Director of Information Technology

Description

 A little about us: 

The Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) was established in 2010 to plot a new course in biomedical research that would change the lives of individuals affected with developmental brain disorders. We are one of the only research institutions in the world focused specifically on understanding how genes and the environment influence the way our brains develop that lead to conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder and related developmental brain disorders. Through our cutting-edge research, answers are emerging and being translated into a robust pipeline of new drugs in development. And, by focusing on genes and their dynamic interplay with the environment, we are getting even closer to the “holy grail” in medical research, the discovery of strategies for primary prevention. 

We are a group of dedicated, multidisciplinary and optimistic researchers, working at the cutting edge of science, utilizing state-of-the-art tools to unlock the mystery of the brain and transform the way we approach the development of new treatments, and ultimately cures. LIBD is an independent 501(c)(3) medical research institute located in the Bioscience Park on the campus of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Hospital in Baltimore, MD. 

Job Summary: 

The Director of IT will provide leadership, vision, strategic direction and oversight of LIBD’s infrastructure for data, computation, network and security. The Director of IT works closely with Institute leadership to develop and foster innovative and forward-thinking initiatives that will help drive the overall scientific goals of the Institute.  This role leads the IT department which supports sophisticated computational and bench level scientific teams as well as the administrative side of the organization. The Director oversees the people, processes and technologies to ensure successful operations to support the goals of the organization.  

Key Responsibilities: 

· Develop and execute a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with LIBD's research objectives

· Implement and monitor essential IT operations, including servers, cloud computing, operating systems, security tools, applications, email systems, hardware and software

· Oversee cloud infrastructure and architecture, particularly AWS environments supporting computational research

· Lead the implementation and management of IT systems supporting neurogenomics, bioinformatics, and clinical research

· Manage IT budget, vendor and internal relationships

· Provide leadership to the IT team, including mentoring, training and professional development.  

Ensure data security, compliance, and governance (HIPAA, GDPR, etc.)

· Support researchers with high-performance computing needs and data management

· Direct disaster recovery and business continuity planning

· Develop, implement and enforce Institution-wide IT policies. 

Cloud-specific Responsibilities: 

· Architect and optimize AWS infrastructure for research computing

· Oversee implementation of cloud-based solutions for data storage, analysis, and sharing

· Ensure cost-effective utilization of cloud resources

· Implement security best practices for cloud-based research data

· Support researchers in leveraging AWS services for computational analysis

Requirements

 Qualifications and Required Skills: 

· Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, technology or a related field.   

· 10+ years of progressively responsible related experience, preferably in a research or scientific environment, including at least 5 years in a leadership or management position. A Masters degree can substitute for some years of experience. 

· Demonstrated experience developing and implementing a strategic plan and vision for an IT department within a growing company. 

· Successful management of IT staff and department resources.  

· Ability to manage relationships between the IT Department and other departments, labs, consultants, vendors and external partners. 

· Exceptional administrative and organizational skills. 

· Successful implementation of AWS (preferred) or other cloud computing platforms, preferably in a research environment.  

· Understanding of lab environments and scientific technology needs is a plus.  

· Advanced interpersonal, communications, and presentation skills

· Demonstrated ability to present and discuss complex technical information with a non-technical audience (i.e. leadership, administrative staff) as well as communicating in technical terms when appropriate with colleagues, vendors and collaborators

· Ability to develop and maintain a culture of outstanding customer service, growth, a