"Senior IT Director, Innovation & AI, Wharton Computing"

Senior IT Director, Innovation & AI, Wharton Computing

Wharton School Overview
Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education's individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic community of staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

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.

Based in Wharton Computing's Research & Analytics team, this role leads the IT agenda for innovation and AI, enabling school-wide impact. The Senior Director will identify opportunities, establish governance, and drive structured experimentation to support Wharton's mission.

Job 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. While the role begins without direct reports, there is opportunity to build and lead a team as Wharton's innovation and AI capacity expands.

The ideal candidate is a clear communicator, consensus builder, and visible leader-comfortable navigating complex priorities and representing Wharton Computing in University-wide initiatives and industry partnerships.

This is a high-impact leadership role within IT that enables Wharton to remain at the forefront of innovation and AI while sustaining excellence in its core services.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: 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. Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams. Significant experience with AI strategy, governance, and/or implementation in complex organizational settings.
• Skills: 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. Demonstrated ability to work across organizational boundaries to support innovation and institutional goals. Proven ability to evaluate and manage relationships with technology vendors and external partners, including assessing solutions for strategic fit and cost-effectiveness.
• Technical Proficiency: 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.
• Preferred Experience: Experience in higher education or similarly complex, mission-driven environments. Comfort engaging with technology vendors, industry partners, and external collaborators.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Wharton School

Pay Range
$146,500.00 - $180,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.