Assistant Director, Systems Administration and Security

University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix; Tucson (AZ); Hybrid; USD 92,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Tuition reduction for employee and fam

Retirement plans

Job summary

University of Arizona invites applications for the Assistant Director, Systems Administration and Security to lead a team managing enterprise servers, storage, backup, and monitoring with a strong emphasis on security. The hybrid role is based on the Tucson campus and requires on-site work three days per week.

Ideal candidates bring seven+ years of related experience, including three in management, and strong communication and strategic planning abilities to align IT services with university

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of related work experience, including three (3) years of managerial experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team responsible for enterprise level architecture, design, maintenance, and functionality of servers, virtual server environments, storage systems, backup systems, patch management, and logging and monitoring processes.
• Conduct weekly team meetings to drive strategy and one-on-one interactions focused on coaching, development, and performance.
• Actively grow and diversify technical skill sets of each staff member.
• Define and implement server, storage, backup and monitoring infrastructure architecture in alignment and support of the university and campus strategic plans.
• Manage and oversee enterprise projects, planning, timelines, and deliverables.
• Provide weekly updates of progress through reporting and analytics.
• Serve as escalation point and liaison between Infrastructure Services teams and SVP/College/Division IT teams within UITS.
• Participate in building relationships and sharing/advocating UITS/campus needs to develop effective enterprise solutions.
• Develop and execute plans for comprehensive adoption of UITS Managed Cloud Services (where appropriate), and communicate regularly with IT leadership, faculty, researchers, project and program managers, and other key stakeholders to understand business requirements and provide relevant progress updates and performance metrics.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Strategic planning

Customer service orientation

Technical aptitude

Windows & Linux

AWS cloud

Security governance

Decision making

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Assistant Director, Systems Administration and Security

Assistant Director, Systems Administration and Security

Posting Number req27200

Department Infrastructure Services

Department Website Link https://it.arizona.edu/

Location Tucson Campus

Address Tucson, AZ USA

Position Highlights

University Information Technology Services (UITS) is the University of Arizona’s central technology organization. UITS delivers enterprise and specialized technology services that support students, faculty, researchers, staff, and campus partners. Through innovation, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to accessibility and continuous improvement, UITS supports the evolving needs of a leading research university and the communities it serves.

UITS invites applicants for the Assistant Director, Systems Administration and Security (Systems Administration Manager III) position.

The Assistant Director, Systems Administration and Security leads a team of managers and systems administrators who provide maintenance and support for physical, virtual, and cloud-based servers, prioritizing systems and network security while partnering with other groups within UITS and across campus to ensure business operations are maintained without interruption. Because security is a key component of this role, success will be accelerated by prioritizing the use of UITS-managed cloud services as much as possible. This role is responsible for systems administration work in support of work within colleges and divisions with an emphasis on research activities and technology.

This is a hybrid position based at the University of Arizona Tucson Main Campus and requires on-site work three days per week.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocation services, please click here .

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage a team responsible for enterprise level architecture, design, maintenance, and functionality of servers, virtual server environments, storage systems, backup systems, patch management, and logging and monitoring processes.
• Conduct weekly team meetings to drive strategy and one-on-one interactions focused on coaching, development, and performance.
• Actively grow and diversify technical skill sets of each staff member.
• Define and implement server, storage, backup and monitoring infrastructure architecture in alignment and support of the university and campus strategic plans.
• Manage and oversee enterprise projects, planning, timelines, and deliverables.
• Provide weekly updates of progress through reporting and analytics.
• Serve as escalation point and liaison between Infrastructure Services teams and SVP/College/Division IT teams within UITS.
• Participate in building relationships and sharing/advocating UITS/campus needs to develop effective enterprise solutions.
• Develop and execute plans for comprehensive adoption of UITS Managed Cloud Services (where appropriate), and communicate regularly with IT leadership, faculty, researchers, project and program managers, and other key stakeholders to understand business requirements and provide relevant progress updates and performance metrics.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Ability to set expectations, develop staff, and create a proactive team environment for effectively developing solutions that satisfy the business objectives of the university.
• Strong team-building skills particularly involving culture shifts.
• Proficient management, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
• Strong customer support and service orientation.
• Ability to quickly absorb technical and business requirements, develop short- and long-term strategies, and implement a plan to produce tested and usable solutions.
• In-depth understanding of systems administration practices and technologies, including Windows and Linux server operating systems, AWS cloud computing services, systems security and monitoring, and incident, problem, and change management.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in complex, fast-paced situations.
• Ability to work effectively with peers in joint decision-making and in accepting and implementing decisions made by others.
• Proven ability to grasp complex technologies, weigh the advantages and disadvantages of technology innovations and options to make recommendations and justify decisions.
• Ability to manage time, schedule, and attend activities independently with little direct supervision.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively articulate highly technical concepts and details to the layperson.
• Ability to develop partnerships with other units or outside entities to enhance and expand services.
• Ability to function as a change agent.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative, good judgment and effective decision-making; exhibit strong process improvement orientation; and achieve results through other programs and individuals.
• Ability to lead and manage conflict effectively at all levels of the organization.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of related work experience, including three (3) years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

FLSA Exempt

Full Time/Part Time Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week 40

Job FTE 1.0

Work Calendar Fiscal

Job Category Information Technology

Benefits Eligible Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay $117,883 - $153,248

Compensation Type salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Grade 13

Compensation Guidance The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.
The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator .

Career Stream and Level M3

Job Family Systems Admin

Job Function Information Technology

Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies 1

Contact Information for Candidates [e-mail]

Open Date 9/30/2026

Open Until Filled Yes

Documents Needed to Apply Resume and Cover Letter

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at [e-mail].