Careers at UMass Amherst

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

The Head of CIO Office Operations serves as a strategic advisor and operational partner to the office of the Chief Information Officer. This role leads executive-level initiatives, manages cross-functional projects, and ensures strategic alignment across IT leadership. It coordinates CIO communications, supports change management, and handles sensitive information with discretion and sound judgment. Acting as a bridge between executive leadership and stakeholders, the position fosters collaboration, drives engagement, and supports the execution of the university’s IT vision. Additional responsibilities include managing outreach programs, such as the IT Student Ambassadors, coordinating workforce planning efforts, and contributing to institutional visibility through campus and community engagement.

Essential Functions

• Serves as a key strategic aide to the Associate Vice Chancellor of IT, providing operational support, managing complex campus priorities and logistics. Prioritizes executive participation in high-impact campus and community engagements to advance departmental visibility and strategic goals.
• Leads and coordinates cross-functional initiatives to ensure strategic alignment across IT leadership. Provides project management support for high-priority efforts led by the CIO Office, overseeing special projects, tracking deliverables, monitoring progress, and preparing reports to ensure timely execution and consistent messaging of institutional priorities.
• Supports change management initiatives by coordinating stakeholder engagement, training sessions, and communications.
• Collaborates with executive leadership to align workforce planning and strategic initiatives with institutional goals. Supports organizational change efforts that impact employee work practices and conditions, while handling confidential information related to leadership decision-making and change management strategies.
• Drafts executive communications, presentations, and reports for internal and external audiences. Collaborates with the Communications Team to ensure consistent messaging across platforms and audiences.
• Assists in incident response coordination for the CIO office, including maintaining a resource library and tracking emerging issues.
• Manages the IT Student Ambassadors Program, providing strategic direction, recruitment, training, and mentorship to student participants. Oversees program activities including peer engagement, service evaluation, and promotion of IT resources through events and social media. Facilitates collaboration between ambassadors and IT staff, and connects students with internship and career development opportunities within UMass IT.
• Serves as a liaison between IT leadership and campus stakeholders, fostering collaboration, promoting transparency, and representing IT leadership in meetings, committees, and working groups to advance strategic initiatives.
• Cultivates and strengthens relationships between the CIO Office and academic units by facilitating collaboration, aligning IT initiatives with academic priorities, and ensuring clear, consistent communication to support teaching, learning, and research goals.
• Supports executive searches, personnel processes, and procurement activities as needed.

Other Functions

• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Understands, is committed to, and supports affirmative action and non-discrimination goals.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, public administration, or related field.
• 5 years of related experience.
• Strong writing, editing, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience handling confidential information with discretion.
• Familiarity with organizational systems and continuous improvement methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience in higher education or public sector.
• Experience working in a unionized environment.
• Experience with crisis communication or incident management.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical Office Environment.

Additional Details

Reports directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology.

Work Schedule

• 40 hours/week, Monday–Friday. Flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines or respond to incidents as business needs dictate. 
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position is non-unit, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Non-Unit (Professional/or Classified) Employee Personnel Policy. 

Salary Information

Level 28

Exempt Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage, please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.