Information Technology and Data Manager

The Rice University Texas Policy Lab (TPL) is seeking an Information Technology (IT) and Data Manager who will be responsible for the management, strategy, and execution of IT infrastructure for a service-oriented and forward thinking technology environment. The IT and Data Manager will build relationships and work with TPL researchers and administrative staff to identify new or unmet technology needs, and to implement integrated solutions that meet technology needs. This person will also be responsible for all activities and support related to the day-to-day operations of the TPL network infrastructure, including but not limited to firewalls, servers, desktops, and related hardware and software components.

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related technical field required.

Experience may not be substituted for the education requirement.

Master’s degree in computer science or related technical field preferred.

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in roles with IT operations; minimum of one year of experience supervising IT staff required. 

• Minimum of three years of increasing responsibility in designing, implementing, maintaining, and managing networked servers and workstations, and computing environments, preferably with Microsoft Server environments using Active Directory.

• Experience with project management and budget management.

• Experience with implementing, administering, and managing network hardware, devices, and software required, including but not limited to: switches (experience with HP switches preferable), firewalls, network and server management, and monitoring and analysis tools.

• Experience with implementing, administering and managing a Microsoft Windows server environment (including experience managing policies, rights, security, Active Directory, and Microsoft Systems Center).

• Extensive experience with the latest network security policies, best practices, and protection and management tools (at the network, server, and desktop levels).

• Experience in terms of configuring and managing firewalls.

Education may not be substituted for the experience requirement.

• Experience with implementing, administering, and managing UNIX and Linux operating systems and server highly preferred.

• Experience in the use of VMware (or an equivalent virtualization product) and in maintaining virtualized server environments highly preferred.

• Experience in any or all of the following other relevant areas highly preferred: (1) Implementing and maintaining wireless network environments (2) Disaster recovery and business continuity planning, policies, and best practices (3) Video conferencing hardware and software (4) Cloud computing practices.

• Experience in implementing, configuring, managing, and supporting VPN, and secure VPN connections for providing secure remote desktop and data access strongly preferred.

• Experience in a research environment highly preferred.

• Evidence of network and/or Microsoft certifications highly preferred.

• Excellent leadership, verbal / visual / written communications, analytical, persuasion, negotiation, problem solving and critical thinking skills.

• Advanced skills in budget management, business development, and information technology. 

• Demonstrates sound judgment, diplomacy, agility, versatility.

• Excellent project management skills.

• Knowledge of continuous quality improvement initiatives, knowledge management, and management practices.

Daily interactions with social sciences’ research faculty, staff, and students. Frequent contact with various IT personnel in Rice’s Office of Information Technology (OIT), and Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology (K2I). Will have contact with the vice provost for research, dean’s office, and discipline department chairs. Will have interactions with various TPL stakeholders and government agencies.

• Must be able to work in an office environment, often at a computer workstation for up to eight hours a day

• Must be able to move between buildings widely separated on campus

• Ability to lift, push, pull and/or carry up to 35lbs of computer hardware and software associated with the TPL

• Position will require some early morning, late evening and weekend work in addition to periodic domestic and international travel to support TPL activities and projects

• Occasional deadlines require working over normal daily hours

• Designs, develops, installs, and maintains operating systems, utilities, and applications software on computing systems.

• Resolves system complex issues with significant impact on the 

• integrity of user data and systems.

• Designs, configures, implements, and maintains system security strategies, policies, and procedures.

• Engages in long-term planning about systems development and integration.

• Performs capacity planning for system configuration, software services, network services, load distribution, and service interrelationships among computer systems.

• Acts as a technical expert or lead for local computer system administration.

• Manages vendor relationships and cost effective hardware and software maintenance agreements with vendors.

• Performs all other duties as assigned.

• Serves as a strategic partner in the attainment of TPL’s goals through planning, organizing, leading, and controlling resources.

• Monitors completed work of others to ensure soundness of approach, effectiveness in meeting requirements, the feasibility of recommendations and adherence to requirements.

• Develops, evaluates, enhances, and / or implement quality improvement practices, processes, procedures, or policies impacting the TPL’s operations.

• Develops and plans fiscal resource allocation.

• Prepare formal proposals (RFP) requesting major services and equipment; evaluates responses, selects vendor, negotiates and awards contract within the University procurement / contract guidelines.

• Prepares and presents briefings to senior management on moderately complex or significant issues; provides advice and guidance on a wide range and variety of moderately complex issues.