"Associate Director, IT Media Services Solutions Architect"

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.

Qualifications

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. Certificates and Licenses: Completion of Harvard IT Academy Project Management Foundations course (or external equivalent) preferred. PMP or other relevant certification and experience preferred, e.g., Scrum Master.