Director, Cloud Services

Department Information Technology

Exempt, Regular, Full Time, Pay Grade 4.4

Location: Adelphi, MD (Hybrid)

The Director of Cloud Services is a strategic leadership role responsible for the overall management, development, and innovation of Aloft, Virtual Learning Environment. Aloft hosts Cyber Ranges, cloud resources, Desktop as a Service, and Application Streaming services supporting universities and organizations. This position ensures the platform's reliability, scalability, and security while driving continuous improvement and aligning with organizational goals. The Director leads a team of cloud professionals and fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Define and execute the vision for Aloft, aligning with organizational mission and strategic objectives.
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance the platform's capabilities, ensuring a world-class virtual learning environment.
• Oversee the integration of new cloud technologies to meet evolving customer needs.
• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders, ensuring alignment of priorities and objectives.

Operational Excellence:

• Ensure 99.9% uptime and optimize the performance of Aloft, including its Cyber Ranges Virtual Environments, Cloud Resources and DaaS platform.
• Develop and manage Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and automation workflows to streamline operations.
• Oversee platform security, ensuring compliance with industry standards and organizational policies.
• Utilize data insights to improve resource utilization, reduce costs, and drive operational efficiency.
• Lead platform enhancements, including planning, resource allocation, and execution of upgrades or integrations.

Team Management:

• Build, mentor, and manage a team of cloud engineers, application developers and support engineers.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and create opportunities for professional development.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment that emphasizes continuous learning and improvement.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT, academic partners, and external vendors, to meet platform goals.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including executives, partners, and team members, to ensure transparency and alignment.
• Represent the platform in organizational meetings and external forums, advocating for innovation and excellence.

Continuous Improvement:

• Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in cloud services and virtualization.
• Drive platform innovation by exploring new methodologies and tools.
• Implement change management strategies to adapt to technological advancements and evolving needs

Competencies:

Skills:

• Deep understanding of cloud architecture, virtualization, and platform management.
• Proficiency in analyzing data to drive decision-making and operational improvements.
• Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to build and motivate teams.
• Excellent communication, project management, and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with adaptability to evolving needs.
• Commitment to delivering exceptional user experiences and fostering innovation.

Education & Experience Requirements:

Experience:

• 7-10 years of experience in cloud services, virtualization, or platform management, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience managing cloud environments (e.g., Azure, AWS) and virtualization platforms (e.g., Citrix).
• Strong technical expertise in cloud infrastructure, automation tools (e.g., Terraform), and CI/CD processes.
• Familiarity with educational technology platforms, Cyber Range environments, and VLE's.

Preferred Experience Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree

All submissions should include a cover letter and resume.

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. UMGC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, ancestry, political affiliation or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Workplace Accommodations:

The University of Maryland Global Campus Global Campus (UMGC) is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive working environment for people of all abilities. UMGC is dedicated to the principle that no qualified individual with a disability shall, based on disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination. For information about UMGC's Reasonable Workplace Accommodation Policy or to request an accommodation, applicants/candidates can contact Employee Accommodations via email at employee-accommodations@umgc.edu. 

Benefits Package Highlights:

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 days of paid vacation, 15 days of sick leave, 3 personal days, and 15 paid holidays (16 during general election years). For part-time employees, time off rates will be prorated based on the number of hours worked.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access to health care, medical with vision, dental, and prescription plans for both individuals and families, effective from the 1st of the month following your hire date.
• Insurance Options: Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, and Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance. Part-time employees working less than 0.5 FTE are not eligible for LTD.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Available for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Retirement Plans: Choose between the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) or the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MSRPS).
• Supplemental Retirement Plans: include 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), and various Roth options. The university does not provide matching funds.
• Tuition Remission: Immediate availability for Regular Exempt Staff. Spouses and dependent children are eligible for undergraduate tuition remission after two years of service. NOTE: For part-time employees (at least 50 percent of the time), tuition remission benefits are prorated.

Hiring Range: