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Director of Research Computing and Data

Job Summary

The Director of Research Computing and Data will assume a pivotal role at the University of Utah. This position will lead the strategic direction in research computing and data to support and advance the University's pioneering computational and data-enabled research (both open and protected). The Director of Research Computing and Data will provide visionary leadership, experience, strategic direction, and execution guidance to shape the future research computing and data cyberinfrastructure across the University of Utah. They will provide resource and budget planning, faculty support, and expertise in the research computing and data. The Director of Research Computing and Data will be a strategic thinker with an open and collaborative style who fosters teamwork, sustains a learning environment for growing number of staff and develops an open, engaged culture that engenders trust from the broader university-wide research community.

About the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute
Over three decades, the SCI Institute has established itself as an internationally recognized, transdisciplinary research institute with an overarching mission to transform science and society through translational research and innovation across computational, data science and their applications. SCI, a roughly 200-person university-wide institute, brings together excellence in diverse domains with core strengths in visualization, graphics and imaging, advanced computing and data management and analytics, and scalable algorithms with applications to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary problems of societal importance. The Institute accomplishes its goals through the collaborative development, assembly, and/or application of applied scientific and data computing, imaging, and visualization tools. Researchers at the SCI Institute also collaborate closely with scientists around the world to develop new techniques and explore new challenges. The SCI Institute is proud to have supported over 400 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and nearly 100 undergraduates to achieve an education at the cutting-edge of research. SCI graduates move into faculty positions with universities internationally and become innovators with leading companies. Additional information about the Institute and current faculty can be found at http://www.sci.utah.edu.

About the VPR
The Vice President for Research (VPR) Office at the University of Utah is a dynamic hub for innovation and discovery. As an R1 institution recognized for very high research activity, the University of Utah leads groundbreaking research that impacts both local and global communities. The VPR Office collaborates with researchers, drives interdisciplinary initiatives, and fosters a culture of discovery. Key responsibilities include strategic leadership, shared IT services, and research enablement.
About the University of Utah

Located in Salt Lake City, the U is the flagship institution of the State of Utah's system of higher education, home to arts and museum venues and a member of the Big 12 Conference. Skiing and snowboarding opportunities are a short distance from campus, and opportunities to pursue activities from biking to hiking to fishing abound. Salt Lake City is home to the Utah Symphony and Opera, Ballet West, professional sports teams, and a wide range of other cultural and recreational activities.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Leads teams in development and implementation of research computing and data strategies for university-wide cyberinfrastructure and governance aligned with the University's mission and vision. Communicates needs and directions with senior leadership and faculty. Support University-wide strategic initiatives such as the One-U Responsible AI Initiative (https://rai.utah.edu/) and the One-U Data Science Hub (https://www.research.utah.edu/one-utah-data-science-hub/).
• Information Security: Ensures data protection and oversees the University's enclaves. Manages cybersecurity maturity model certification (CMMC) assessments and certifications.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage the research computing and data budget, evaluate cost models, and optimize spending.
• Sustainability: Develop models and strategies for sustainability, including responding to state, federal and other funding opportunities.
• Resource Management: Coordinate the acquisition/development, deployment, and operations of the University's state-of-the-art research computational and data infrastructure and associated services. Provide robust flexible and scalable research computing and data environments.
• Data Management and Sharing: Support compliance with cyberinfrastructure-related requirements from funding agencies (e.g., data management and sharing plans). Lead university-wide cyberinfrastructure coordination, resource/data integration and sharing, and collaboration.
• Collaboration and Partnerships: Engage with faculty, research centers, and external partners, including industry, at the state, regional, and national level. Foster cross-disciplinary collaboration that leverage computational and data resources for research.
• Integration: Facilitate seamless integrations with on-premises and cloud-based research computing and data solutions. Partner with and connect to the national cyberinfrastructure ecosystem.
• Technological Advancements: Identify opportunities for growth and pursue novel technologies, architectures, and services for research computing and data that can enhance research and provide researchers with competitive advantages.
• User Support and Training: Develop scalable onboarding and support structures for researchers and students, including scientific consultation, and lead training, outreach and engagement.
• Policy and Governance: Develop and enforce governance processes, policies, and standards with support of a governance committee. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
• Expertise: Complement existing research computing and data (and cyberinfrastructure) expertise t the university.

This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically requiredNearly Continuously: Office environment.Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be requiredNearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in related computer science, Business Administration, or related area, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); eight years of progressively more responsible management experience; and demonstrated leadership, human relations and effective communications skills required.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

• 10-12 years of related experience
• Ph.D in a topic related to research computing

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN40358B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary:
Department: 00810 - Scient Comp & Imag Instit-Oper
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: 103700 to 202300
Close Date: 10/31/2025
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/174444

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