Interim Director of Research Computing

Pay Range: $82.75hr - $87.75hr Job Overview: The Division of IT requires an experienced leader to provide immediate organizational stabilization and transformational leadership during a period of significant departmental change. The department is currently experiencing organizational, operational, and cultural challenges that require decisive leadership, objective assessment, and rapid implementation of corrective actions before recruiting a permanent Director. Over a 9 12-month engagement, the Interim Director will lead a comprehensive organizational transformation initiative focused on rebuilding organizational culture, aligning resources with institutional priorities, improving operational effectiveness, and implementing sustainable management practices. SCOPE OF THE PROJECT: The interim assignment is intended to serve as a transformational leadership role focused on rebuilding organizational culture, aligning resources with institutional priorities, improving operational effectiveness, and implementing sustainable management practices. The successful candidate will be empowered to make organizational decisions necessary to position the department for long-term success and ensure a smooth transition to permanent leadership. Stabilizing departmental operations while maintaining continuity of critical IT services and customer engagement. Conducting an inventory of current research technology infrastructure, services, operational procedures, active/anticipated projects, and budget needs/requests. Establishing or aligning operational procedures with divisional standards and practices for customer engagement, including leveraging the service desk ticketing system for managing support requests, client communications, task/project tracking, and reporting analytics. Establishing governance, communication, and decision-making processes that support long-term success. Documenting organizational recommendations, strategic priorities, lifecycle budgets, professional development needs, and transition plans for the incoming permanent Director. Recruiting, mentoring, and preparing team members where appropriate to support long-term organizational success. Success will be measured by demonstrable improvements in organizational culture, employee accountability, operational performance, customer satisfaction, governance maturity, and departmental readiness for permanent executive leadership. DAILY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide leadership for all departmental operations, research technology infrastructure, and related services. Supervise managers, professional, and student staff. Establish performance expectations and monitor organizational outcomes. Make timely operational and resource allocation decisions. Lead organizational change initiatives and culture transformation efforts. Evaluate organizational effectiveness and recommend structural improvements. Develop and monitor departmental priorities and performance metrics in collaboration with executive leadership. Coordinate departmental budgets and strategic resource allocation in collaboration with executive leadership. Ensure compliance with institutional policies, security standards, audit requirements, and regulatory obligations. Remove organizational obstacles that inhibit productivity, innovation, and collaboration. Provide executive-level reports and recommendations to executive leadership. Develop succession planning and transition documentation for permanent leadership. REQUIRED SKILLS: 8+ years of experience leading organizational transformation, change management, and service delivery optimization. 8+ years of experience leading large, complex technology projects. 8+ years of experience with personnel management, coaching, and performance accountability. PREFERRED SKILLS: Experience with research cyberinfrastructure, high-performance computing, high-speed storage, and networking technologies. Experience implementing governance and operational maturity frameworks. Experience managing organizational change in higher education. REQUIRED EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Requires a completed bachelor's degree. PREFERRED EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Master's degree in science, technology, or a related field. ITIL. Cloud Infrastructure (AWS/Azure). AI Infrastructure (AWS/Azure/Google). Carpentries Instructor. Training on HPC Technologies (Slurm, Infiniband). Benefits: Our Benefits Include: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance 401(k) Retirement Plan Health Savings Account (HSA) Disability Insurance (Short-Term and Long-Term) Life and AD&D Insurance Paid Sick Leave (where required by applicable state or local law) Supplemental Insurance Plans Identity Theft Protection Pet Insurance Employee Wellness Programs Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Career Growth and Professional Development Opportunities Disclaimer: Benefits eligibility, accrual rates, and usage limits may vary based on employment status, length of service, and work location. Paid Sick Leave is provided in strict accordance with applicable state and municipal mandates. Cynet Systems Inc. reserves the right to modify, amend, or terminate any benefit plans at any time in accordance with applicable laws. About Cynet Systems Founded in 2010 and headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area, Cynet Systems Inc. is a leading technology staffing and workforce solutions company serving Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and enterprise organizations across the United States and Canada. We deliver agile, scalable talent solutions across IT, engineering, life sciences, clinical, and professional staffing, powered by a high-performing recruitment engine operating across North America and Asia. As a nationally and locally certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Cynet Systems is committed to helping organizations build high-performing teams while empowering professionals to grow rewarding careers. Our organization is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 Type II standards, reflecting our commitment to quality, security, operational excellence, and customer success.