Carnegie Mellon University is looking for a visionary executive to lead the next evolution of our systems infrastructure. This is not a "keep the lights on" role; it is a directive to empower the mission of a world-class research institution.
As the Assistant Vice President, Systems Services, you will lead a multi-year modernization strategy and focus on delivering stable, quality services. We will move beyond traditional operations toward a future defined by Infrastructure as Code (IaC), mature GitOps/DevOps processes, and fiscally forward-thinking FinOps-style analysis.
We need a seasoned leader who can balance the table-stakes stability of the environment with the agility required to transform our operations to modern IT standards.
Your MissionReporting directly to the Deputy CIO, you will serve as a strategic member of the CIO’s senior leadership and a mentor to a large technical organization. Your directive covers three pillars:
Strategic Modernization: Drive the shift from legacy hands-on operations to an agile product and driven approach. Champion the adoption of new processes and services that empower our customers to move faster.
Operational Excellence: Be at the center of the system infrastructure ofthe university, including Storage and Virtualization, Operating Systems, Databases, and Identity Services. Provide a highly availability and secure environment that does not sacrifice agility and innovation.
Organizational Stewardship: Lead a diverse set of groups, managing bothDirectors and technical experts. Your focus will be on breaking down silos, building sustainable teams, and fostering a culture where cross-training and psychological safety enable high performance.
Are you someone who has "been there, done that" in IT transformation and is ready to apply that expertise to a complex, high-impact environment? If so, you will tackle:
Cultural Transformation: Shifting teams from manual operations to automated, configuration-defined services. Build customer and service-first platforms.
Financial Stewardship: Implementing FinOps practices to ensureinfrastructure costs, both cloud and on-premises, are transparent and optimized.
Harmonizing Innovation with Resilience: Designing systems where theneed for rapid research innovation coexists with the absolute necessity of secure, stable enterprise operations.
A Mentor for Future Leaders and Technologists: You are energized by mentorship and building a high-performing team that outlasts your tenure. You have experience guiding Directors and aligning diverse teams—even those not in your reporting structure—under a unified vision.
A Technologist with Vision: You possess deep expertise in both on-premises and cloud environments with the ability to see possible futures and steer towards the most beneficial ones.
A Stabilizing Force: You bring emotional intelligence and executivepresence to the table. You can communicate trade-offs to executive leadership and have technical discussions with engineers.
An Architect of Change: You understand that technology problems areoften people problems. You have a track record of evolving organizational culture without compromising the team's spirit.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent experience.
Significant progressive leadership in enterprise infrastructure, ideally in a higher education environment.
Demonstrated success in modernizing operations (GitOps/DevOps, Containers, FinOps).
Demonstrable ability to lead leaders, build resilient teams, and communicate effectively with executives and technical staff.
A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.
Preferred Qualifications:
A Master’s degree or equivalent experience will be considered.
Experience in Higher Education or Research Computing is a plus
We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to submit their applications. We are an employer that supports equal opportunity and values diversity within our staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we will ensure that there are reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
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 employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, 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 to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!
For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.
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.
Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!
Location
Pittsburgh, PAJob Function
IT ManagementPosition Type
Staff – RegularFull Time/Part time
Full timePay Basis
SalaryMore Information:
Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
Statement of Assurance
Carnegie Mellon University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Carnegie Mellon University and has not been reviewed or approved by Carnegie Mellon University.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout, with automatic employer contributions to a TIAA-administered plan at 8% of base salary (and 9.78% for 9‑month academic appointments), plus optional employee deferrals. Vesting after three years is clearly specified, which helps set expectations for long-term value.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental and family support is strengthened by 100% paid parental leave for six weeks and 100% paid maternity leave for 6–8 weeks (delivery-type dependent), effective July 1, 2024. Childcare support is also referenced through a Cyert Center subsidy up to $5,000 per family, alongside no-cost EAP access.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle benefits include free Pittsburgh Regional Transit access and access to fitness classes and facilities, adding recurring non-cash value to the overall package. Pittsburgh’s relatively affordable cost of living can further increase the perceived adequacy of a given salary compared with higher-cost coastal hubs.
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Carnegie Mellon University founder Andrew Carnegie said: "My heart is in the work." No statement better captures the passion and drive of our people to make a real difference. At Carnegie Mellon, we're not afraid of the work. Our educational environment creates problem solvers, drivers of innovation and pioneers in technology and the arts. Employers in every field say our graduates are ready to hit the ground running the day they graduate. So, join us. Whether you're looking for a career or an education. Or both.
