Associate Director, IT Media Services Solutions Architect

Position Description

The Associate Director, IT - Media Services Solutions Architect, is a key leadership role within the Harvard Kennedy School's (HKS) Information Technology organization. Reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer, this position is responsible for the strategic development and implementation oversight of AV and media technology solutions that support HKS's mission in teaching, learning, research, and public engagement.

As a senior member of the HKS IT Leadership Team, the Associate Director serves as the architect of a modern, future-ready Media Services ecosystem. The role requires deep collaboration across academic, administrative, and technical units, as well as with Harvard University affiliates and external vendors, to ensure HKS's AV infrastructure meets current needs and anticipates future demands.

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Design and maintain a multi-year Media Services strategic roadmap aligned with HKS priorities and budget cycles. Develop a long-term (10-year) AV refresh plan to guide institutional financial planning.
• Maintain a current inventory of AV-enabled spaces and conduct technology assessments to identify opportunities for standardization and optimization.
• Collaborate with HKSIT Media Services and academic leadership to ensure AV solutions support evolving pedagogical, hybrid, and research needs.
• Provide insight and analysis to senior leadership on industry trends, innovation opportunities, and emerging technologies.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Alignment

• Serve as the primary liaison between HKS Media Services, IT teams, Harvard University affiliates, and technology vendors.
• Function as Business Relationship Manager, gathering requirements, facilitating stakeholder alignment, and translating user needs into technical solutions.
• Lead business case development, ROI assessments, and strategic proposals for AV investments.
• Support decision-making and change management processes in partnership with HKS executive and governance bodies.

Project Management & Implementation

• Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of AV and Media Services projects, including budget, timeline, resources, and risk management.
• Oversee procurement processes, including vendor selection, contract negotiation, and SOW development in partnership with Harvard Strategic Procurement.
• Manage AV commissioning processes and ensure solutions meet design intent, quality benchmarks, and HKS standards.
• Supervise project teams and ensure cross-functional coordination with campus partners, including Campus Planning & Operations and Executive Education.
• Monitor project performance and provide stakeholders with consistent and transparent updates.

Operations, Training & Support

• Ensure operational excellence by evaluating existing implementations and recommending scalable improvements.
• Develop user training programs, onboarding materials, and self-service documentation to promote adoption and confidence.
• Analyze AV performance metrics and propose data-driven enhancements to service delivery.
• Provide post-implementation oversight to ensure the establishment of sustainable support structures and ongoing improvement.

Partnerships & Innovation

• Collaborate with other Harvard schools to benchmark solutions and pursue opportunities for shared services.
• Stay current with developments in AV, instructional technologies, and digital engagement practices.
• Represent HKS in university-wide technology forums and working groups to align with broader institutional strategies.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years' post-secondary education or relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in AV/IT technology architecture, systems design, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-stakeholder AV projects in dynamic environments.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise AV systems and classroom technologies in higher education.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel), Smartsheet, and ServiceNow or similar platforms.
• Expertise in Agile and Waterfall project management methodologies.
• Strong communication, team leadership, and client service skills.
• Ability to synthesize technical complexity into strategic insights for non-technical audiences.
• Preferred:
• Industry certifications including CTS, CTS-D, PMP, ITIL v4, and Scrum.
• Experience working in higher education or similarly complex organizational settings.
• Familiarity with hybrid learning environments and digital pedagogy.
• Experience working with Generative Artificial Intelligence.
• Experience with the delivery of Media Services

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office setting

Additional Information

Learn more about our work culture and see yourself at Harvard Kennedy School.

We regret that the Harvard Kennedy School does not provide visa sponsorship.

This is a hybrid position based on our campus in Cambridge, MA. As a campus-based institution, we place a high value on the in-person experience, cross-team collaboration, and strong community building in order to create a vibrant campus for our students, faculty, staff, and research fellows. The position is required to work in-person on campus a minimum of three days per week during the academic year. Specific days and schedule will be determined between you and your manager.

The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines.

Salary Range : $102,300 - $179,100

Note: Starting salaries typically fall in the lower half of the salary range; however, they are ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website ( ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.