Director, IT

Information Technology Director

Stanford Management Company (SMC), the University’s investment office, invests the Merged Pool, which includes substantially all of the University’s investable endowment assets. The investment portfolio is designed with the dual goals of preserving the purchasing power of the Endowment for future generations of Stanford students and scholars and enabling a robust annual disbursement to the University’s operating budget. SMC primarily relies on carefully chosen external partners to select individual securities, allowing Stanford to benefit from specialized knowledge in asset classes that reward superior active management.

SMC operates with a deliberately lean and high-caliber team of approximately 55 professionals, of whom roughly 20 are investment professionals and the balance support operational functions. This intentional structure reflects SMC's belief that exceptional people, operating with excellent tools and processes, consistently outperform larger and more bureaucratic organizations.

Reporting to the Managing Director, Operations, this position oversees SMC’s information systems function and IT team. The role sets the strategic vision for IT and leads the development, deployment, and support of innovative applications, systems, and best-in-class end-user support. The IT Director will manage a team responsible for systems, network and cloud administration, software development, databases, and service support.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee information systems and partner with senior management to shape the strategic use of information technology that advances business outcomes, informed by SMC’s business drivers, opportunities, issues, investment strategies, and operations.
• Define and implement long-term architecture, and technology projects, taking AI into primary consideration with accountability for resource planning, project management, and scope control.
• Evaluate software, services, platforms, automation/AI, and develop creative solutions, while setting ambitious and achievable delivery timelines.
• Ensure IT policies, procedures, and systems include appropriate security controls to prevent unauthorized access and comply with regulations, data privacy requirements, and University information security policies.
• Oversee disaster recovery and business continuity planning. Maintain, update, and test to ensure IT operations continue during emergency events.
• Stay current on investment industry developments and relevant technology trends. Manage the adoption and adaptation of emerging technologies to meet changing requirements, capabilities, and opportunities.
• Represent SMC’s IT organization to Stanford IT stakeholders and external vendors. Serve as liaison to the University’s key IT organizations.
• Develop and manage the annual IT operating budget.
• Mentor, develop, recruit and retain technical staff. Build skills in communications and technology.

The expected pay range for this position is $213,375 - $325,000 per annum.

Core Duties:

• Responsible for overseeing the overall information systems function for a school or VP Area. Collaborate with senior management and/or faculty and others in order to develop, communicate and manage a central strategic plan for computing and information technology that is consistent with the university’s overall mission.

• Provide strategic direction for multiple business, technical, and educational areas; create strategic plans of considerable complexity and scope; set long-range direction and make high-level decisions; propose and manage the implementation of complex and significant programmatic change; establish policies as needed.

• Ensure technology infrastructure serves the needs of the institution and priorities align with the vision and mission of the university.

• Advise university/school-wide senior management on technical futures.

• Manage the adoption and adaptation of emerging technologies to meet changing requirements, capabilities, and opportunities.

• Exercise executive level responsibility for finance, budget, personnel, and facilities.

• Lead high-level programs and initiatives through technical design, development, and integration for teaching, learning, and research.

• Build a competent and diverse leadership team and workforce; recruit, lead, and mentor key senior management staff through motivation and education; provide a clear vision and sense of mission for the organization; function as a change agent.

• Direct and manage strategic relationships both inside and outside of Stanford University; maintain a high level of interaction and collaboration with clients and peers across the university.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree.

Minimum Experience:

Ten years of increasingly technical work experience, or a combination of education and relevant experience. Must have substantial managerial experience in formulating, planning, leading, directing, and controlling a complex, broad, and highly technical function.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and deliver results.

• In-depth knowledge of emerging technologies, trends, methodologies, and resource management principles.

• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop staff.

• Exceptional customer relationship skills, consensus building skills, and ability to establish effective working relationships in a diverse environment.