Director, Research Technology and AI Enablement - Information Technology

Position Summary

• Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates.
• In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.
• New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Director, Research Technology and AI Enablement reporting to Chief Infomation Officer.
• The Director, Research Technology and AI Enablement, leads NYU Abu Dhabi IT’s strategy and delivery of research technology services and institutional AI enablement and support.
• This role establishes a cohesive IT framework that enables faculty, researchers, students, and administrative units to leverage advanced technologies to advance discovery, innovation, and operational excellence.
• In the domain of research technology, the Director serves as a strategic partner to the research community, aligning IT capabilities with evolving research needs across disciplines.
• The role ensures that research computing environments, specialized technologies, and support models are secure,, scalable, and responsive, enabling faculty and research teams to effectively pursue computational, data-intensive, and technologically advanced research.
• In parallel, the Director leads NYUAD IT’s AI enablement and support agenda, serving as the campus’ central point of IT leadership and expertise for artificial intelligence.
• This includes guiding responsible adoption, partnering with academic and research AI leads in shaping institutional strategy, and fostering cross-functional collaboration across academic, administrative, and professional education domains.
• The Director represents IT at institutional AI governance groups and is responsible for ensuring IT’s support capabilities to these groups.
• The Director also works closely with NYUAD’s Executive Education and HR learning and development teams to advance AI literacy and applied learning for both external and internal communities.
• By combining operational excellence in research technology with forward-looking IT leadership in AI, the Director ensures NYU Abu Dhabi remains at the forefront of digitally enabled research, applied AI, and institutional innovation. **Key Responsibilities:** *Research Technology Strategy, Services & Faculty Partnership** Serve as the primary IT partner to faculty and research centers, translating research needs into effective technology solutions
• Develop and execute a research technology strategy that aligns with institutional priorities and supports a wide range of disciplines
• Establish service models that enable responsive, high-quality support for computational, experimental, and technology-enabled research
• *Research Computing Infrastructure & Platforms** Oversee the design, delivery, and lifecycle management of research computing environments (including partnering with the Center for Research Computing to support the NYUAD HPC), cloud-based platforms, and specialized research systems
• Ensure infrastructure is scalable, secure, and optimized to support diverse research workloads and evolving methodologies
• *AI Enablement Strategy & IT Leadership** Lead the development and execution of NYUAD IT’s AI enablement and support strategy
• Serve as the IT leadership authority and advisor on AI, guiding adoption across academic, research, and administrative domains. Identify opportunities for AI-driven innovation and position IT as a key enabler of institutional transformation
• *AI Literacy, Workforce Enablement & External Engagement** Partner with Executive Education and Human Resources to design and deliver AI education, training, and executive learning programs
• Promote AI literacy and the development of applied skills for faculty, staff, students, and external audiences, supporting workforce transformation and professional education initiatives
• *AI Innovation, Advisory & Applied Enablement** Act as the IT “go-to” resource for AI, providing guidance, consultation, and partnership to AI leads and liaisons, faculty, researchers, and administrative units
• Support exploration and application of AI tools and approaches, helping stakeholders navigate rapidly evolving technologies and assess their relevance, risks, and value
• *Research Governance, Responsible AI & Security Collaboration** Collaborate with Information Security, Risk, Compliance, and institutional governance stakeholders to support the responsible adoption of research technologies and AI capabilities across NYU Abu Dhabi
• Provide advisory support on AI technologies, research computing environments, and emerging technology risks. Partner with security and governance functions to align AI enablement initiatives with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and responsible AI practices
• *Team Leadership & Organizational Development** Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of research technologists and AI specialists.
• Establish clear priorities, professional development pathways, and a culture of collaboration, innovation, and service excellence

Qualifications

• **Required Education:*** Master's degree in in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Data Science, or a related field
• **Preferred Education:*** Doctoral degree or advanced research experience in a related field
• **Required Experience:*** 10+ years of progressive experience in research technology, research computing, or AI-related domains
• 5+ years in a leadership role managing technical teams or research support services
• Experience supporting faculty-led research and computational workloads
• Demonstrated experience with AI technologies and their application in research or enterprise settings
• Experience working with cross-functional stakeholders in complex organizations
• Demonstrated knowledge of research computing environments and AI/ML technologies
• Familiarity with research compliance, privacy, and ethical technology use
• Ability to operate effectively in a complex, multicultural academic environment
• Strong understanding of research computing, HPC, and cloud platforms
• Familiarity with research governance, compliance, and institutional policy frameworks
• Ability to translate research needs into scalable technical solutions
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strategic thinking with the ability to balance innovation and operational sustainability
• **Preferred Experience:*** Cloud platform certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• AI/ML or advanced analytics certifications
• Project or program management certifications (e.g., PMP)
• Knowledge of emerging AI technologies, including generative AI
• Understanding of research collaboration platforms and digital research tools
• Ability to build partnerships across academic, administrative, and external organizations
• Experience balancing innovation with governance and institutional risk management

About NYUAD