At McMaster University, our people are our most valuable asset. We strive to attract, develop, and retain the best faculty and staff, and to foster an inclusive community which values the strengths, perspectives and contributions of everyone. McMaster’s profile and stature have evolved to one of the Top 100 Universities in the World and recognition as Canada’s Most Research-Intensive University. McMaster is a diverse and complex institution, home to almost 30,000 graduate and undergraduate students who study across six faculties and employing approximately 14,000 individuals annually in more than 20 unique employee groups. McMaster has been continuously recognized as one of the top employers in the Hamilton / Niagara region, and one of Canada’s Top Diversity Employers.
Our University Technology Services team mission is to provide exceptional customer service and a high level of support to the McMaster community. Critical to the success of this role we stand by and value integrity, mutual respect, collaboration and cooperation in support of the University’s IT Strategic Vision of a connected One IT community.
The Digital Infrastructure and Cyber Security portfolio is responsible for the planning, design, delivery, reliability, operation, and continuous improvement of the University’s enterprise digital platforms and services. This includes data centre services, hybrid and multi‑cloud environments, networks, enterprise architecture, digital enablement (including AI capabilities), and the protection of institutional information through privacy and information security practices. The portfolio supports enterprise‑wide digital transformation initiatives and ensures that technology investments align with organizational strategy, risk posture, and operational resilience. In addition, the portfolio enables digital transformation by providing modern, efficient, and secure technology platforms that support teaching, learning, research, and administrative functions across the University.
About the Role
The Associate Director, Digital Infrastructure Strategy advances the modernization and evolution of the University’s digital infrastructure. Working across a decentralized University environment, the position collaborates with faculties, departments, and technology teams to develop coordinated, scalable approaches to infrastructure needs that support both local requirements and broader institutional priorities.
The Associate Director translates emerging needs and strategic direction into forward-looking roadmaps and solutions across areas such as networking, systems, data centre services, storage, hybrid cloud, and lifecycle modernization. The position leads Senior Managers and technical leaders and works across the institution to build alignment, reduce fragmented approaches, and advance secure, resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable infrastructure solutions.
The Associate Director anticipates future infrastructure requirements, evaluates complex opportunities and risks, and builds collaborative strategies that position the University to meet the evolving needs of its community.
Is this role for you?
You are a strategic technology leader who enjoys translating complex infrastructure challenges into long-term solutions that enable organizational success. You bring deep expertise in enterprise infrastructure, architecture, and digital modernization, along with the ability to build partnerships and influence decisions across a diverse environment.
You thrive in roles that balance strategy, leadership, and execution, and are energized by guiding teams through transformative initiatives involving hybrid cloud, data centres, networking, AI enablement, security, and emerging technologies. Most importantly, you are a collaborative leader who can bring people together around a shared vision and drive meaningful change at an enterprise scale.
Key Accountabilities
Digital Strategic Planning and Enablement
- Leads the modernization and strategic evolution of the Digital Infrastructure portfolio, translating executive priorities into integrated, multiyear roadmaps for storage, data centre, hybrid cloud, systems, network, architecture, AI enablement, and security.
- Provides strategic analysis, options, and recommendations to the Director and senior leadership to inform prioritization and investment decisions.
- Directly manages the Senior Managers responsible for Network and Infrastructure and leads technical leaders across systems, data centre, cloud, storage, and related infrastructure domains to ensure modernization initiatives are planned, governed, sequenced, and delivered as an integrated cross-institutional program.
Enterprise Architecture and Standards
- Establishes and maintains enterprise architecture principles, standards, and target state designs that guide technology decisions and ensure consistency across initiatives.
- Reviews and influences enterprise initiatives to ensure architectural alignment, risk mitigation, and long-term sustainability.
Digital Platforms: Data Centre and Hybrid Cloud Management
- Leads enterprise strategy and delivery oversight for data centre, storage, and hybrid cloud modernization, including lifecycle planning, resilience, capacity, financial sustainability, risk management, and implementation planning.
- Guides adoption of cloud services within approved architectural, financial, and security frameworks.
- Guides planning for capacity, resilience, lifecycle management, and modernization of infrastructure platforms
AI Enablement and Emerging Technologies
- Supports the responsible enablement of AI and advanced analytics capabilities across the organization.
- Collaborates with stakeholders to identify, assess, and prioritize AI use cases aligned with strategic goals.
- Ensures AI initiatives align with governance, security, privacy, and ethical requirements, escalating risks and recommendations as appropriate.
Privacy and Information Security
- Integrates privacy and information security requirements into digital strategies, architectures, and delivery practices.
- Embeds “security and privacy by design” principles into architecture, platforms, and delivery practices.
- Supports risk assessment and mitigation planning for enterprise initiatives in collaboration with security and privacy leadership.
Project and Portfolio Delivery
- Provides program-level oversight of multiple concurrent, enterprise-wide modernization initiatives, monitoring scope, timelines, budgets, dependencies, risks, stakeholder impacts, and measurable outcomes across a coordinated portfolio.
- Applies project and program management best practices to ensure scope, schedule, budget, and risk are effectively managed.
- Escalates issues and recommends corrective actions to ensure alignment with strategic objectives and approved priorities.
Relationship Management and Collaboration
- Builds and maintains effective relationships with business leaders, IT peers, vendors, and partners.
- Acts as a trusted advisor on digital strategy, architecture, and technology direction.
- Promotes collaboration and information sharing across teams and initiatives.
Continuous Improvement and Best Practices
- Identifies opportunities to improve digital delivery models, governance, and operational practices.
- Applies industry best practices (including guidance from organizations such as InfoTech) to enhance maturity and effectiveness.
- Encourages innovation while balancing risk, cost, and operational stability.
Experience and Skills
- At least 8 - 10 years of experience working in a progressive Information Technology enterprise infrastructure service delivery environment.
- 5 to 10 years of progressive experience in an IT management position.
- Significant progressive experience in a complex IT infrastructure environment managing large scale platforms and environments.
- Demonstrated experience in enterprise architecture, hybrid cloud, and infrastructure strategy.
- Experience supporting or delivering AI‑enabled or data‑driven initiatives.
- Experience working with privacy and information security requirements in enterprise environments.
- Proven experience in project or program management of large-scale digital initiatives.
- Additional education and/or experience in the higher education sector, would be an asset.
- Strong understanding of data centre operations and hybrid cloud architectures.
- Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks and design practices.
- Familiarity with AI concepts, platforms, and responsible use considerations.
- Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to non‑technical audiences.
