Employment Opportunity - Assistant Director, Information Technology

**For application information, please go to the UVic Human Resources Website**

PROJECT SUMMARY

NEPTUNE Canada, a $63M project, is designed to establish an innovative, regional, cabled observatory system with several sub-sea observatories in the deep sea off the BC coast. Using recent advances in fibre-optic communication technology, NEPTUNE Canada aims to probe a wide range of marine environments to allow long-term, real-time observations and remote control of experiments. In support of international research, NEPTUNE Canada's objective is to create an extensive, time-series, interactive database to be available to multidisciplinary scientists throughout the world.

This endeavour is part of the $300M bi-national NEPTUNE project, in which US partners include the University of Washington, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Information Technology Assistant Director, working under the general guidance of the Project Director, is responsible to lead the development, implementation and review of the novel, complex and highly innovative $7.8M information technology (IT) systems and infrastructure for NEPTUNE Canada and NEPTUNE International. The Assistant Director leads the development and management of long-term IT strategic plans, budgets and work schedules, as well as directs the development and implementation of IT policies and procedures.

Extensive consultation is conducted with the UVIC Ocean Sciences Board, Canadian and American science and engineering working groups and organizations, technical systems professionals and project sponsors to research systems requirements, develop partnerships, and gain consensus and agreement regarding system specifications, priorities and policies. All systems initiatives must be fully integrated and compatible with VENUS, MARS and other related projects, user-friendly, and effective over the 30 year expected lifespan of the NEPTUNE Project. IT software and infrastructure projects will support data management and archiving, observatory management and control, power management and data communication network management.

NATURE OF CONTACTS

• Project Director, Project Director to the UVIC Vice-Presidents, and the UVIC Ocean Science Board - to assist in the conceptualization of the project technology infrastructure, obtain approval for Project plans and objectives, and to discuss project priorities, budgets and progress.
• Associate Director, Chief Scientist and NRC Hertzberg Institute Data Management Specialists - to collaborate on systems design taking into account the scientific and engineering requirements for the NEPTUNE Project as well as the needs of the VENUS and MARS Projects.
• Project Sponsors (Canadian Foundation for Innovation & BC Knowledge Development Fund, etc.) - to secure additional funding and partnerships and obtain approval for Project plans and objectives and to provide regular Systems project status and budget reports.
• Project Scientific Leaders, UVIC Administration, and Project Oversight Board - to assist in the conceptualization of the project technology infrastructure, and to obtain approval for Project plans and objectives.
• NEPTUNE Canada Network Engineers - to define interfaces and requirements for power, time and data delivery systems.
• NEPTUNE Canada Cost Control Group - to model cost implications of IT design options.
• NEPTUNE Canada Quality Assurance Manager - to define the Quality Plan and quality objectives for software and hardware, and to report compliance.
• NEPTUNE Canada Administrative and Research Staff - to assist in the conceptualization of the project technology infrastructure, and to provide leadership and guidance regarding project technical design features, priorities and modifications.
• National Scientific Community - to promote the NEPTUNE Canada/International Project and develop a user community which supports the sharing of information.
• Other Jurisdictions, organizations, the Media and the general public - to provide program information and updates.
• Contracted agents - to communicate Project objectives and ensure quality control over deliverables.
• IT Suppliers - to research systems options, develop technical requirements, specifications and values, and to purchase development and operational hardware, software and support services

ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Provides vision and leadership for the novel, complex and highly innovative NEPTUNE IT project by directing the development and implementation of IT concepts, long-term strategic plans, objectives, budgets and work schedules, with limited reliance on established operating methods or precedents.
2. Develops collaborative relationships with Canadian science and engineering research organizations, government agencies, industry and systems professionals to exchange information, gain consensus and agreement, and obtain feedback regarding their needs to ensure IT systems encompass not only the requirements of NEPTUNE Canada, but also those of VENUS, MARS and Canadian and international users.
3. Develops and presents proposals and business cases for NEPTUNE Canada IT development strategies outlining implications and options for in-house vs. contracted services, phased development vs. rapid prototyping and object-oriented vs. functional decomposition, etc.
4. Prepares long-term operational plans for NEPTUNE Canada IT function outlining the budgetary requirements needed for non-research operational expenditures required over the projected 30-year lifespan of the Project, including upgrading/maintenance/repair expectations and operating costs.
5. Leads the development and implementation of IT policies and procedures by serving on intra and inter-program committees and working groups and consulting with the Project Director and the UVIC Ocean Science Board. Develops procedures and standards that comply with the NEPTUNE Canada Project Group's procedures and standards for cost reporting, contract negotiation, contractor selection and management, and quality control/assurance to maximize accountability, minimize risk and ensure return for NEPTUNE Canada funds.
6. Leads contractor qualification, selection and contract negotiation to ensure the identification of relationships and deliverables for major agreements such as software, hardware, support services, data management and vendor technology licensing. Also, negotiates partnership agreements with major systems companies to collaborate in the conceptualization, development and implementation of IT research infrastructure.
7. Directs the conceptualization, design, development, testing, documentation, implementation, assessment, and maintenance of hardware (NEPTUNE) and software (NEPTUNE, VENUS and MARS), involving communication of systems requirements and priorities, evaluation and reporting of progress, assurance of timely delivery, and cost effective products/services (involving an industry with ever changing standards, suppliers and costs).
8. Assesses the effectiveness of information technologies in meeting the needs of the scientific community through the development and monitoring of reporting structures, quality assurance reviews and financial controls, and develops status reports outlining project progress, budgets and other project information for presentation to the Project Director, management team, the Ocean Science Board and funding partners.
9. Supervises systems technology staff involving recruiting, interviewing, hiring, scheduling work assignments, setting priorities, resolving problems, conducting performance reviews and implementing disciplinary action as required. Plans and oversees the training of NEPTUNE observatory operations staff and software maintenance staff.
10. Acts as a representative of the University and NEPTUNE Canada to make presentations to management, other jurisdictions, organizations, media and the public to communicate comprehensive, accurate and timely information regarding IT objectives, priorities and procedures and develop further partnerships and funding agreements.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Knowledge and Experience

• At least a Bachelor's Degree in Software Engineering or Computer Science, or an allied field with appropriate experience.
• Three to five years recent professional experience managing the development and implementation of a major systems project from conception, preferably in a collaborative scientific environment, or equivalent combination of education, experience and training.
• A minimum of one year recent experience in the various areas of the software development lifecycle such as systems design, programming, coding, testing, assessment, documentation, and implementation.
• Preferred software development and management experience within a marine science environment involving near-time control systems and data management.
• Proven track record in project management including initiating projects, proposal writing, priority setting, planning, progress review, and managing finances and staff.
• Experience in negotiating and managing a variety of software development and service/support contracts and partnership agreements.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of public and business administration as applied to a large organization.

Skills and Abilities

1. Ability to lead the conceptualization, development and implementation of innovative systems solutions and their related policies and procedures.
2. Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and problem-solving skills to establish strong and effective working relationships with researchers, research and funding agencies, senior executives, IT staff, contractors and scientific/engineering professionals.
3. Influence and negotiation skills to build consensus and gain approval of various parties for policy development and enhancement.
4. Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and concisely, in both written and oral formats.
5. Ability to provide leadership, counsel, motivation and constructive performance reviews to subordinates.
6. Ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters with tact and diplomacy.
7. Fluency in English is essential and a good knowledge of French is an asset.

Competencies

• Change leadership and management.
• Organizational awareness.
• Results-oriented.
• Team-work and cooperation.
• Willingness to frequently travel within and outside of Canada.

**For application information, please go to the UVic Human Resources Website**