Associate Director, Information Technology & Services
Faculty of Engineering
Engineering a Brighter Future
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/about-us/strategic-plan/
About The Faculty:
Consistently ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and internationally, McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering is known for its leadership in innovation, research, and experiential learning. With a strong emphasis on hands-on, project-based education, the Faculty prepares future-ready engineers through one of the country’s largest co-op programs, world-class research opportunities, and a vibrant student community with over 70 clubs and teams.
The Faculty comprises three schools offering a wide range of programs and degrees designed to cultivate global citizens who are socially conscious and professionally agile. Home to over 200 faculty members, over 7,600 undergraduate students, and approximately 1,400 graduate students. The Faculty secures roughly $65 million in research funding annually. Research and learning span more than 20 interdisciplinary centres, institutes, and networks, with active collaborations involving universities, government, and over 120 industry partners worldwide.
About the Team:
The Engineering IT team supports the core academic mission of the Faculty by enabling high quality teaching, learning, and research through reliable, secure, and innovative technology services. Working closely with Faculty leadership, academic faculty and staff, the team supports instructional technologies, teaching labs, learning spaces and other strategic IT projects that are integral to Faculty priorities, undergraduate and graduate programs, and standards for program accreditation. A strong emphasis is placed on responsive and effective technical support to ensure continuity of academic operations and a high-quality learning environment. The Engineering IT team operates with a student and faculty centred service mindset, providing timely and effective support while aligning technology services with the Faculty’s strategic, academic, and operational priorities.
The Engineering IT team is part of a larger, campus wide McMaster IT community that incorporates institutional IT standards as well as enterprise-wide systems, including Microsoft productivity tools, Campus Relationship Management (CRM), and other key tools that provide efficiency and technology enhancements to the Faculty.
About the Position:
The Associate Director, Information Technology reports to the Senior Director, Operations & Finance and provides strategic and operational leadership for all Faculty of Engineering IT services. The role ensures that the Faculty’s academic, research, and administrative technology needs are met through secure, efficient, and sustainable solutions aligned with university-wide IT standards.
Accountable for the full IT portfolio within a complex academic environment, the role oversees infrastructure, core systems, IT security, Faculty-specific applications, and service delivery, along with long-term technology planning. The role serves as the primary IT liaison for the Faculty, representing Engineering on institutional committees and external IT working groups, and ensuring alignment between Faculty priorities and university-wide digital strategy.
Working closely with University Technology Services and the Director of Strategic IT Partnerships, the Associate Director leads IT operations, end-user support, and integration with enterprise platforms (including Microsoft tools), while also advancing key Faculty initiatives such as accreditation systems and website development.
Key Accountabilities:
IT Strategy
- Provide strategic leadership for Faculty IT, including architecture, service delivery, and project alignment with academic and research priorities.
- Oversee Faculty IT operations, including infrastructure, frontline/desktop support, and core services.
- Partner with Faculty and University IT leadership to assess needs and act as a key advisor on IT initiatives.
- Advise on technology opportunities, risks, innovation, and digital transformation.
- Align Faculty IT with University-wide standards (e.g., Microsoft 365, identity/access management, cybersecurity frameworks).
- Lead strategy for technology-enabled learning and workspaces, including hybrid collaboration, AI tools, smart spaces, and digital infrastructure.
- Ensure compliance with McMaster cybersecurity policies and industry best practices.
- Foster a service-oriented IT culture focused on agility, continuous improvement, and innovation.
Project Management
- Oversee Faculty IT projects with strong governance, clear scope, timelines, budgets, risk management, and adoption planning.
- Collaborate with academic and research stakeholders to identify solutions that enhance teaching, research, and decision-making.
- Manage vendor relationships and service contracts, ensuring value, performance, and policy compliance.
- Lead procurement-aligned vendor negotiations.
- Establish scalable standards for classroom, collaboration, and space-based technologies, ensuring security, accessibility, and reliability.
- Partner across Faculty, University IT, facilities, and vendors to pilot and implement innovative space technologies.
Risk Management/Compliance
- Support accreditation and regulatory requirements through reliable systems and data integrity.
- Develop and maintain IT standards and processes aligned with University policy and evolving cybersecurity and operational risks.
- Maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans aligned with University frameworks.
- Proactively identify and mitigate IT risks to strengthen resilience, security, and service quality.
System Security
- Lead Faculty server and data centre management in alignment with University standards.
- Coordinate response to complex IT incidents in partnership with UTS.
- Maintain best practices for data storage, access control, retention, and lifecycle management.
- Implement Faculty-wide security tools in compliance with University policies.
- Ensure adherence to privacy, data protection, and incident response protocols.
Team Leadership:
- Build and lead a high-performing, service-focused Faculty IT team.
- Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and professional development.
- Manage workload planning and resource allocation.
- Promote continuous learning and professional development.
Financial Management:
- Develop and manage the Faculty IT operating budget.
- Oversee vendor contracts to ensure value, performance, and compliance.
- Identify opportunities to optimize IT spending while enabling innovation.
- Lead procurement-aligned vendor negotiations.
Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a relevant field; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
Master’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience considered an asset.
Experience:
- 7-10 years of progressive experience in IT, including at least 3 years in a leadership role supervising in a unionized environment.
- Managerial experience in an academic setting or related environment is strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with University structure, policy, and administrative systems, with demonstrated knowledge and experience interpreting policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Knowledge & Skills:
Strong knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, IT service management, and enterprise IT infrastructure.
Experience managing IT projects, budgets, and cross-functional teams.
Proven ability to work collaboratively with technical and non-technical constituents.
Familiarity with Microsoft 365, identity and access management solutions, and endpoint management tools.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
Must be organized, a long range-planner and an accomplished problem-solver able to quickly assess situations and individuals and lead solutions.
- A proven track record of building successful relationships across faculties/departments, handling conversations with tact, good judgement, and diplomacy
How to Apply:
To apply for this job, please submit your application online.
Pay Transparency Statement:
The posted hiring range represents McMaster's typical hiring range for this position. Actual starting salary will depend on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and market conditions.
Individuals with extensive experience, deep specialized expertise, and/or those who can demonstrate exceptional past performance, as applicable, may be hired at a higher rate within the full range, in accordance with the University compensation policies.
Employment Equity Statement:
McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.
The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.
The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.
As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.
Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:
- Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
- Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
- School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679
to communicate accommodation needs.
Hybrid Work:
To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.
Interview Experience:
At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [email protected] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.
AI Statement:
At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [email protected] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.
