IT Officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico at University of New Mexico

IT OfficerRequisition ID req37986
Working Title IT Officer
Position Grade 16
Position Summary

The University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Engineering (SoE) and Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) seek a highly motivated, dynamic, detail-oriented, and organized individual to join the OVPR/CIO teams as an Information Technology Officer (ITO).
The School of Engineering is a vanguard for inclusive excellence, where everyone belongs, thrives, and shines. Through research, learning, and innovation, we serve the land and its people, designing solutions including products, systems, and infrastructure that transform lives and communities in New Mexico and beyond. With experiential courses, undergraduate research opportunities and proximity to three Federal laboratories, Lobo engineers, computer scientists and construction managers graduate career-ready and prepared to design solutions for tomorrows problems.
This position is foundational to the UNM IT Campus Outreach program. The matrixed reporting structure integrates operational oversight from the SoE and planning/coordination from the office of the CIO. This strategy ensures consistent access to the full range of expertise and technology solutions available to campus. Moreover, it integrates academic and research IT services into a support structure that is focused on customer experience.
The selected individual will work independently and as part of the UNM IT team to coordinate the administration of information technology (IT) services for the SoE, including the academic and administrative units and the SoE Research Centers) that report to the SoE. The position serves as the information technology manager for SoE, while also participating with campus-wide IT resources and initiatives to ensure effective and efficient pathways for the research community. This position will be responsible for promoting, supporting, and advocating for the SoEs strategic initiatives, as well as for the needs of SoEs research community, especially those that are differentiated from other administrative or academic areas.
UNM has a vibrant research enterprise that continues to stretch in new directions, creating new knowledge, and utilizing new technologies. The SoE ITO will manage specific research-facing information technology resources and actively participate in supporting these efforts in a variety of ways, including:

• Representing the IT needs of the research community on technology committees and in the specification, development, and deployment of IT services to support research.
• Providing strategic insights into how UNM can best address research-based cybersecurity and data management and sharing needs, including alignment with federal regulatory compliance expectations and the development and deployment of related education and training.
• Serving as the point of contact for communicating major IT-related initiatives of UNM and affiliates to all researchers.

• Developing and managing a shared services model for IT personnel in SoE units and RCIs to ensure effective and efficient coverage of various IT needs within these entities. The ITO will have an immediate impact on the efficiency of SoE operations and overall growth within the research enterprise at UNM.

The ideal candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the current and developing strategic information requirements and approaches of a major research university.
• Knowledge of current trends and developments in information technology, particularly related to academic IT research support such as research cybersecurity, data management, and data sharing.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and other regulatory compliance issues, especially those that pertain to research and research IT.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a team environment, and with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present effectively to small and large groups.
• Experience with developing and leading technical training and education programs.
• Ability to provide leadership, strategic planning, and personnel management in a matrixed organizational structure of personnel with diverse skills at multiple distributed locations.
• Ability to provide strategic guidance and counsel to the OVPR executive committee in the assessment and development of existing and/or proposed IT systems specifically for research and/or that might impact research at UNM.
• Ability to develop appropriately structured internal and external request for proposals, along with the ability to evaluate proposals in reference to innovative IT services in the research environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Duties and responsibilities of the position include:

Serve as a principal point of collaboration, leadership, and expertise as the lead IT liaison with senior administration, faculty, staff, and students in the SoE, including the academic, administrative units and SoE Research Centers, to understand and interpret client needs and effectively collaborate across the organization.

Direct, coordinate, and participate in the local implementation of University IT operations, projects, and programs, utilizing established project management principles and practices, thereby ensuring alignment of IT services with the needs of the SoE.

Advocate for and lead the development of new IT services in support of academics and research, including eliciting requirements, advising on best practices at other institutions, managing service development and deployment, and creation of appropriate service level agreements.

Develop and manage a model for shared IT services within the SoE; provide supervision, mentoring, and technical leadership to this group; work with this group and other administrative staff to maintain essential IT operations, including operating systems, security tools, applications, servers, software and hardware.

Participate in and maintain regular cybersecurity assessments within the SoE units and centers, including applying IT security principles, configuring security settings, completing system audits, and providing expertise and guidance to the entire SoE community on such matters.

Lead the development of new IT services in support of research, including eliciting requirements, managing service development and deployment, and creating service level agreements.

Maintain currency of knowledge with respect to state-of-the-art technology.

Collaborate on the creation, education, and production of training materials on cybersecurity, data management and sharing, compliance needs, and other aspects of IT.

Prepare reports, briefings, presentations, and responses on strategic planning issues related to IT issues, as appropriate.

Review vendor contracts and coordinate IT purchases (hardware, software, and services) to ensure effective deployment of solutions aligned with SoE needs.

Participate in the development of IT Service Catalog offerings, Service Level Agreements, and Operating Level

Agreements consistent with the needs of the organization.

Participate as a member of the IT management team in planning, problem resolution, and reviewing department performance.

May recommend and participate in the development of university policies and procedures; may serve on university planning and policy-making committees.

Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

See the Position Description for additional information.

Conditions of Employment

• Successful candidate may be subject to a criminal background check prior to starting work.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree; at least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree from an accredited institution in an area related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
  
• Direct experience working as an IT service provider to help meet research security and IT needs.
  
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise for security standards and frameworks, rules, and regulations, especially those provided by federal agencies specific to federally funded research.
  
• Direct experience supporting Linux workstations and servers.
  
• Effective at leading collaboration amongst teams working in different research disciplines.

Additional Requirements Applications need to include a complete professional work history with dates and hours worked.
Campus: Main - Albuquerque, NM
Department IT Campus Outreach & Engagement (362A)
Employment Type Staff
Staff Type Regular - Full-Time
Term End Date
Status Exempt
Pay Monthly: $8,200.40 to $9,654.67
Benefits Eligible This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information.
ERB Statement As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.
Background Check Required Yes
For Best Consideration Date 9/29/2026
Eligible for Hiring Incentive
Eligible for Remote Work Yes
Eligible for Remote Work Statement This position is open to hybrid remote work, an arrangement that allows an employee to work on a part-time basis at an alternate location other than a UNM worksite.
Application Instructions

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

Include Resume/UNMJobs application and Cover Letter. Applicants submitting incomplete application packages may not be considered for interview.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html . Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.