Executive Director for Research Computing

Stanford University

Stanford University, founded in 1891, is a private, comprehensive, research-intensive university, where teaching, learning and research are part of a single enterprise. Stanford's enterprising character draws from its Western location and from the legacy of Jane and Leland Stanford. Its areas of excellence range from the humanities to the social sciences, engineering and the sciences. The layout and character of Stanford's Quadrangle were developed by Frederick Olmsted, designer of New York's Central Park. The 8,180-acre campus includes Moorish Spanish and French Romanesque architecture. It is located in Stanford, adjacent to Palo Alto, 30 miles south of San Francisco.

Stanford University, one of the world’s leading teaching and research institutions, is dedicated to finding solutions to big challenges and to preparing students for leadership in a complex world. Stanford University is comprised of twenty organizations, including seven schools, that all possess exceptional breadth and depth of excellence that facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration.

Stanford Research Computing, a joint effort of the Dean of Research and University IT, comprises a world class team focused on delivering and supporting comprehensive programs that advance computational and data-intensive research across Stanford. That includes engineering, managing, and supporting traditional high-performance computing (HPC) systems and services, as well as resources for high throughput and data-intensive computing. Research Computing also helps researchers transition their analyses and models from the desktop to more capable and plentiful resources, providing the opportunity to explore data and answer research questions (on premise or in the cloud) at a scale typically not possible on desktops or departmental servers.

Often partnering with other Stanford units and select vendors, Research Computing offers training and learning opportunities around high-end computing tools and technologies, as well as consultation to help you find the best solution for the kinds of computing and analytics you want to do.

Scope and Responsibilities

Stanford Research Computing is looking for an experienced Executive Director, Research Computing to lead a team of collaborative and innovative professionals. The research computing staff works directly with some of the world's top researchers in a broad range of disciplines, across Stanford’s seven schools — while also supporting and learning from each other in cross-project endeavors. They maintain and manage several advanced research computing facilities and support a variety of environments for Stanford research. In Stanford Research Computing, you will have a rare opportunity to contribute to discoveries and inventions that have global reach and positive impact, and to share in the curiosity and commitment of the scholars and scientists who lead these projects.

This role will lead Stanford Research Computing, and will report jointly to the Stanford University Vice Provost and Dean of Research and the Stanford University Chief Information Officer.

This position provides strategic vision for and serves as the head of research computing technology support for Stanford University. This role works in close collaboration with research faculty leaders as well as campus IT leaders, research labs, centers, and institutes to operate and develop new and emerging computing technologies for faculty and research groups across all university academic units.

Specific Responsibilities

• Acts as a foremost technologist responsible for supporting existing and emerging needs of Stanford’s research communities.
• Oversees daily operations of existing research computing technology support services, including high-performance computing, high-risk environments, research storage, consulting services, training, office hours, research networking, and the Stanford Research Computing data center facilities on and off campus.
• Manages services through fact-based measurement, sound financial practices, security policy, and effective user-focused and faculty-centric governance processes.
• Maintains a faculty-centered lens to service definition, assuring institutionally integrated service offerings responsive to emerging technology opportunities, broad institutional needs, and discipline-specific requirements in alignment with Stanford’s academic priorities.
• Transcends institutional complexities to ensure integrated service delivery and speed time to science through effective collaboration with diverse service providers and emphasizes coordination and rationalization.
• Responds to evolving regulatory requirements in close partnership with relevant provost, information technology, security, legal, risk, and privacy offices.
• Acts as a trusted thought leader, establishing a clear vision for research computing technology support at Stanford.
• Maintains relationships first and foremost through effective and reliable service delivery, supplemented with a compelling and strategic long-term view and the ability to work effectively in a highly decentralized environment to deliver high-quality research computing products and services through influence and compelling business case development.
• Fosters strong relationships with academic departments and research centers to ensure solutions aligned with the requirements of our diverse research landscape.
• Leads and mentors a high-performing team of research technology professionals, ensuring a highly skilled, engaged, and diverse workforce aligned to accomplish outstanding results.
• Is an active colleague, participant, and leader in the technology community to help foster engagement, collaboration, and partnership with outside constituents and peers in existing, new, and emerging computational technologies.
• Leads the development and implementation of research computing and IT strategies, policies, and procedures in alignment with the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Provides leadership, mentorship, and guidance to staff. Cultivates and fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes recruitment and retention of outstanding staff.
• Collaborates with the Chief Information Security and Privacy Officers to establish and maintain robust security measures and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
• Establishes and maintains governance processes, policies, and standards to ensure internal and external regulations compliance.
• Responsible for effective workforce planning. Ensures the organization has the right people with the right skills to meet the business objectives. Assess the organization’s current workforce and determine its future staffing needs based on business objectives, growth plans, market trends, and technical advancements.
• Ensures the organization’s systems are secure, reliable, efficient, and following regulations and standards.
• Develops processes and systems to maximize uptime for mission-critical computing resources.
• Responsible for developing, implementing, and stewardship of the capital and operations budget.
• Remains current on emerging technologies and trends; evaluate their potential impact on the organization.
• Effectively communicates complex technical concepts to non-technical University senior leadership stakeholders and be able to make sound decisions that align with the overall technology strategies and plans.
• Manages relationships with third-party vendors and service providers, ensuring the organization always moves forward and improves.