitivity to the values and expectations of all constituents.
• Strong critical thinking abilities and problem solving skills.
• Proven ability to work in a matrixed environment to manage and affect change in a large, diverse organization. Requires cultural competence, and emotional maturity.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in related area.
• Direct experience in performing research activities in an academic research setting.
• Broad knowledge of research activities and the challenges facing the research components of academics.
• Extensive experience in data sciences, research computing, computer science, or related computational or basic sciences research fields.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work a hybrid work schedule and must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hUBiz3WS3zErEGOhSOu7KZZPzGkTwr_2/view?usp=sharing. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination