Executive Director, Digital Transformation, AI

Executive Director, Digital Transformation, AI Inside Higher Ed Date Posted: 11/13/2025Req ID: 45979Department: Chief Information OfficerCampus: St. George (Downtown Toronto) About the Role Information Technology Services at the University of Toronto is committed to leveraging technology as a powerful tool for empowerment and impact and recognizes AI as a transformative catalyst for this work. In the AI Task Force Report, the university outlines an approach to responsible AI adoption, ensuring that the future of its technology solutions is inclusive, ethical, sustainable, and builds digital trust. The University serves 100,000 students across three campuses, librarians who curate extraordinary collections, faculty and researchers on the frontiers of new knowledge, and staff across a vibrant campus community. Your Opportunity The Executive Director, Digital Transformation, AI will lead the transformation and AI readiness across the entire digital portfolio of the University. The role requires a leader who excels at building consensus in complex, matrixed environments, convening diverse technical communities, and enabling teams to realize ambitious visions while navigating significant uncertainty. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer and working closely with the Associate Vice‑President & Vice‑Provost, Digital Strategies and the Associate Vice‑President of Institutional Strategies, the director will translate institutional digital transformation and AI strategy into actionable roadmaps and implementations. A primary focus area will be leading the design, implementation, and scaling of the AI Kitchen—a secure, innovative environment for AI experimentation and deployment that serves as a model for the broader approach to emerging‑technology adoption and platform development. Required Qualifications Education Graduate degree in disciplines emphasizing engineering or technology management, technology policy and systems, innovation management, human‑centered design, organizational agility, or the adoption of emerging technologies. Candidates should demonstrate a track record of applying these skills in complex organizations. Experience Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership in technology innovation, transformational project management, and/or digital strategy in a complex, decentralized organization. Demonstrated experience in overseeing enterprise‑level technology projects, infrastructure design, and strategic planning. Experience working with diverse stakeholders including IT professionals, faculty, staff, and student groups. Familiarity with higher education, open scholarship, and the intersection of AI with institutional governance is a strong asset. Demonstrated success in strategic planning and data‑informed decision‑making, as well as digital experience leadership. Experience in leading staff, preferably in a unionized environment. Skills Advanced knowledge of AI tools, platforms, and data architectures. Strong project management skills with a proven ability to lead multifaceted initiatives from concept through execution. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to build trust and consensus across diverse groups. Strong systems thinking, human‑centered design thinking, and organizational change management capabilities. Expertise in cross‑functional leadership and influence, governance design, organizational agility, and technology adoption strategies. Highly developed negotiation and consensus‑building skills. Ability to integrate emerging technologies into institutional strategy and operations while balancing innovation with policy and risk considerations. Other Values‑driven leadership approach with a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Adept at working in resource‑constrained environments and enabling innovation through strategic prioritization and collaboration.> Commitment to inclusive and distributed leadership models that empower diverse contributors across the institution. Strong “integrative” skills related to understanding cross‑functional implications and inter‑relationships of issues and decisions; strategic in approach to planning; ability to influence others over whom there is no direct reporting relationship to achieve tasks and functional responsibilities by means of esteem, credibility and relationship‑building skills; ability to deal with senior University administrators in a manner which facilitates cooperation. High degree of political acuity and judgment; highly developed skills in oral and written communication, including effective presentation skills; strong planning and organizational skills; excellent facilitation skills; strong analytical skills; precision of thought and attention to detail. Closing Date: 12/14/2025, 11:59 PM ET Employee Group: Salaried Personnel Subarea: PM Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing Schedule: Full‑Time Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 9 – Hiring Zone: $189,279 - $220,827 – Broadband Salary Range: $189,279 - $315,466 (Open) Job Category: Information Technology (IT) Diversity Statement The University of Toronto embraces diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission. As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see Accessibility Statement The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission. The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact #J-18808-Ljbffr