POSITION OBJECTIVE

Working with a high degree of independence and under general direction, the Assistant Director of Identity Management and Middleware Engineering (IMME) leads strategic and operational aspects of the University Technology (UTech) identity management and system integration activities and services. IMME provides services that support university-wide systems and services, currently including Google G-Suite, Box, ERP (for human resources, financial systems, student information system), the Canvas learning management system, the SPARTA pre-award system, and many others. IMME services include the integration of these applications into university identity management systems and application development to support the interoperability of the university-wide systems. The assistant director will provide leadership in support of goals and strategies established by the senior director, and is responsible for identity business/governance processes and technical operations, managing all aspects of identity management services, access control tools, and authentication infrastructure of the university environment. The assistant director leads a highly technical staff of skilled IT professionals working to accomplish university goals and to deliver high-quality services. The position involves significant and close interaction with senior leadership of UTech and other university organizations as well as faculty and staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Provide strategic vision and leadership for emerging technologies related to identity management, access management, and software system integration within UTech on behalf of Case Western Reserve University. Within the context of established governance processes, interact with university stakeholders to manage expectations and anticipate needs, including accommodating for rapid changes in IT-supported business processes, ensuring they are addressed appropriately. Act as an advocate for change to improve CWRU processes with the goal of increased efficiency in resource utilization, increased user service, and decreased risk. Maintain an understanding of IT and higher education trends in the market and develop plans that utilize these changing trends to further the priorities of the university using the operating models defined within enterprise architecture. Perform market and product research for software and services to meet future goals of the university. Represent CWRU locally, nationally and internationally at meetings and conferences, in publications, etc. (30%). 
2. Direct, manage, and monitor activities of staff as they relate to identity management, access management, and software system integration for the development and deployment of new services for the university while striving for continual improvement, innovation, and service excellence for existing services. Select and work with vendors and outside consultants to bring optimal solutions to the university. Ensure that services provided by IMME staff meet established service level expectations and availability targets. Provide the UTech Senior Leadership team with regular reporting of systems performance and utilization metrics, identify significant risks and operational issues, and propose action plans to address them. Manage the portfolio of projects and simple work requests in IMME and work closely with the senior director to ensure the establishment of realistic project schedules and budgets for IMME activities. Coordinate activities and/or projects with other departments and customers, ensuring good communication and successful project management. Ensure compliance with university and UTech technical standards for all services in terms of hardware, software, and security. Ensure that activities are aligned with the priorities of the senior director and with the UTech strategic plan. (28%)
3. Carry out personnel and budget management for the IMME area.  This includes conducting performance reviews, providing coaching and mentoring, identifying and approving training and professional development opportunities, and recruiting, hiring, and training new staff members. It also includes working with the senior director in developing operating budget, capital budget, and staffing plans for IMME, and ensuring that use of operating funds, capital funds, and staff resources is kept within established limits and accrues to the benefit of Case Western Reserve University. Motivate staff by creating a sense of purpose to meet the goals of the university through coaching and leading by example. Serve as mentor for and provide professional support to peer leaders in UTech.  (25%)
4. Collaborate with the Information Security Office on the development and implementation of identity program business, privacy, and security requirements.  Develop identity-focused objectives in the information security plan in order to address timely accomplishment of elements of the UTech strategic plan. (15%)

   NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Fill in for the senior director in his/her absence. (1%)
2. Perform other duties as assigned. (1%)

CONTACTS

Department: Weekly to bi-weekly contact with supervisor to review goals, achievements, and overall performance. Daily to weekly contact with peer managers in UTech and with direct reports to address issues and opportunities collaboratively, to resolve any outstanding issues or challenges, and to ensure progress toward goals. Monthly to quarterly contact with UTech senior leadership for status reporting, policy support, and operational reviews. Frequent contact with all UTech leadership and staff to facilitate and promote joint action and cooperation to achieve results.

University: Periodic contact with faculty and staff, as needed, to enable understanding of user requirements as they relate to assigned responsibilities and to engage in the area of IT governance.

External: Regular contact with vendor partners to manage the execution of tasks, coordinate efforts, and learn about new capabilities. Regular contact with peers at other universities to share information, experience, and best practices in the broad area of identity management.

Students: Occasional contact with students involved in IT governance. Occasional contact with student employees of UTech.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position will directly supervise five to ten staff. May direct multi-disciplinary project teams of staff (engineers, database administrators, application developers, solutions architects, and project managers). Provide coaching and mentoring to staff and peers. May direct the work of contractors and student employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 10 years of experience in a technical lead or manager role (preferably in higher education). Prefer experience to include 2 years of engagement experience as a manager/lead in a technology capacity with 2 years of vendor engagement management experience. Prefer experience in identity management or information security.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, preferably in computer science, engineering, information systems, or a related field.

REQUIRED SKILLS

1. Understanding of the role of identity in a large organization.
2. Understanding of project management related to IT services and managing change in business processes.
3. Strongly prefer understanding of Shibboleth, CAS, SAML, and other identity management technologies.
4. Strongly prefer knowledge of and experience in the design, development, and maintenance of an identity management system.
5. Strongly prefer understanding of LDAP and Microsoft Active Directory.
6. Strongly prefer understanding of multi-factor authentication.
7. Strong understanding of hardware, software development, database management, web development, mobile technologies, and APIs, and a working knowledge of user interface design.
8. Ability to develop personal and professional networks and uses them to strengthen internal and external support. Ability to identify opportunities and take action to build strategic relationships between UTech and other university areas, teams, departments, etc., to help achieve business goals. Ability to work effectively at all levels within an organization. (Building Strong Alliances Skills)
9. Ability to effectively influence others to achieve understanding, acceptance, and commitment to act in support of ideas, programs, or causes. (Advocacy, Influence & Entrepreneurial Spirit)
10. Ability to understand how an organization must change in light of internal and external trends, influences, and future technology. (Vision)
11. Ability to actively listen, responsive to verbal and non-verbal clues. (Listening Skills)
12. Ability to respond to difficult, a stressful or sensitive interpersonal situation in ways that reduce or minimize potential conflict and maintains good working relationships among internal and external customers. The ability to recognize awkward or potentially embarrassing situations that sometimes arise. Always aware of tone and careful choice of words, while at the same time ensuring that the intended message is clear, polite and readily understood. (Tact & Diplomacy Skill)
13. Ability to develop in-depth understanding of client needs in order to be more helpful. The ability to consider how different audiences are likely to respond and choose the best method of communicating the message to each audience.  (Customer Focus Skill)
14. Consistently models high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness and respect for the individual. Must have the ability to use discretion and good judgment on sensitive and important matters. Embraces diversity. (Ethic/Integrity Skills)
15. Ability to recognize the importance of certain tasks and responsibilities and the ability to prioritize to ensure that deadlines are met. (Dependability & Reliability Skill)
16. Ability to be flexible in order to meet the constant changing scope and needs of the department, division, and customers being served.
17. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities.
18. Ability to look at situations from multiple perspectives, break problems into component parts, and look for underlying causes and think through the consequences of different courses of action (Analytical Skills).
19. Ability to optimize the use of time and resources to achieve the desired results; effectively plans and organizes work to minimize crises; prioritized appropriately. (Planning and Organization Skills)
20. Ability to identify various types of problems along with the creation of workable solutions. Requires the identification and analysis of problems, evaluation of alternatives, and provision of solutions. (Problem Solving Skills)
21. Excellent written and oral communications (in English), presentation, and interpersonal skills. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors and customers face to face.
22. Attention to detail in all aspects of employment.
23. Ability to meet consistent attendance.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The working conditions are typical of an office environment and computer rooms. The position requires typing on a computer keyboard and using a computer mouse. The position may occasionally require lifting equipment weighing as much as 45 pounds. Travel between various locations on campus may be required.  There may be campus locations that are accessible only by stairs. The position may occasionally require long hours and the associated pressure to meet deadlines.  The employee may be required to carry a cell phone, during and after their normal work hours, including weekends to attend to after-hours emergencies. The employee may be required to attend meetings/functions outside normal working hours.