IT Program Director

Job Summary:

The Program Director of Cloud Engineering provides both operational and technical leadership for the Compass engineering program, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and delivery of innovative, cloud-based solutions that advance clinical and research capabilities across the Anschutz campus.  This position oversees program direction, resource strategy, vendor partnerships, and cross-campus collaboration to mature Compass’s engineering infrastructure and it’s future-state cloud architecture.

The Program Director of Cloud Engineering will partner with the Director of Operations to help shape long-term technology strategy, strengthen partnerships across academic, technical, and clinical stakeholders, and develop a high-performing team through coaching, accountability, and professional growth. This position reports to the Director of Operations and is expected to perform the following duties:

Key Responsibilities:

Program Administration & Leadership (70%)

• Provide program direction for Compass’s engineering program by aligning technical capabilities with organizational priorities and evolving customer needs.
• Develop multi-year cloud infrastructure roadmap and drive adoption of emerging technologies that enhance operational efficiency, data integration, and scalability.
• Develop, manage, and forecast the engineering program budget; identify cost efficiencies, evaluate return on investment, and recommend strategic investments.
• Lead vendor strategy, contracting, and RFP/RFQ processes while cultivating partnerships that expand capabilities and support long-term program goals.
• Allocate resources across projects and product lines to ensure appropriate application stack coverage and anticipate future capability needs.
• Establish performance metrics, track operational effectiveness, and oversee program reporting against SLAs and strategic objectives.
• Lead staff development across roles and levels: set clear priorities, coach for growth, conduct annual reviews, and build a strong culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration.
• Serve as a strategic partner with Compass leadership and OIT to ensure all solutions meet security, compliance, and governance expectations.

Technical (30%)

• Provide technical vision and oversight to guide the engineering team toward Compass’s future-state architecture, including integration with campus and external partner systems.
• Contribute as a technical advisor or subject matter expert for high-impact initiatives, pilots, or operational workflows.
• Standardize and optimize program operating procedures, including performance monitoring, capacity planning, and quality assurance.
• Identify opportunities to reduce technical debt, improve code and data quality, and optimize cloud-native workflows.
• Manage vendor relationships and performance for cloud-native platforms and tools.
• Collaborate with leadership to expand Compass’s data and infrastructure capabilities using advanced tools for protection (e.g., DLP), integration, and enrichment (e.g., NLP and LLM/AI applications)

Work Location:

Hybrid – this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us:

Health Data Compass (Compass) is the technology innovation arm of the Research Informatics Office. Compass maintains, develops, and innovates within a data integration and analytics platform on cutting-edge, cloud-based technologies to support biomedical research and clinical excellence throughout the CU research enterprise and our hospital partners.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 10/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• A combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.
• At least six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in cloud computing, data engineering, data analysis, or cloud platform management.
• At least four (4) years of people management or supervisory experience.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Data Science, Informatics, or a related field.
• Experience developing, analyzing, or reporting on data systems in a healthcare or research environment.
• Experience working with Epic data, including Epic proficiencies or certifications.
• Experience querying data using SQL or another programming language such as R, SAS, or Python.
• At least two years of project management experience.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring others and fostering a collaborative, supportive team culture.
• Hands-on experience with Google Cloud Platform (e.g., BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Dataflow) for data integration, analytics, or cloud-based solution development, with optional cloud-related certifications.
• Experience with medical imaging data workflows, including DICOM receivers and PACS storage systems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution
• Demonstrated commitment and leadership ability to advance diversity and inclusion
• Attention to detail and accuracy, with strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Knowledge of HIPAA regulations and healthcare data, clinical research, healthcare operations
• Demonstrated effectiveness in a complex organizational environment 

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position.
2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

    

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until August 1, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as $140,000-$155,000

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.