Director, Web & Application Development Services

Director, Web & Application Development Services

The Director of Web & Application Development Services (W&ADS) in LSA Technology Services is a strategic technology leader responsible for translating institutional needs into actionable digital solutions for the nearly 30,000 students, faculty, staff, and volunteers who comprise the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. This role leads a large and diverse team in delivering modern, accessible, and integrated web and application services that advance the college's instructional, research, and administrative goals. The director fosters strategic vendor partnerships, process innovation, internal consulting, and cross-campus collaboration.

Responsibilities :

1. Strategic Leadership & People Development

Team Leadership : Provide hands-on, people-focused leadership for cross-functional teams (Dev, QA, UX, BSA). Drive professional growth through targeted mentorship, training, and succession planning.

Culture & Value : Model and foster a staff culture aligned with LSA Technology Services Values, promoting equity, transparency, and service excellence.

Organizational Documentation : Lead the formalization of organizational structures, including job descriptions, committee charges, and transition plans; manage complex staff transitions and reclassifications.

2. Technology Roadmap & Modernization

Strategic Architecture : Architect and execute multi-year roadmaps for technology modernization (e.g., Salesforce platforms, BI consolidation, cloud migrations, and web platforms) while balancing legacy support with future-facting transformation.

Governance Framework : Design and lead governance structures for technology tools, establishing clear frameworks for prioritization, resource allocation, and stakeholder-driven change management.

Standards & Compliance : Ensure all initiatives maintain strict compliance with university and external data protection, privacy, and accessibility (ADA / WCAG) requirements.

3. Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership

Strategic Liaison : Serve as a critical bridge between academic (faculty / research) and administrative (HR / Advancement) leaders, providing technical expertise from needs assessment through to operational handoff.

Campus Collaboration : Represent LSA interests in campus-wide initiatives (e.g., Student Success Platforms, Research systems); steward key Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and inter-departmental partnership agreements.

Change Communication : Execute multi-level communication plans to ensure transparency during organizational shifts or major technology implementations.

4. Operational Excellence & Financial Stewardship

Financial Oversight : Manage budget planning and procurement for major initiatives ($5M+ annual spend), including vendor negotiations, sole-source justifications, and contract renewals.

Process Optimization : Lead continuous improvement projects focused on systems integration, workflow automation, data governance, and enhanced analytics infrastructure.

Feedback & Quality : Champion a continuous feedback culture through stakeholder reviews and sprint retrospectives to drive technical and service excellence.

Required Qualifications :

Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field, or equivalent combination of education, certifications, and deep, demonstrated experience. At least ten years of progressive leadership in application / web development, product management, and team supervision within a large, complex organization or comparable higher education setting. Extensive experience building and leading cross-disciplinary, matrixed teams, including onboarding, training, coaching, and succession planning. Proven track record in managing budgets (including multi-year, contingency planning), vendor relations, contract negotiations (including sole-source), and resource allocations for complex technical portfolios. Demonstrated proficiency in Agile / Scrum and iterative development for web and application projects, with a demonstrated ability to pivot teams and processes to support urgent needs and strategic priorities. Demonstrated mastery of strategic project management, change management, and performance metrics design, including implementation of feedback loops and continuous improvement cycles. Significant experience facilitating and aligning organizational, operational, and technological change through inclusive governance, transparent communications, and ongoing stakeholder engagement. Experience with enterprise-scale application transitions and integrations and compliance with evolving ADA / accessibility requirements. Strong consulting, partnership development, and stakeholder management skills adept at navigating complex organizational matrices and building trust across diverse technical, faculty, administrative, and leadership communities.

Desired Qualifications :

Direct leadership experience for technology teams delivering enterprise-wide public websites, intranets, and mobile applications using industry-standard platforms (CMS systems, Salesforce,.Net, Rails, WordPress). Experience leading large-scale accessibility audits, redesigns, and digital transformation projects. History of stewardship over sensitive institutional data, a deep commitment to privacy / security standards, and fluency with related compliance frameworks. Experience supporting or leading technology initiatives for advancement, recruiting, undergrad education, graduate student lifecycle, museums / digital collections, and academic innovation across the higher education landscape. Familiarity with University of Michigan systems and governance processes.

Core Leadership Competencies :

In summary, to be successful in this role, the Director must demonstrate the following leadership competencies : Strategic Vision & Alignment : The ability to translate complex institutional goals (instructional, research, and administrative) into scalable, long-term technology roadmaps. Talent Development & Inclusion : A commitment to fostering a diverse team culture; proven ability to mentor staff, manage succession planning, and lead through empathy. Relationship Management & Influence : Exceptional skill in navigating complex academic governance structures; acting as a trusted consultant to faculty and administrative leaders while negotiating win-win scenarios with external vendors. Change Agility : The resilience to lead teams through organizational restructuring, technology retirements, and rapid pivots in priority while maintaining morale and operational stability. Operational & Financial Stewardship : A rigorous approach to resource allocation, managing a $5M+ budget with transparency, and ensuring compliance with university policy and accessibility standards.

Modes of Work :

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile / remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment.

Additional Information :

This position is distinguished by its scope and ongoing partnership with campus-wide initiatives, the proactive management of organizational change, and a relentless focus on optimizing services for students, faculty, staff, and the broader University of Michigan community. This position may work with and / or support systems that maintain or process sensitive institutional data as defined by university policy. Successful candidates must comply with federal, state, and local law and / or university policies or agreements that require the university to implement specific privacy and security safeguards including, but not limited to : ITAR, EAR, HIPAA, FERPA, and FISMA. Responsible for protecting data and information from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion; and, following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of data, etc. as stated in a computer access agreement. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa application.

Work Schedules / Locations :

Primarily Monday through Friday, with remote work opportunities available. May require working during non-business hours and on weekends occasionally. Primarily the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor campus, may require travel to various locations on and off university campus.

Comprehensive Benefits :

The University of Michigan Benefits Office is committed to offering a high-quality benefits package to support faculty, staff and their families. Learn more about our 2 : 1 retirement matching, healthcare plans with nationwide coverage including prescription drug coverage, three dental plans, a vision plan, flexible spending account, well-being programs, long-term disability, automatic life insurance, general legal services, three early childhood centers, time away from work and work-life programs to promote balance. Learn more at hr.umich.edu / benefits-wellness.

Mission Statement :

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Background Screening :

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline :

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement :

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Job Detail :

Job Opening ID 272139

Working Title Director, Web & Application Development Services

Job Title IT Academic / Admin Div Sr Dir

Work Location Ann Arbor Campus Ann Arbor, MI

Modes of Work Hybrid

Full / Part Time Full-Time

Regular / Temporary Regular

FLSA Status Exempt

Organizational Group