Associate Director ICT

Lead the strategic development and operational delivery of JCUS's ICT infrastructure, cybersecurity and user support services to enable teaching, learning and research excellence through reliable, secure and future-ready technology solutions.

Strategy and Planning

• Work with the Director, ICT to progress the University's ICT modernization plan while maintaining operational stability.
• Coordinate with JCU Australia to align shared platforms, security standards and cross-campus technology directions.
• Determine short-term and long-term IT infrastructure needs for current and future business requirements across teaching, research and enterprise.
• Design and implement an agile, scalable and secure IT infrastructure with built-in automation tools and workflows.
• Develop and deliver an overall IT infrastructure architecture and define desired performance standards.
• Anticipate internal and/or external business challenges and/or regulatory issues which may impact IT operations and support functions, and implement innovative solutions to address the challenges

ICT Infrastructure Management

• Oversee provisioning, configuration and lifecycle management of cloud and on-premises servers supporting teaching, labs, research and enterprise systems.
• Manage campus network architecture and operations, e.g. Wi‑Fi coverage, access point (AP) lifecycle, switching, firewalls, to ensure high performance and reliable connectivity.
• Maintain and routinely test disaster recovery arrangements for mission-critical services.
• Drive cloud first, modern infrastructure approaches such as automation, containerization and scalable cloud services.

Cybersecurity

• Lead the cybersecurity operations, including vulnerability management, threat monitoring, incident response and security awareness efforts.
• Ensure JCUS systems comply with university security frameworks, access control requirements and governance standards.
• Adopt advanced cybersecurity tools and techniques to strengthen detection, prevention and response capabilities.
• Develop and roll out innovative cybersecurity awareness initiatives to build a resilient security culture across the JCUS community.

Standards and Governance 

• Establish metrics, key performance indicators (KPIs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and protocols for IT infrastructure and operations.
• Establish governance policies, standards, procedures and guidelines based upon university strategy and business requirements.
• Advise on the development of IT infrastructure standards and governance policies for operations.
• Ensure regulatory and legal compliance of both physical and digital infrastructure design.
• Define processes and systems for IT audits and enforce compliance with regulatory requirements.

Desktop Support

• Lead the Desktop Support team serving faculty, students, researchers and administrative staff.
• Ensure responsive support services, effective device lifecycle management and software compliance.
• Introduce self-service support options and automated device provisioning to reduce lead times and improve user experience.
• Implement automated asset tracking and lifecycle tools to streamline operations.

Project Management

• Oversee key ICT projects such as systems development, network refresh, infrastructure upgrades and ensure timely, on-budget delivery.
• Manage vendor performance, SLAs and renewals, and negotiate for value and ensure alignment with JCUS requirements.
• Use modern delivery approaches (e.g., Agile/DevOps) to increase transparency and improve project outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary ICT contact for teaching, research and professional units.
• Translate stakeholder needs into actionable plans, improvements and clear communication for leadership and campus users.
• Implement digital tools (dashboards, service analytics, satisfaction metrics) to present ICT performance, progress and opportunities for innovation.
• Facilitate innovation workshops with academic and research users to co-design improvements in digital services.
• Apply service design principles to enhance the campus technology experience.

People Leadership

• Lead and develop staff across infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity and desktop support functions.
• Set clear goals, provide coaching and manage performance and development plans.
• Build a culture of accountability, quality and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen team capability through continuous learning, exposure to modern tools and structured development pathways.
• Encourage experimentation, cross-team collaboration and pilot projects to build agility and technical maturity. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Professional certifications in infrastructure management (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect, VMware Certified Professional)
• Professional certifications in cybersecurity (e.g., CISSP, CISM, CEH, CompTIA Security+)
• Professional certifications in networking (e.g., Cisco CCNP, CCNA)
• ITIL Foundation or ITIL Expert certification
• Project Management Certification (e.g. PMP)
• At least 10 years of experience in ICT operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership position.
• Demonstrated success in modernisation of legacy systems, cloud migration (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), hybrid cloud environments and enterprise architecture
• Familiarity with automation tools, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and DevOps practices
• Proven experience implementing cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001), risk management programmes and compliance with data protection regulations (GDPR, PDPA)
• Experience with security operations, including vulnerability management, threat monitoring, incident response and security awareness programs
• Knowledge of identity and access management, zero-trust architecture and security governance
• Experience in integrating multi-campus, multi-site or multi-country enterprise systems and aligning technology platforms across organisational units
• Proven ability to collaborate with academic, research and professional staff to align ICT initiatives with organisational goals
• Demonstrated success in managing outsourced IT projects and vendor relationships, ensuring delivery within scope, budget and timeline
• Skilled in vendor negotiation, contract management and SLA oversight
• Experience in ICT budgeting, financial planning, cost optimisation strategies and managing significant ICT investment portfolios
• Familiarity with emerging technologies, including AI, machine learning, data analytics and automation tools to improve operational efficiency and enhance user experience
• Experience implementing service management frameworks (ITIL) and establishing KPIs, SLAs and service metrics
• Ability to keep pace with technology trends and implement solutions that enable seamless integration across systems and platforms
• Experience with digital transformation initiatives in higher education or similar complex organizational environments

Closing date : 22 February 2026

Please apply via https://careers.jcu.edu.sg/cw/en/listing

We thank you for your interest and regret we are only able to notify shortlisted candidates.

The Singapore campus of James Cook University (registered as James Cook University Pte Ltd in Singapore) is a wholly owned company of James Cook University Australia. The University offers Bachelor & Master Programs in Business, Psychology, Information Technology & Education at the Singapore campus of James Cook University.

Advertised: 22 Jan 2026 Singapore Standard Time

Applications close: 22 Feb 2026 Singapore Standard Time