Associate Director, Information Technology

# Associate Director, Information Technology--
- *
* Employer:

** Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory--
- ** Job :
** PHI-JOB-   |  
** Posted on:
** 2026/07/17
*
* Location:

** Cambridge, MA   |  
** Country:
** United States of America
** Work Arrangement:
** On-site   |  
** Job Type:
** Full-time
** Salary:** $151,661-$228,000/year   |  
** Job Status:
** Active---## Job Overview
* Internal applicants only — this listing is open exclusively to current SAO employees.
* The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, is seeking an Associate Director, Information Technology to serve as SAO’s Chief Information Officer and senior technology executive. This is a full-time, Trust Fund (non-federal) position based in Cambridge, MA, reporting directly to the Deputy Director as a member of the Executive Management Team.

The role provides executive leadership across IT strategy, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, research computing, data governance, and digital modernization. Responsibilities include setting SAO-wide technology strategy and governance frameworks, directing enterprise infrastructure and scientific computing across observatories, mission operations, archives, and cloud environments, leading cybersecurity and research security programs in compliance with NIST standards and sponsor requirements, serving as SAO’s senior Data Officer for data stewardship and preservation, managing a multi-million-dollar technology portfolio supporting over $100 million annually in sponsored research, and representing SAO to Smithsonian and Harvard leadership, federal agencies, and external partners.

Requirements:
* Extensive experience leading IT organizations, including strategic planning, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, research computing, data governance, budget oversight, and workforce leadership
* Foreign education must be credential-evaluated for U.S. equivalency
* Editorially sourced — This listing was identified and summarized by Pitchly Hire from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s public careers page. It is not a paid listing. Apply via the employer’s official page.
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