Senior Director, Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence Integration

University of Central Florida; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 210,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Employee Assistance Program

Paid time off

Retirement savings

Employee discounts

Education assistance

Job summary

University of Central Florida's IT department seeks a Senior Director, Infrastructure and AI Integration to build enterprise infrastructure, integrations, and platforms that make AI practical, scalable, secure, and transformative across the university.

You will connect cloud, data, applications, automation, collaboration tools, and intelligent agents to empower faculty, researchers, clinicians, students, and staff, shaping how UCF designs, deploys, governs, and scales AI-enabled services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 9+ years of relevant experience including 4+ years in leadership.
• Alternative: High School Diploma with 13+ years of relevant experience and 4+ years in leadership.
• Preferred: advanced degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide technology strategy in complex organizations.

Responsibilities

• Translate AI strategy into enterprise-scale infrastructure and platforms.
• Scale AI opportunities across academics, research, student services, healthcare, and admin.
• Partner with university leaders to move AI initiatives from experimentation to production-scale deployment.
• Oversee vendor partnerships, licensing, service portfolios, and contracts for cloud, communications, collaboration, applications, and AI platforms.

Education

Bachelor's degree

High School Diploma

Job description

UCF Information Technology:

UCF IT powers one of the largest and fastest-growing universities in the nation, supporting more than 70,000 students and a university community of over 13,000 employees. As the technology backbone behind teaching, research, healthcare, and operations across UCF's colleges and campuses, UCF IT drives the infrastructure, security, and innovation that keep the university running - and is now leading UCF's charge into enterprise AI adoption.

To learn more about our mission and impact, visit our website.

The Opportunity:

The Senior Director, Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence Integration will lead one of UCF's most exciting technology frontiers: building the enterprise infrastructure, integrations, and platforms that make artificial intelligence practical, scalable, secure, and transformative across the university. This role will turn bold AI ideas into real institutional capability by connecting cloud, data, applications, automation, collaboration tools, and intelligent agents into a cohesive ecosystem that empowers faculty, researchers, clinicians, students, and staff. As a senior technology leader, this position will shape how UCF designs, deploys, governs, and scales AI-enabled services - accelerating innovation while ensuring the university has the reliable, resilient, and future-ready technology foundation needed to lead in an AI-driven world.

Responsibilities:

Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Adoption:

• Execute the infrastructure, integrations, and processes necessary to support UCF's enterprise AI Strategy. Demonstrate institutional value and measurable outcomes for UCF customers.

• Scale transformational AI opportunities across academics, research, student services, healthcare, and administration.

• Partner with university leaders to move AI initiatives from experimentation to enterprise-scale deployment.

• Support investment decisions related to generative AI, intelligent agents, automation, copilots, and advanced analytics.

Enterprise Technology Strategy:

• Establish strategic roadmaps, architecture, and sustainable funding models for enterprise infrastructure, cloud, data center services.

• Establish strategic roadmaps, architecture, and sustainable funding models for unified communications, collaboration and productivity suites, enterprise applications, and digital workplace technologies.

Executive Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Drive excellence in customer service across technology programs.

• Present technology roadmaps, investment priorities, and AI adoption plans to executive leadership and governing boards.

• Establish team priorities, performance objectives, and investment strategies.

• Oversee vendor partnerships, licensing, service portfolios, and strategic technology contracts for cloud, communications, collaboration, applications, and AI platforms.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and 9 years of relevant experience including 4+ years of leadership experience; or High School Diploma (or equivalent) and 13+ years of relevant work experience in lieu of degree including 4+ years of leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

• Fifteen or more years of progressively responsible technology leadership experience, including five or more years leading enterprise-wide technology strategy within higher education, healthcare, Fortune 1000, or similarly complex organizations.

• Demonstrated success leading large-scale digital, cloud, and AI transformation initiatives, including implementation of enterprise AI solutions, generative AI programs serving thousands of users, and enterprise collaboration, productivity, communication, or application platforms.

• Experience establishing AI governance, risk management, and responsible AI frameworks to support secure, scalable, and ethical adoption of emerging technologies.

• Proven experience managing multi-million-dollar technology portfolios, strategic vendor relationships, and enterprise technology investments.

• Exceptional executive communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills, including board-level presentations and influencing senior leadership.

• Recognized thought leadership in AI, digital transformation, or emerging technologies through publications, conference speaking engagements, or industry recognition.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

The anticipated salary range for this position is $210,000 - $230,000. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

This role is based on-site at UCF's Main Campus in Orlando, FL. Candidates should expect to work on campus as of their start date.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

For more information, please contact Gabe Fernandez at [e-mail].

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 12 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!

UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

• Retirement savings options

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions

• Education assistance

• And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Department

UCF IT

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

$161,614.00 to Negotiable

Job Posting End Date

The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request. UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. For general application or posting questions, please email [e-mail]. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please email [e-mail].