Director of Information Technology: Tickle College of Engineering - UTK

The Director of Information Technology is responsible for the overall leadership and administration of IT services within the Tickle College of Engineering (TCE). This role oversees daily IT operations, strategic planning, and resource management to ensure reliable, secure, and efficient technology services across administrative offices, program units, and academic departments. The Director supervises IT staff, manages a comprehensive IT budget, and serves as a key partner with the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to align college technology initiatives with university priorities.

The position provides direction for IT security, infrastructure, and system support while leading complex projects, advising leadership on technology solutions, and ensuring service delivery in accordance with established service level agreements (SLAs). The Director also evaluates emerging technologies, supports research and instructional needs, and ensures that IT services advance the college’s mission and strategic goals.

Responsible for leading and managing the TCE IT unit, including supervision, mentoring, goal setting, performance management, hiring decisions, and oversight of IT staff. Establishes and implements the future direction of the TCE IT unit by translating strategic plans into operational plans and ensuring alignment with TCE strategic goals, service standards, SLA commitments, and UT policies.

Oversees the TCE IT Information Security program across TCE Administrative Offices, Program Offices, and Academic Departments. Resolves complex IT issues, manages competing priorities, leads cross-functional IT groups, and provides oversight for IT programs, initiatives, projects, documentation, equipment life-cycle management, software renewals, and installed systems databases.

Manages a $500,000 IT budget with full budgetary oversight, including personnel budgeting, equipment replacement cycles, IT projects, IT supplies, billing accuracy, and budget initiatives. Serves as program manager for the annual Faculty/Staff Computer Upgrade Program and advisor for the annual Tech Fee Program, including roll-out, user guidance, approvals, vendor quotes, exceptions, documentation, and payment verification.

Provides leadership and oversight for complex IT projects, with a focus on IT security initiatives and strategic college-wide projects. Serves as the primary point of contact, advisor, and decision-maker for aligning user needs with facilities and IT requirements, coordinating with deans, OIT, Facilities Services, and end-users regarding space, electrical, networking, phone, and A/V requirements.

Consults with users to determine technology needs, researches and develops cost-effective solutions, monitors hardware operating conditions, and makes recommendations to users and TCE leadership. Monitors the college security program plan for compliance and reports findings to college leadership.

Collaborates with managers, high-level OIT management, and other campus partners to communicate TCE technical requirements and align strategic direction. Serves as a TCE representative and expert resource on campus-level IT infrastructure initiatives, evaluates emerging technologies for potential college and campus deployment, and advises IT personnel on policies and best practices related to information security, networking, AV technology, system configuration, and system monitoring.

Advises the TCE Office of Engineering Communications on implementation and maintenance of TCE websites and works with OIT and the Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development on research projects involving sensitive information.

Required Qualifications

• Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science or other computer related degree

• Experience: 

  • Seven years of experience providing direct IT support for a large, technically-oriented organization — must be proactive in anticipating and resolving problems

  • Three years of experience managing IT staff, including performance management, goal setting, and professional development
  • Three years leading, training, and directing IT operations in multiple departments
  • Three years of experience with IT Planning, Design, Forecasts, Budgets, Proposals, Documentation, and Project Management
  • Three years with project management related to IT/AV system upgrades and new installations

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:  

  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership techniques, and coordination of people and resources

  • Knowledge of how to analyze complex and variable factors to make sound decisions and recommendations on hardware, software, and service procurement

  • Knowledge of maintaining an inventory of installed software, managing software licensing, and creating policies and procedures for upgrades

  • Knowledge of computer operating systems concepts, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software

  • Skills in monitoring and assessing employee performance and making improvements or taking corrective action

  • Skills in leading cross-functional teams and managing competing priorities

  • Skills in budget management, forecasting, and financial analysis

  • Skills in communicating technical requirements to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

  • Skills in written and oral communications

  • Skills in organization and multi-tasking

  • Ability to supervise, mentor, and motivate others

  • Ability to quickly analyze, diagnose, troubleshoot, repair hardware and resolve software problems

  • Ability to learn new IT systems and processes and stay current on IT-related best practices and security requirements

  • Ability to use logic and reasoning skills to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education:  

  • Computer Security Certification (e.g. CopmpTIA Security+)

• Experience: 

  • Three years developing and implementing IT security programs

  • Three years of experience in an academic and research environment

  • Three years collaborating with a central campus IT organization (e.g., OIT) on enterprise-level infrastructure projects and emerging technology initiatives

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:  

  • Knowledge of enterprise system backups and recovery

  • Knowledge of gathering requirements and developing specifications for web-based applications

  • Ability to develop and implement enterprise-level IT security programs in a complex academic or research environment

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN

• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits 

• UT market range: MR16
• Anticipated hiring range: $135,000 - $150,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

• Resume

• Cover Letter