Academic Innovation Specialist

**Academic Innovation Specialist**:
The University of Saskatchewan has some of the most innovative people doing some of the most groundbreaking research and pedagogy. Information and Communications Technology (ICT), as strategic partners, enable courageous curiosity by empowering students, staff and faculty to do more than thought possible with technology that boosts productivity, strengthens security, enhances research outcomes, amplifies connectivity and supports increased pedagogical capability.

The university offers flexible work arrangements; access to the university’s recreation services; ongoing professional development and a comprehensive benefits and pension program.

**Primary Purpose**: The Information & Communications Technology Division (ICT) requires an experienced innovation leader who will act as the primary analyst and service specialist with Academic Innovation Technologies. This individual will pilot, recommend, implement, evolve, and maintain technology solutions that support business processes within Academic Innovation with a focus on building out services to further Academic Innovation.

This position will be part of a supportive, cross-collaborative team within ICT that will work together on process and incident response for the university’s most critical systems.

**Typical Duties or Accountabilities**:

- Ensures the high-level vision and goals for Academic Innovation are determined and supported in alignment with the Academic Tech roadmap.
- Maintains awareness of the evolving IT landscape, including vendor road maps, security vulnerabilities during the piloting phase, user equity, diversity and inclusion considerations, and practices, to provide input and guidance to the planning process.
- Provides leadership in bridging Academic Innovation with USask’s commitments to Indigenization, reconciliation and inclusion.
- Keeps the sponsors and members of the teams informed on issues, opportunities, and challenges during the piloting phase.
- Defines and evolves services within the Learning Technology Ecosystem that respond to the changing needs of academic clients by analyzing problems and opportunities, consider and recommend preferred options, implement, and facilitate discovery and access.
- Provides a high level of expertise and knowledge of technology, impacts to systemic bias, student privacy, equity, diversity and inclusion, through an Academic Innovation lens.
- Leads the technical integration of new functionality and services delivered through the academic technology solution/system ensuring adherence to ICT architecture principles and guidelines.
- Contributes to the investigation and resolution of complex technical problems impacting academic technology services and systems which may include coordinating problem resolution with software vendors and other ICT resources and creating the environment for collaborative problem solving.
- Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with service partners, and stakeholders in the academic innovation space including GMCTL, college-based research etc.
- Participates in industry, local, national and international communities focusing on innovative teaching and learning technologies, while supporting USask’s commitment to Indigenization and reconciliation.
- Contributes to the development and maintenance of effective knowledge management and transfer practice for the Academic Innovation team, products and services
- Other duties as assigned.

**Education**: A diploma, certificate or degree in a related discipline is required. (i.e. Education, computer science, computer systems technology, etc.) A master’s degree would be considered an asset.

**Experience**:

- As a senior position, there is an expectation of multiple years of work experience, preferably with at least three years working with complex pedagogy.
- Oversight experience in service definition and management, in a progressive leadership-oriented role, with direct experience analyzing client needs, identifying and proposing preferred options, and facilitating the acquisition and integration of solutions.
- Experience providing expert advice and counsel to senior business unit, project and information technology managers.

**Skills**:

- Proven effective organizational and communications skills to build and maintain relationships with clients, campus organizations, colleagues, and experts in many domains
- Ability to create and deliver effective presentations
- Ability to work to deadlines and set priorities
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated abilities in the areas of complex problem-solving, troubleshooting under time pressures
- Proven ability to learn new skills and develop abilities rapidly
- Demonstrated ability to provide mentorship and guidance to others
- Ability to collaborate within and across teams in a positive and collaborative manner

**Department**: ICT Enterprise Solutions
**Status**: Permanent
**Employment Group**