[Hiring] Senior Director, IT Operations @Blackboard

Role Description

We are looking for a head of IT to lead and support our teams in the next evolution of Blackboard. This is not a role for maintaining an existing IT estate. Over the coming months, this leader will support a new operating system for the company, optimize tools and processes, and use artificial intelligence to level up every service the IT organization delivers, from onboarding and identity to support, procurement, and reporting. The measure of success will be that the company runs better and teams move faster.

What You Will Own

• The estate: Global corporate systems, endpoint and device management, identity and access management, networking, collaboration platforms, and the enterprise application portfolio.
• The fleet: Global endpoint management across operating systems, including hardened build standards, full-disk encryption, configuration baselines, and browser and extension controls.
• Identity: You own the identity infrastructure end to end, including directory, single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, and the joiner, mover, leaver lifecycle.
• The service: Employee support across all regions, including coverage model, escalation, and the experience standard.
• The transformation: Responsible for efficiency and automation across IT operations.
• The partnership: Close working relationships with Security, Finance, HR, Marketing, Support, RevOps, and Sales.
• The team: Building, developing, and restructuring a global organization.
• Audit and compliance: Knowledge of ISO 27001, SOC 2, FedRAMP, and GovRAMP requirements.
• Responsible AI in practice: Management of approved AI tool inventory and controls.

What Success Looks Like

• 2026: Full assessment of current state, building a plan and beginning execution on prioritized transformations.
• 2027: By the end of 2027, transformation of core key systems is complete.
• Beyond: Transition to a run/growth phase.

Qualifications

• You have both run a global IT organization at scale and transformed its effectiveness.
• You have deployed artificial intelligence and automation in an operational context.
• You are fluent in cost and can build a defensible baseline.
• You have led through structural change and treated the people involved as adults.
• You are comfortable being measured and publish your service levels.
• You operate globally in practice, managing across time zones and handling data residency requirements.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Deep experience in EdTech, SaaS, or technology-enabled services.
• A track record of leading organizations through complex transformation initiatives and driving AI and automation programs.

Salary Information

The expected salary range for this position is $169,000 - $230,000. The range reflects base salary only and does not include additional compensation such as company bonus or benefits.

Legal Requirements

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country where the role is based at the time of hire and must maintain that authorization for the duration of employment. The company does not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blackboard is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, protected military/veteran status, or any other legally protected factor.