The Department of Psychology is searching for an IT Research and Security Project Manager (IT Professional 2 Project Management (9702PM)) to support the computing and technology needs of its stakeholders and programs of research. Psychology is a large, highly ranked department with 51 core faculty, 70+ staff, and 140 graduate students, and it supports the largest number of undergraduate majors of any academic program on the UMN Twin Cities campus. Additionally, the department has $50 million or more in active research funding at any given time (the majority from NIH), spread across 70+ projects. The position routinely consults and collaborates with the departmental leadership team, faculty/principal investigators, staff, and graduate students, primarily on strategic planning and operations for research and administrative computing and technology, as well as data management and security. Position allows for hybrid work. Pay range is $73,000-$90,000, dependent on qualifications and experience. Priority application deadline is November 15, 2024.
Job Responsibilities:
Planning and Operations for Research Computing and Technology (60%)
Leadership and Consultation
Help lead and inform planning and operations for research computing initiatives, bringing technology solutions to the table when appropriate; act as a catalyst for innovation and creativity.
Collaborate with departmental leadership, faculty, research staff and graduate students to identify and implement technology solutions to support Psychologyâ™s world-class research labs and programs. Provide guidance for researchers working with big data and cloud resources, private health information (PHI), as well as AI and machine learning
Communicate about, and consult on, research computing updates, challenges, and changes; prioritize and coordinate updates and changes; monitor and oversee transitions, functioning, and progress.
Planning
Consult with principal investigators and lab staff on research infrastructure (e.g., computing, data storage, data security, application development, networking); make recommendations and facilitate connections with other units, as needed.
Collaborate with internal and external vendors to develop quotes and obtain research technology and/or services, as needed (e.g., Pavlovia, ePrime, MPlus).
Support new faculty with research lab start-ups, including IT networking and lab set-up.
Consult on data security plans for grant submission and implementation of those plans across multiple computing solutions.
Support
Consult on and purchase research technology on behalf of Principal Investigators and lab staff.
Administer and facilitate research device support for PIs and lab staff.
Manage access for department research labs to research computing resources (e.g., Active Directory, compute.cla).
Help identify sources of funding to secure resources for research computing and infrastructure.
Outreach and professional development
Liaise with other related professionals and units on behalf of stakeholders; advocate for services and solutions to help ensure the success of their research, including but not limited to Liberal Arts Technologies and Innovation Services (LATIS) Research Support Services, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and Health Sciences Technology (HST) to provide the best services possible to stakeholders in Psychology. Serve on UMN boards, teams, and committees (i.e., University Storage Council, Storage Champions Project, Storage Council Security Committee, etc.); collaborate with peers to establish best practices and procedures.
Routinely engage in professional development to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skill with research in the discipline, focusing on technologies that support and advance it.
Data Management and Security (20%)
Serve as a departmental lead for data management and security.
Communicate and champion University, College, and Department data management and security policies and procedures; develop, educate, and help monitor compliance.
Consult with faculty/principal investigators, staff, and students on data management and security; make recommendations regarding appropriate practices and strategies to ensure compliance, access, and security.
Facilitate security assessments of research labs in collaboration with University Information Security (UIS) and Liberal Arts Technologies and Innovation Services (LATIS); help ensure the successful completion of audits. Ensure that risk assessments are regularly conducted; proactively identify research technology-related security concerns; identify and help implement solutions to concerns, as needed.
Routinely engage in professional development related to data management and security standards and practices at the University, with federal granting agencies, etc.
Planning and Operations for Administrative Computing and Technology (20%)
Partner with administrative leaders to build a vision and strategic plan for ongoing development and success in technology-enhanced administrative operations; make recommendations and identify, implement, and assess solutions.
Routinely collaborate with administrative staff and faculty to improve administrative effectiveness through technology solutions; help develop their expertise in IT-related areas.
Routinely collaborate with the departmentâ™s Academic Technologist, identifying areas of synergy and implementing and assessing related initiatives.
Help manage the daily operations of the departmentâ™s administrative IT functions; ensure alignment with department and collegiate goals and aspirations.
Consult on and purchase technology for faculty and administrative staff, in keeping with university, collegiate and departmental policies.
Establish and maintain productive relationships, and serve as primary departmental liaison with LATIS and the Universityâ™s IT community in advancement of the departmentâ™s information technologies.
Help build a data-driven decision-making culture in Psychology by developing and championing technology solutions for better capturing, tracking and reporting out on multiple Department functions.
Encourage and support stakeholder development, experimentation, and facility with emerging services and technology.
Serve on departmental committees (e.g., Chairâ™s Group, Psych/LATIS Steering Committee, REP/IRB, Research Infrastructure & Space); collaborate with peers to establish best practices and procedures.
Help develop, review and oversee IT budget and ensure compliance with stated goals, guidelines and objectives.
Required Qualifications
BA/BS plus at least 2 years of experience, or masterâ™s degree.
Demonstrated leadership skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively, independently and as part of a team.
Demonstrated project management skills and experience.
Demonstrated experience with successful problem-solving.
Knowledge of data management and security practices and standards.
Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to stakeholders from a variety of different backgrounds.
Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working in higher education or a comparable environment.
Knowledge of, and experience with, research and computing in research.
Ability to effectively navigate complex organizational environments.
Ability to effectively and successfully advocate for the needs of others.
Knowledge of, and experience with, high performance computing, cloud computing, and/or big data.
The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.