The Wharton School is seeking a Senior IT Director for Innovation & AI to advance the future of academic computing across teaching, research, learning, and operations, enabling school-wide impact by identifying opportunities, establishing governance, and driving structured experimentation.
Requirements
- Familiarity with emerging AI technologies and their applications in academic, research, or operational settings.
- Understanding of IT service frameworks (e.g., ITIL, ITSM) and strategic planning models.
- Comfortable evaluating tradeoffs and risks in technical and organizational decisions.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in IT, innovation strategy, or a related field.
- Demonstrated success in shaping and implementing strategic initiatives at the organizational level.
- Significant experience with AI strategy, governance, and/or implementation in complex organizational settings.
- Proven ability to evaluate and manage relationships with technology vendors and external partners, including assessing solutions for strategic fit and cost-effectiveness.
Responsibilities
- Lead Wharton Computing’s approach to AI and emerging technologies in support of School priorities.
- Establish AI governance and responsible-use guardrails for ethical, scalable adoption.
- Design and manage structured experimentation—pilots that test, validate, and scale new technologies.
- Share outcomes and lessons learned to build momentum and demonstrate value.
- Partner across faculty, staff, and students to ensure efforts are aligned, supported, and sustainable.
- This position works closely with the IT Technical Director for Research Programming & Advanced Technologies, ensuring initiatives are technically sound and strategically aligned.
Other
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong leadership and relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and collaboration abilities.
- Skilled at navigating complexity, managing competing priorities, managing change, and building consensus.
