Sr. Director Infrastructure

Excelsior University is seeking a visionary and results‑driven Senior Director of Infrastructure & Operations to lead and transform the university’s technology foundation during a period of growth and expansion. This executive‑level leader will provide strategic direction and oversight for all infrastructure and operations services, including network and telecom, cloud and hosting environments, end‑user computing and collaboration, enterprise application support (ERP and other systems), and IT operations.

• Develop and articulate a comprehensive infrastructure strategy aligned with the university’s growth, digital transformation initiatives, and mission‑critical priorities.
• Lead architecture, design, and implementation of scalable, secure, and resilient infrastructure solutions across campuses, hybrid sites, and cloud environments.
• Continuously evaluate emerging technologies, trends, and vendors, with a focus on leveraging AI, machine learning, and automation to optimize operations and service delivery.
• Develop long‑term infrastructure roadmaps, including budgeting, resource planning, and risk management.
• Drive transformative change through proactive planning, measurable outcomes, and continuous improvement.

• Accelerate and optimize the university’s cloud adoption strategy (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), integrating on‑premise and cloud resources efficiently.
• Implement cloud‑native principles, containerization, and serverless architectures where appropriate.
• Manage strategic relationships with cloud providers, ensuring alignment with university needs, cost optimization, and security compliance.

• Oversee the design, implementation, and management of secure, high‑performance networks supporting all campuses, hybrid sites, and remote users.
• Implement software‑defined networking (SDN), network virtualization, and other advanced networking practices to optimize connectivity, performance, and scalability.
• Ensure robust LAN/WAN, Wi‑Fi, and private network performance to support academic and administrative operations.

• Strategically manage and optimize data center footprints, including modernization and consolidation initiatives.
• Develop and implement edge computing strategies to meet real‑time operational and academic technology needs.
• Ensure infrastructure aligns with institutional goals for efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability.

• Collaborate closely with the CISO to embed security into all infrastructure services and operations.
• Ensure disaster recovery, business continuity, and high availability strategies are robust and operationally effective.
• Leverage AI and predictive analytics for threat detection, risk mitigation, and proactive incident prevention.

• Drive operational efficiency through Infrastructure as Code (IaC), orchestration, AI‑driven operations (AIOps), and predictive analytics.
• Establish and monitor KPIs, SLAs, and performance trends to ensure proactive, measurable service management.
• Introduce innovative solutions that reduce operational toil, accelerate incident resolution, and improve service quality, while maintaining rigorous core operational standards.
• Implement robust monitoring, alerting, and incident response processes grounded in industry best practices.

• Build, mentor, and lead a high‑performing team of infrastructure architects, engineers, and operations specialists.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and operational rigor.
• Manage vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and partnerships with technology providers.

• Partner with other ITS leaders (CIO, CISO, Applications, BI, Help Desk, Web Services) and university stakeholders to align infrastructure services with institutional priorities.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and strategies clearly to non‑technical audiences and executive leadership.
• Support institutional initiatives by projecting impact, enabling informed decision‑making, and ensuring operational readiness.