IT Transformation Director (Research Computing) Arete Technologies - 3.8 Columbia, SC Job Details Contract $90 an hour 3 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Qualifications HR change management strategy Strategic management Teamwork Project management experience in technology Team leadership Large-scale organizational change management Coaching Performance management strategy Operations transformation Managing IT teams Master's degree Team development Bachelor's degree Technology management Leading team collaboration initiatives Managing projects Organizational development strategy Process improvement planning Staffing management Project stakeholder communication Stakeholder management University experience

Full Job Description Candidate Location Requirement:

Candidates must reside in South Carolina, North Carolina, or Georgia, or be willing to relocate to South Carolina before starting at their own expense. Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Interim Director of Research Computing to provide executive-level leadership for research computing operations within a university IT organization. This role will focus on organizational stabilization, IT service delivery improvement, technology infrastructure assessment, and transformational change management. The successful candidate will assess current operations, strengthen governance and accountability, improve service delivery, align resources with institutional priorities, and establish sustainable processes to support long-term organizational success. This position requires a proven technology leader with extensive experience managing complex IT initiatives, leading organizational transformation, coaching teams, and driving measurable operational improvements. Experience with research computing infrastructure, high-performance computing (HPC), and higher education environments is highly desirable. Key ResponsibilitiesExecutive Leadership & Organizational Transformation Provide leadership and strategic direction for research computing operations, technology infrastructure, and related services. Stabilize departmental operations while maintaining continuity of critical IT services and customer support. Lead organizational change initiatives to improve workplace culture, employee accountability, collaboration, and operational effectiveness. Establish performance expectations and monitor departmental outcomes. Supervise managers, professional staff, and student employees. Identify organizational challenges and implement corrective actions to improve productivity and service quality. Evaluate organizational structures and recommend improvements aligned with institutional priorities. Research Computing & Infrastructure Assessment Conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing research technology infrastructure, services, operational procedures, and ongoing or anticipated projects. Evaluate infrastructure requirements, resource utilization, lifecycle budgets, and future technology needs. Review research computing capabilities, operational workflows, and service delivery practices. Identify opportunities to improve infrastructure reliability, service quality, scalability, and resource allocation. Develop recommendations to address operational gaps and support long-term technology strategy. IT Service Delivery & Operational Excellence Establish and improve operational procedures in alignment with divisional standards and organizational policies. Strengthen customer engagement and service delivery processes using service desk ticketing systems and related tools. Improve support request management, client communications, task tracking, project reporting, and service analytics. Establish clear governance, escalation procedures, communication channels, and decision-making frameworks. Develop performance metrics to measure service quality, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and accountability. Implement sustainable processes that support continuous improvement and operational maturity. Strategic Planning, Governance & Budget Management Establish departmental priorities and performance objectives in collaboration with executive leadership. Coordinate budgets, resource allocation, and technology investment planning. Ensure compliance with university policies, security standards, audit requirements, and applicable regulatory obligations. Prepare executive-level reports, organizational assessments, and strategic recommendations. Develop governance frameworks and management practices that support transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making. Team Development & Leadership Transition Coach, mentor, and develop team members to strengthen performance and organizational effectiveness. Identify professional development needs and opportunities for succession planning. Recommend staffing, organizational, and operational improvements to support long-term success. Document strategic priorities, organizational recommendations, lifecycle budgets, and transition plans. Prepare the department for a smooth transition to permanent leadership. Required Qualifications Completed bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. 8+ years of experience leading organizational transformation, change management, and service delivery optimization. 8+ years of experience leading large, complex technology projects. 8+ years of experience in personnel management, coaching, and performance accountability. Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and implement operational improvements. Experience establishing performance expectations, governance processes, and measurable outcomes. Strong strategic planning, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience presenting recommendations to executive leadership. Ability to manage competing priorities, make timely decisions, and lead teams through periods of organizational change. Preferred Qualifications Experience with research cyberinfrastructure, high-performance computing (HPC), high-speed storage, and networking technologies. Experience implementing governance frameworks and operational maturity models. Experience managing organizational transformation within higher education or a university IT environment. Master's degree in Science, Technology, or a related field. ITIL certification or training. Experience with cloud infrastructure, including AWS or Microsoft Azure. Experience with AI infrastructure across AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Carpentries Instructor experience or certification. Familiarity with HPC technologies such as Slurm and InfiniBand. Expected Outcomes The successful candidate will be expected to: Stabilize departmental operations and maintain continuity of critical services. Improve organizational culture, employee accountability, and team collaboration. Strengthen IT governance, customer engagement, and service delivery processes. Complete an assessment of research computing infrastructure, operational needs, and resource requirements. Establish measurable performance indicators and sustainable operational practices. Deliver strategic recommendations and transition documentation for the incoming permanent Director. #InterimDirector #ResearchComputing #ITLeadership #ITDirector #ITTransformation #OrganizationalChange #ChangeManagement #ITOperations #ResearchInfrastructure #HighPerformanceComputing #HPC #Cyberinfrastructure #CloudInfrastructure #AWS #Azure #ITServiceDelivery #ITGovernance #ITIL #ProjectManagement #ExecutiveLeadership #HigherEducationIT #UniversityJobs #ColumbiaSC #SouthCarolinaJobs #HybridJobs #ContractJobs #IT03

Pay:

$90.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance Vision insurance

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Columbia, SC 29208