Associate Director of Information Technology

Halifax Grammar School; Halifax; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Halifax Grammar School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, seeks a full-time Associate Director of IT to lead IT operations and strategy, ensuring reliable infrastructure, security, and policy compliance for students, faculty and staff.

Reporting to senior administration, the role oversees IT support, integration of instructional technology, vendor relationships, budgeting, and staff mentoring, with a focus on delivering a dynamic, technologically rich learning environment.

Qualifications

• A diploma in Information Technology or a degree in Computer Science.
• Minimum five years’ experience in an IT department at a supervisory or management level with prior experience in a Support/Helpdesk role.
• Strong computer skills including Blackbaud, Fortinet, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Apple Device Management, and monitoring Chromebooks and Windows devices.
• Experience supervising other IT staff is required.

Responsibilities

• IT Management: translate business needs into technical solutions and manage risks.
• IT Support: deliver Tier 2 support, supervise staff, and ensure smooth system operation.
• IT Integration: promote instructional technology and train staff and faculty.
• Other: after-hours on-call support for administration.

Skills

Leadership

IT strategy

Budgeting

Vendor management

Education

Diploma in Information Technology or degree in Computer Science

Tools

Blackbaud

Fortinet

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Apple Device Management

Chromebooks

Windows devices

Job description

A co-educational, not-for-profit independent school of approximately 600 students from Junior Primary through to Grade Twelve, situated in the south end of Halifax, the Halifax Grammar School is the leading and largest independent school in Atlantic Canada. The school motto – Enter to learn; go forth to serve – is central to the Grammar student’s experience. For more information about Grammar, please visit the School’s website at halifaxgrammar.com.

The Halifax Grammar School (Grammar) is seeking an experienced, full-time Associate Director, IT. The Associate Director of IT supports Grammar with IT Operations and Strategy; planning, implementing, and maintaining IT systems, including hardware, software, security, policies and usage for current and future environments.

With the assistance of an IT Support Specialist, the Associate Director of IT is responsible for providing IT support to the school, including students, faculty, and staff. This support encompasses IT infrastructure, curriculum application software installation, training, and assistance for staff, faculty, and students.

They support Grammar by helping to ensure that students learn in a technologically rich environment for instruction and student learning that is adaptive, dynamic, digital, student-centred, and authentic. They ensure Grammar is supported with smooth and efficient operation of technology resources for the maximum positive impact on the education of our youth.

Duties:

IT Management

• Ensure that all Grammar technology is appropriate, usable and reliable by translating business needs into technical solutions, and identifying and mitigating operational and strategic risks.
• Manage ongoing network architecture design, maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrading with external support as necessary.
• Manage IT vendor relationships, schedule service calls and repairs/maintenance.
• Manage hardware & software and their inventory; control software, including virus protection, external backup software, and email security.
• Prepare annual capital budget requests for hardware and software purchases.
• Provide counsel and work with Senior Management to maintain and update best-practice usage for all staff and students.

IT Support

• Deliver hands-on and oversight-level Tier 2 support for system and application software, as well as hardware installation, testing, troubleshooting, and updates—translating end-user needs into continuous improvements for IT service delivery.
• Supervise, support and mentor the IT Support Specialist in providing system setup, support, orientation, troubleshooting and training, while following industry best practices.
• Ensure application software implementations, including installation, training and support for staff and students, are planned, managed and completed collaboratively on time/on budget, such as computer labs, computers on wheels, Smart Classrooms, Projector Classrooms, LCD Classrooms, and computers in learning spaces.
• Ensure that the theatre/auditorium/meeting rooms presentation and audio/video setup is optimal and ready as required.
• Support Apple and PC devices; Google, Asana, Toddle and Blackbaud (MyGrammar) platforms; and other third-party systems.

IT Integration

• Provide counsel and support an environment that encourages the use of instructional technology based on research-based evidence of good practice.
• Promote the use of school-supported software in collaboration with the Heads of School.
• Ensure all staff and faculty are trained and supported.
• Researches, recommends and facilitates the use of existing and emerging technologies by staff and students.
• Keeps informed of the latest research, trends, and developments in education technology.

Other

• After-hours/on-call emergency support for administration.

Qualifications:

• A diploma in Information Technology or a degree in Computer Science.
• Progressive experience and a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in an IT department at a supervisory or management level with previous experience in a Support/Helpdesk role.
• Strong computer skills, including experience with Blackbaud, social media platforms, smart technology, Fortinet, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office suite, Apple Device Management, and monitoring Chromebooks and Windows devices.
• Experience supervising other IT staff is required.

The successful candidate will be subject to passing and maintaining a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check.

The Halifax Grammar School is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment.We welcome and encourage applications from the following underrepresented groups: Indigenous persons, racially visible persons, persons with a disability, women, and persons of a minority, sexual orientation and/or gender identity.