Director of Technology Services

Reporting to the CIO, the Director of Technology Services is a visionary technology leader and strategic collaborator responsible for shaping the direction, development, and management of the organization's technology services. As a strategic partner, the Director ensures that technology serves as a catalyst for achieving institutional goals and enhancing operational excellence. The Director oversees technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, and cloud strategy, drives AI innovation, and partners on digital transformation initiatives while leading a diverse team of technology experts.

The Whitney is at an important inflection point in how it governs and delivers technology services. The Director will join during a period of active evolution - bringing structure, governance, and leadership to a function that is growing in strategic importance to the institution. Candidates who are energized by building, not just managing, will find this role especially compelling.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Roadmap

• Develop a comprehensive 3-year technology services and solutions road map that aligns with and enables the Museum's overall strategic plan, mission, and goals.
• Collaborate with business units to understand needs and deliver effective technology solutions.
• Lead initiatives to modernize and streamline technology operations.
• Build consensus and drive organizational change through compelling technology solutions and services.

Technology Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee delivery of all technology services including infrastructure, applications, and end-user support.
• Ensure high availability, scalability, and performance across all systems and platforms.
• Govern a blended service delivery model - including internal staff and external managed service partnerships - ensuring SLA accountability, escalation discipline, and institutional continuity.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support technological needs across departments.
• Oversee cloud strategy and migration planning, balancing performance, cost, and risk.

Artificial Intelligence

• Identify opportunities to leverage AI, machine learning, and automation to support Museum priorities.
• Oversee responsible AI initiatives, including ethical considerations, bias detection, transparency, and implications for the Museum.
• Monitor AI developments and assess potential applications across the organization.
• Ensure AI initiatives comply with data privacy regulations and security standards.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build relationships with department heads and Museum leadership to proactively identify needs, communicate roadmap plans, and drive adoption.
• Stay informed on trends related to collaboration technologies to guide and inform workflow improvements and innovations.
• Engage with industry counterparts to align workplace technology standards and share best practices.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Develop and champion a comprehensive, multi-year cybersecurity strategy that protects the museum's digital assets, collections data, donor information, and operational systems.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations (e.g., GDPR, SOC 2).
• Develop and enforce comprehensive cybersecurity policies, procedures, standards, and governance frameworks across all systems and departments.
• Lead security risk assessment processes, identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing technology risks to museum operations.

Team & Vendor Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Technology Services team, fostering innovation, collaboration, and a strong service culture.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance metrics for all team members.
• Manage vendor and managed service relationships - governing contracts, scope alignment, and renewals.
• Manage the technology budget, ensuring cost-effective solutions and optimal resource allocation.

Requirements

• 6+ years of progressive information technology leadership, with demonstrated experience managing enterprise infrastructure and teams.
• Proven ability to govern hybrid delivery models including managed service or outsourced IT partnerships.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity, cloud computing, and digital transformation best practices.
• Experience with AI platforms (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI, Anthropic) and translating AI investment into measurable outcomes.
• Track record implementing and scaling Microsoft 365, Teams, and related collaboration platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational transition and build resilient, sustainable operating models.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills - comfortable presenting to senior leadership and non-technical audiences.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.

Unusual Working Conditions

• On call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
• After-hours work when upgrades, implementations, or testing cannot be carried out during the business day.
• Lifting heavy equipment.
• Working in temperature-controlled server room.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range is $160,000 - 170,000 and will be commensurate with experience
• Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) elections
• Generous Paid Time Off benefits
• Commuter benefits - parking and mass transit
• Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally
• Pet insurance and discounted membership for Citibike

The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.


If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you're new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney's mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.


EEO Statement

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels.