Director, Information Technology

Alberta University of the Arts, 1407 14 Avenue NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Job Description

Posted Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM | Expires Monday, June 1, 2026 at 7:59 AM

Why AUArts?

Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) is situated on the ancestral land of the Siksikaitsitapi - Blackfoot Confederacy which includes the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani Nations and the shared territories of the Tsuut’ina Nation as well as the Iyarhe Nakoda-Stoney which includes Bearspaw, Chiniki, Good Stoney Nations and also the host of the Métis Nation of District 5 and 6. The City of Calgary has long been called Moh’kins’tsis by the Siksikaitsitapi, Guts’ists’i by the Tsuut’ina, and Wîchîspa by the Nakoda.

The Alberta University of the Arts is one of only four major art, craft and design focused Universities in Canada. Our internationally recognized programs and state-of-the-art facilities offer our 1,100 students a hands‑on, studio‑based education that leads to a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Design, and an MFA in Craft Media. AUArts has deep roots in Calgary’s creative community and our alumni have had an impact on creativity around the world. Alberta University of the Arts will be celebrating its centennial in 2026.

Do you believe in the power of ideas, possibility, and in building community? AUArts is a community of thinkers, shapers, makers, and risk takers. We are students, faculty, staff, and alumni rich in diversity of culture and thought, challenged to fearlessly explore what moves us, drives us, and compels us to see the world differently.

The Opportunity

Competition #2526-AP-MP-14

Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) is looking for a Director, Information Technology, who is responsible for setting the strategic direction and ensuring the effective delivery of all IT services at AUArts.

Reporting to the Vice President, Finance and Operations, the Director plays a critical role in advancing the University’s digital transformation agenda, ensuring technology investments, services, and governance frameworks support institutional priorities and enhance the student and employee experience.

With accountability for infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, and service delivery, the Director leads both the operational performance and long‑term evolution of the IT function. This role requires a forward‑thinking leader who can assess current capabilities, identify opportunities for modernization and improvement, and drive execution of initiatives that strengthen service quality, resilience, and organizational effectiveness.

As a member of the senior leadership team, this role is responsible for championing and integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion, strategic partnerships, and enrollment management principles. Key leadership initiatives include program and curriculum innovation, diversification of revenue and Work‑Integrated‑Learning.

This is a full‑time permanent management position starting as soon as possible. Hours of work are 35 hours per week, 7 hours per day.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Digital Strategy

• Define and execute the University’s IT strategic plan, budget, and digital roadmap.
• Develop, prioritize, and execute improvement plans based on internal assessments and external reviews, ensuring recommendations translate into measurable outcomes.
• Lead initiatives that enhance technology accessibility, reliability, and security for students, faculty, and staff in alignment with institutional values and strategic priorities.
• Provide leadership and direction to Service Desk, Network Infrastructure, Data Center, Applications, and Security teams.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, resource allocations, contracts, service agreements, and performance metrics.
• Oversee the development and enforcement of IT policies, security frameworks, and compliance with legislative requirements (ATIA, POPA, PCI DSS, NIST, etc.).
• Provide executive oversight for the institution’s cybersecurity program, ensuring proactive, risk‑based protection strategies and continuous monitoring of vulnerabilities.
• Guide risk assessments, incident response planning, and data protection initiatives.
• Develop and maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans to ensure organizational resilience and continuity of operations.
• Establish and mature governance structures, including COBIT, ITIL service management, project portfolio governance, and cybersecurity governance.

Technology Operations & Service Excellence

• Ensure the effective delivery of IT services, including service desk operations, infrastructure, enterprise applications, and end‑user support.
• Continuously evaluate and improve IT service delivery, user experience, and customer engagement models.
• Assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and integration of enterprise systems and infrastructure, identifying opportunities for optimization, modernization, and standardization.
• Establish and monitor service performance metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide executive oversight of enterprise IT projects and programs, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy, priorities, and resource capacity.
• Lead the prioritization and portfolio management of IT initiatives, balancing risk, value, cost, and organizational impact.
• Establish and enforce project governance frameworks, including standards, methodologies, and reporting practices.
• Sponsor and guide large‑scale, cross‑functional technology initiatives from planning through execution.
• Ensure effective change management strategies are integrated into project delivery to support adoption and minimize disruption.Monitor and report on project and portfolio performance, providing actionable insights to senior leadership.

Stakeholder Engagement & Institutional Partnership

• Act as a strategic liaison between IT and academic and administrative units to ensure technology solutions meet institutional needs.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation across IT and client groups.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and stakeholders to define priorities, scope initiatives, and align technology investments with business needs.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and partners, ensuring accountability and value for investment.Build and mentor high‑performing teams, fostering a culture of service excellence, continuous improvement, and results.

Qualifications

The following qualifications have been determined to promote the likelihood of success in the role. In alignment with the principles of inclusion, individuals with an alternative equivalent qualification may be considered.

Mandatory

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive IT leadership experience within higher education, public sector, or complex enterprise environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing diverse IT teams across infrastructure, applications, and cybersecurity domains.
• Demonstrated ability to assess organizational functions, identify gaps, and lead successful improvement initiatives across services, systems, and operations.
• Proven track record in strategic planning, service delivery management, and technology modernization.
• Strong knowledge of IT service management (ITIL), project management, and governance frameworks (COBIT, NIST).
• Experience with network architecture, virtualization, cloud computing, and enterprise applications (e.g., Ellucian, Workday, or Microsoft 365).
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder‑engagement skills.
• Ability to lead change, inspire teams, and build consensus across diverse groups.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and digital accessibility.

Preferential

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Certification in project management (PMP or equivalent)
• Familiarity with higher‑education technology environments, including student information systems, learning management systems, and research computing.

AUArts has established five common competencies to promote unity of vision and action in the organization. Responsibilities of leaders include the following:

Healthy Spaces

• Create and maintain a respectful working environment.
• Lead by example creating respectful dialogue standards.
• Champion expectations related to physical and mental health, safety, and wellness.

Active Inclusion

• Create and maintain an environment of active inclusion.
• Lead by example implementing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility principles.
• Champion Indigenous strategies, equity, diversity and inclusion programs, policies, and communications.
• Evaluate current practices and propose innovative solutions.
• Lead implementation of projects with a change management focus.
• Champion change and actively support new initiatives.
• Create and maintain active collaboration within and between teams.
• Lead by example cultivating effective communication throughout the organization.
• Cultivate strong relationships with internal stakeholders.

Strategic Leadership

• Create and implement operational plans, reviews, and projects.
• Ensure policy, budgetary and legislative compliance within department.
• Champion employee engagement by establishing and expanding best practices, employee development and continuous learning.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive benefits package including pension and health spending account
• Annual vacation accrual starting at 24 days, 9 Flex days, Personal days, and other types of leave
• Paid time off over the University closure from December 24 – 31
• Flexible / hybrid work arrangements

The starting annual salary will be dependent upon skills, education and experience.

How to Apply

Applications must include a Cover Letter and Resume / Curriculum Vitae (CV). It is preferred that your application package be submitted as a single PDF document.

Please visit our Application FAQ's page to ensure your application is complete prior to submission. Upload your single PDF to the “Resume” section of the application portal. If you are unable to combine your documents into one file, you may upload them separately under the “Additional Documents” section.

If you are an active AUArts employee, please submit your application through your Dayforce account. From the menu, select Careers > Search Jobs to view open positions.

The deadline to apply is May 31, 2026. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Further information about AUArts is available on our website at www.auarts.ca .

Equal Opportunity Employer

AUArts is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to fostering inclusion and belonging within our community.

We welcome applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

We recognize the legitimate and potential impact that career interruptions (maternity leaves, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. Applicants are encouraged to identify in their application the impact that career interruptions may have had on their record of practice and achievement; this will be taken into consideration during the assessment process.

We are committed to making our recruitment, assessment, and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact hr@auarts.ca . All requests for accommodation will be treated confidentially.

Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. All successful candidates must demonstrate that they are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The personal information collected through this website will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and suitability for employment, as well as immigration requirements and reporting . This collection is authorized by section 4 (c) of the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and will be protected by section 10. For questions about the collection of personal information, contact hr@auarts.ca , or the University Secretary at access.privacy@auarts.ca or 403.284.7647.

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