Director of Technology Services (1065)

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About the Department/Unit

American University’s School of Communication (AU SOC) welcomes applicants to join its creative and dynamic team of professionals. Our community is committed to the mission of engaging the most pressing issues of our time through teaching, scholarship, and professional experiences in communication and media in Washington and beyond. SOC empowers undergraduates and graduates in its programs to tell stories that influence change, inspire action, and transform our communities and our world. Faculty are leaders in their fields, contributing scholarly, creative and professional work in communication studies, film and media arts, journalism, and public communication. We know that teams perform best when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We are seeking a director to lead our integral technology and facilities services team. The unique contributions of SOC employees drive our success, and we are committed to building a culture where everyone has an opportunity to do meaningful work. Learn more about SOC at american.edu/soc/.

Summary/Objective

The Director of Technology Services leads a dynamic team in ensuring that SOC maintains up-to-date technology to support student learning, instructional delivery, and on-going SOC operations. The Director is responsible for developing a technology strategy, in collaboration with faculty and staff, which is aligned with SOC’s academic and administrative needs. The Director oversees the overall functionality of School computer labs/classrooms, a state-of-the-art theater, two television studios, editing suites, photography labs and a field equipment room. The Director is responsible for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of hardware and software used in SOC’s production studios, editing facilities, computer labs, classrooms, and used by faculty and staff. This position provides guidance and recommendations regarding new technology to faculty, staff, and the SOC community. Additionally, the Director maintains an asset register and other asset management applications to track and record utilization, value, location, in-service dates, maintenance, and expected life cycle of technology assets. The Director relies on their broad technical expertise to support and resolve issues related to media production, studio engineering and equipment, and hardware and software using a convergent media model of operation. This position supports academic computing on Mac and PC platforms and collaborates on web-based computing. The director provides leadership advice on resource needs for SOC strategic projects and events. This position serves as a critical member of the Technology Advisory Committee, which advises the Dean of SOC on technology purchases and training. The Director also oversees the School’s facilities and space management and manages the technology unit budget in consultation with their supervisor.

Essential Functions

1. Technology, Production & Facilities Management: Lead the technology team and ensure reasonable operational functionality of all technical facilities including studios and production operations, IT solutions, Game Center hardware and software and building operations. Maintain up-to-date asset register and other asset management applications to track and record utilization of technology, value, location, in-service dates, maintenance, expected life cycle of technology assets, and other information as requested. Provide expert assistance to lab managers troubleshooting network and workstation problems to quickly resolve problems and ensure facilities are available for use.
2. Strategic Planning & Advising: Collaborate with the Technology Dean’s Advisory Committee, faculty, and SOC leadership to develop, maintain, and update a techn