Director of Athletics Information & Technology Services

Department: Univ Athletics - Admin
Salary/Grade: ITS/82

Target hiring range for this position will be between $115,000- $150,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Job Summary:

The Director of Athletics Information & Technology Services provides strategic leadership and day-to-day operational oversight of all technology services supporting Northwestern Athletics, including end-user support, endpoint and asset management, network and security operations, athletics applications and data integrations, as well as broadcast, game-day, and event technology support across 300+ staff, 21 varsity sports, and multiple facilities and venues. This position develops and executes the department's technology strategy and roadmap, manages Athletics IT staff and vendor relationships, and serves as the primary liaison between Athletics units and NUIT, Northwestern Medicine, Recreation, and other university and external partners, ensuring secure, reliable, and innovative technology solutions that support the department's athletic, academic, and operational goals.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

*Willingness and ability to work a non-traditional schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays as required. *

Specific Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all Athletics Information Technology services, including end-user support, endpoint/asset management, and service delivery for staff, coaches, and student-athletes across all varsity sports and facilities.
• Direct identity, access, and security operations, including endpoint security, MFA/SSO, vulnerability management, and compliance with FERPA, Title IX, and NCAA data standards; serve as the department's primary point of contact with NUIT Security on risk assessment and incident response.
• Oversee network infrastructure, wireless connectivity, and audio/visual and collaboration systems in coordination with NUIT and Facilities, ensuring reliable technology across offices, training rooms, and event spaces.
• Lead data protection, backup, and file services strategy, including redundancy planning, retention compliance, and coordination with the Office of General Counsel on legal holds.
• Work in conjunction with Athletics broadcast operations, creative services, and facilities and events to ensure proper workflows and infrastructure are in place to support direct broadcasts, video boards, digital signage, game day and event needs and operational technology functions: including access control, scoreboards, timing systems, and sport-specific simulation technology which is required to execute athletic competitions and the student-athlete and fan experience.
• Oversee athletics applications and sports science data integrations (e.g., Smartabase, Teamworks, ARMS, wearables, video analysis systems), ensuring accurate, secure, and reliable data flows in partnership with sports performance and coaching staff.
• Manage vendor, contract, and procurement relationships, including software licensing, renewals, and security assessments, in partnership with the Business Office and Office of General Counsel.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Athletics and NUIT, Northwestern Medicine, Recreation, and other university partners on shared systems, identity, and data governance.
• Supervise, develop, and mentor Athletics IT staff; establish standards, SOPs, and documentation; and lead the department's technology roadmap, budget, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Responsible for adhering to all Department and University policies and procedures, as well as the rules, regulations, bylaws and interpretations of the Big Ten Conference, CSC and the NCAA.
• Responsible for adhering to all Department and University continuing education initiatives and required certifications and trainings.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible information technology experience, including systems/network administration, security operations, and end-user support.

• Demonstrated experience managing IT budgets, vendor contracts, and procurement.

• Ability to work cooperatively with others and effectively interact and establish engaging relationships with a wide variety of constituents.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of rules and regulations of the NCAA, CSC, Big Ten Conference and Northwestern University preferred

• Experience supporting information technology in a collegiate athletics or higher education environment.

• Experience with endpoint management and security platforms such as Jamf, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM), and CrowdStrike.

• Relevant professional certifications (e.g., PMP, ITIL, or CISSP).

• Previous leadership to team supervision experience

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.