McMaster Students Union

Please note this is a full-time, permanent position. Posting will close Thursday, December 7th at 11:50pm.

The MSU represents full-time undergraduate students at McMaster University.  The MSU purpose is to draw into a true society all students at McMaster University. In pursuit of this, it will foster activities and events, which will enhance the University experience of its members and contribute to the life of the University as a whole. Further, it will seek to facilitate communication between the student body, the University and other organizations and will organize and regulate student self-government.

General Purpose & Scope 

The Director of IT shall oversee all facets of the MSU’s networks, servers, workstations, printers and copiers, and any other peripheral technological systems owned by the MSU. The Director of IT shall safeguard the technological needs of the MSU to ensure system security, user access and training, and appropriate management of all instruments used throughout the organization. The Director of IT shall hold primary responsibility over, and act as the highest consultant for, the purchase, maintenance, and subsequent removal/replacement of any technological instruments within the MSU. The Director of IT thus requires a fundamental grasp of the organization-wide technical needs of the MSU to offer clear direction for the department to meet the growing IT needs of MSU staff and students alike.

Duties & Responsibilities 

Operational Oversight:

• Overseeing technical projects in alignment with organizational goals.  
• Directing and executing the effective delivery of networks, workstations, POS and disaster recovery systems and processes. 
• Works with the MSU staff, University stakeholders and external suppliers to manage organizational I/T activities.  
• Conducts operational planning to ensure continuous improvement of all i/T needs of MSU services, businesses and facilities.  
• Researches, recommends and implements new processes, opportunities and products.  
• Chair the MSU I/T Committee and ensure it meets a minimum of 4 times a year. 
• Prepare an annual operating and capital budget for the Vice President (Finance) and General Manager. 
• Develop and execute training initiatives for MSU staff related to information technology. 

Supervision/Leadership

• Oversee the operations of the IT Department as it relates to the duties of the Senior IT Technician and Junior IT Technician
• Develop and implement training and on-boarding materials/procedures to assist with transition within the IT Department.
• Execute performance reviews of supervisees to evaluate the efficacy of work and to identify and address any areas in need of additional support.
• Delegate projects and regular tasks across the IT Department, where appropriate.
• Chair the MSU Information Technology Committee.

Asset/Relations Management

• Research, order, configure, and distribute all new technological systems where appropriate or in accordance with an approved depreciation schedule, in conjunction with the IT Department.
• Propose new training initiatives/plans for staff inside and outside of the IT Department to improve technological literacy across the MSU, where appropriate. 
• Develop systems for the storage and organization of data files within MSU-owned systems and devices, including, but not limited to:

Communications:

• Meet regularly with the IT Department to establish clear expectations and robust support for all IT staff. 
• Maintain appropriate and effective communication with all IT staff.
• Meet regularly with the General Manager and Vice-President (Administration) to ensure all organization-wide technological issues receive appropriate attention and resources.
• Participate in regular performance reviews, as conducted by the General Manager, to evaluate the efficacy of work and to identify and address any areas in need of additional support. 
• Provide technical support when questions and issues arise from other MSU staff members, in conjunction with the IT Department.
• Coordinate and facilitate all system-wide upgrades to MSU software, hardware, or other technological peripherals communicate appropriate information to MSU users.
• Coordinate with MSU staff members in the implementation of data file organization systems. 
• Address and resolve all issues raised by McMaster’s University Technology Systems (UTS), relating to the MSU’s accounts, equipment, and network, including, but not limited to:

• • Virus and other security issues; 
  • Open ports;
  • Virtual private network (VPN) requests; and
  • Specialized server access. 

• Liaise with UTS to ensure the proper acquisition, assignment, and maintenance of all MSU-owned MacIDs.
• Liaise with external technological suppliers to ensure all purchases appropriately fit the needs of the MSU while abiding by all boycott rules formalized across the organization.
• Collaborate with other MSU Departments to liaise and maintain positive working relationships with external software service providers.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have the appropriate post-secondary credentials and a proven record as a collaborative leader within an organization of relevant activity and scope. The ideal candidate will have a passion for working with students in a high-energy, dynamic environment. A strong financial background is also required. The following qualifications are minimum expectations for the successful candidate: 

• Master’s Degree in Computer Science (or related science), or equivalent experience and/or education.   
• Minimum 3 years experience in a management capacity.  
• Minimum 5 years experience working in the I/T industry.
• Experience working in education sector or similar. 
• Must exhibit strong technology acumen skills; be able to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to change, and an ability to manage people, time and resources. 
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50lbs.  

• Experienced in policy implementation and creation.  
• Ability to work some weeknights and weekends. 
• Ability to drive. 
• Must be legally able to work in Canada.  
• Must be willing to undergo a criminal records check. 

Find full job description here.

The McMaster Students Union (MSU) is strongly committed to employment equity within its community and to recruiting a diverse staff. The MSU encourages applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons with disabilities, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of racialized communities and 2SLGBTQIA-identified persons. If you require any form of accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, please contact the Human Resources Director by email at hr@msu.mcmaster.ca. Please note that the MSU is an independently incorporated students’ union operating within the McMaster University community; this is not a McMaster University position.