Director, Cloud Innovation Centre

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Information Systems and Technology, Level G Job Title Director, Cloud Innovation Centre Department Leadership | Teaching and Learning | VP Academic Compensation Range $12,755.08 - $19,905.67 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date February 27, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date Dec 31, 2027

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director provides strategic executive leadership and domain expertise to the Cloud Innovation Centre (CIC) leaders and managers for the development, implementation and support of integrated business solutions related to CIC or CIC challenge sponsors, and relevant to UBC's long term plans. Through consultation and in collaboration with the Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning and Amazon Web Services Digital Innovation Lead, the Director oversees projects and partnerships in the UBC Cloud Innovation Centre, ensuring the efficient and effective investment in information, data and applications and that investments meet community needs and achieve the desired benefits and outcomes. This is the senior position within the UBC Cloud Innovation Centre, which, together with the Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Teaching and Learning, provides vision and leadership for this public-private partnership with AWS.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

Reports to the Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Teaching and Learning. Works closely with academic leaders across UBC, with senior administrative staff, with senior personnel at AWS and with community partners. Participates actively in CIC leadership, CIC advisory and other committees as required. Maintains a network of contacts with other higher education institutions related to activities within areas of responsibility.

WORK PERFORMED

SPECIFIC DUTIES

1. Provides strategic leadership on the design, implementation and coordination of long-term organizational development of CIC, ensuring alignment of CIC’s structure and delivery capacity with its visions and objectives, and strategically positions CIC within the structure and processes of the University.
2. Works closely with strategic partners internally and externally to CIC, explores and develops initiatives, manages full scope of implementation processes, consults and appraises the Vice-Provost on developments of the initiatives.
3. Analyzes trends and provides recommendations, develops appropriate policies or approaches, socializes strategic and implementation thinking, and supports the Vice-Provost to co-develop directions of CIC.
4. Provides oversight of and technical leadership to the research, development, delivery and evaluation of all projects within CIC, ensuring that knowledge gained advances teaching and learning at UBC, and is translated to technical communities at UBC.
5. Provides thought leadership and acts as an SME and facilitator to senior administration and leadership to assess new needs, identify solutions and support the development of long-term and sustainable organizational and developmental strategies in UBC CIC.
6. Identifies and is responsible for fundraising initiatives, manages full scope of fundraising activities.
7. Participates in UBC committees and represents UBC CIC on higher education committees outside of the institution.
8. Articulates CIC’s values, positions CIC strategically with internal and external partners, presents to stakeholders and other academic leaders in a compelling manner to align CIC to the University’s strategic priorities.
9. Plans and negotiates competing views and concerns, communicates and collaborates through conversations with all types of stakeholders to build and strengthen partnerships with academic units, faculties and a variety of external clients.
10. Develops potential partnerships and collaborations, realigns priorities with resources, negotiates with stakeholders on terms and conditions, and provides leadership to ensure necessary changes in management and processes aligned with CIC’s best practices.
11. Creates and fosters strategic partnerships and influential relationships across initiatives at UBC to achieve goals of the university.
12. Provides leadership to managers and staff in CIC in the understanding of university strategy, goals and objectives. Translates the strategy of the CIC leadership team into actionable plans, ensuring the overall intention is understood and that outcomes are achieved.
13. Develops and reviews budgets for Cloud Innovation Centre and ensures they are understood and well-managed. Seeks opportunities to increase value and reduce costs on a continuous basis. Instills fiscal awareness and responsibility in all management and staff.
14. Proactively provides updates to senior leadership and keeps colleagues and leadership team appraised of potential development and initiatives.
15. Creates and fosters strategic partnerships and influential relationships with senior leaders in Faculties, Departments and central administration.
16. May participate in UBC committees and represent UBC CIC on higher education committees outside of the institution.
17. Develops and maintains a network of contacts with higher-education institutions as well as with other organizations with large information technology operations with respect to information technology and learning technology activities.
18. Negotiates contracts with vendors, on behalf of UBC CIC.
19. Stays current with trends and new developments related to cloud technology.

CORE DUTIES:

1. Leads and guides the development of function specific strategies and initiatives that are aligned with CIC and the University's strategic goals and long term plans.
2. Provides technical expertise and oversees the expansion of innovative business solutions, programs and services.
3. Creates and fosters strategic partnerships and influential relationships with senior leaders to within UBC IT and the IT broader community.
4. Sources, negotiates, and allocates financial, physical, or human resources to implement and support major projects and programs.
5. Develops and administers budgets for the implementation and support of integrated, cost-effective business solutions.
6. Approves and monitors plans, performance targets and measures for reporting areas.
7. Develops leadership strength in functional areas by coaching reporting leaders and staff in the development of critical competencies and by modeling valued leadership behaviors.
8. Provides career planning advice to staff and creates development plans to help staff achieve their career goals including assigning work which leverages their skills and capabilities and provides them with opportunities for learning.
9. Anticipates and analyzes trends in technology and assess the impact of emerging technologies on the business.
10. Maintains appropriate professional designations and up-to-date knowledge of current information technology techniques and tools.
11. Performs other related duties as required.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR

The UBC – AWS public-private partnership plays a key role in enabling the University to achieve its goal of becoming one of the world's leading universities through advancing its digital future. The Director plays a key role in the formulation, alignment and implementation of the CIC strategic plans for the University. Failure to align strategies with the academic priorities of the University will negatively impact the University's ability to achieve its teaching and learning mission.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the leadership and guidance of the Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Teaching and Learning. Results are reviewed for achievement of broad strategic goals.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

Manages staff directly and indirectly through subordinate managers.

Minimum Qualifications

Post-graduate degree. Minimum of eleven years of related experience including at least five years of managerial experience plus four years of specialized experience in the design and implementation of major computer systems, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

Ability to build and maintain strong team relationships with senior leadership.
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders.
Ability to develop and implement strategic business plans.
Ability to conduct budget forecasts, technology forecasts and trend analyses.
Proven leadership, management, consulting, facilitation, consensus building, conflict resolution, negotiation, team building and organizational skills.
Demonstrated good judgment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proven ability to represent the University in a variety of contexts.
Creativity and commitment to innovation.
Demonstrated ability in problem-solving and collaboration.

Effective negotiation and interpersonal competencies.

Collaboration - Identifies and improves communication to bring conflict within the team into the open and facilitate resolution. Openly shares credit for team accomplishment. Monitors individual and team effectiveness and recommends improvement to facilitate collaboration. Considered a role model as a team player. Demonstrates high level of enthusiasm and commitment to team goals under difficult or adverse situations; encourages others to respond similarly. Strongly influences team strategy and processes.

Communication for Results - Converses with, writes strategic documents for, and creates/delivers presentations to senior academic leadership, other internal business leaders, as well as external groups.

Leads discussions with senior leaders and external partners in ways that support strategic planning and decision-making, aligned with strategic goals established with the Vice-Provost. Seeks a consensus with business leaders. Debates opinions, tests understanding, and clarifies judgments. Identifies underlying differences and resolves conflict openly and empathetically. Explains the context of multiple, complex interrelated situations. Asks searching, probing questions, plays devil's advocate, and solicits authoritative perspectives and advice prior to approving plans and recommendations.

Problem Solving - Diagnoses problems using formal problem-solving tools and techniques from multiple angles and probes underlying issues to generate multiple potential solutions. Proactively anticipates and prevents problems. Devises, facilitates buy-in, makes recommendations, and guides implementation of corrective and/or preventive actions for complex issues that cross organizational boundaries and are unclear in nature. Identifies potential consequences and risk levels. Seeks support and buy-in for problem definition, methods of resolution, and accountability.

Reporting – Supports the Vice-Provost with expertise and knowledge in daily operation; communicates proactively and efficiently on new initiatives/opportunities and key strategic decision points, and seeks collaboration agreement; demonstrates judgment in information sharing and escalation; seeks result-driven outcomes and resolves differences with mutual respect and openness.

Leading Self - Draws upon self-awareness and self-control to identify and manage the emotions of others during adverse times. Demonstrates the capacity for self-reflection; looks back at setbacks and/or failures and identifies and applies key learnings for self and others. Solicits feedback from a professional and personal network of experts and strategic advisors. Adapts easily in a continually changing environment and positively influences others to adapt.

Leading Others - Sponsors and reviews long-term learning needs, career paths, and succession plans for organizational staff and managers. Mentors and develops critical talent for the future. Ensures that all team members have equitable access to development opportunities. Creates a diverse and inclusive environment which brings together different ideas, experiences, skills and knowledge. Demonstrates and promotes effective conflict resolution practices.

Leading the Organization - Understands the projected direction of technology in the marketplace and how changes will impact the University and its learning and research environments. Champions the use of strategic alliances that align with the organization's and the University's goals to extend organizational impact. Provides necessary support (e.g. systems, processes, resources) for implementation of the organization's strategic direction and adjusts as necessary to maintain high quality service. Promotes a climate of continuous transformation that will keep the organization and the University agile and "best in class".