Employment: Qatar Vacancies
Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
Location: Doha, Qatar
Position: Chief Information Officer
Position Number
FA8900
Position Begins: July 1, 2009
VCUQatar (www.qatar.vcu.edu) the leading design school in the Middle East, is a four-year campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUQatar is affiliated with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (www.qf.edu.qa). VCU School of the Arts in Richmond, Virginia is ranked as the leading art and design program among all public universities in the US and maintains identical standards for VCUQatar. Celebrating its 10th year of operation, VCUQatar offers professional BFA degrees in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, and Interior Design for students from throughout the Gulf region, and over 30% international students. Plans are under way to initiate an MFA in Design, becoming the first Masters degree in the region. The School is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The School has substantial involvement with the emerging design industries in Qatar and is a significant catalyst for that growth.
VCUQatar benefits from a funding situation that allows it to be driven by innovative programmatic needs rather than typical fiscal constraints. Externally funded student and faculty research opportunities are expanding with the rapid development of Qatar, now among the wealthiest countries in the world based upon per capita GDP. (www.qf.org.qa) The VCUQatar Center for Research in Design has a contract for the design of Qatar military uniforms; is involved in the World Design Report with Icograda; is collaborating on the Qatar National Vision Initiative; and is expanding with multiple project opportunities in collaboration with faculty and external partners. With an annual budget of $20 million, VCUQatar’s full-time faculty and administrative staff of 75 (50% female), instruct an undergraduate student body of over 200 students. The school maintains an enviable student/faculty ration of 10:1 with enrollment of 12 – 16 in most classes. Transition to coeducation began fall 2007 with an incoming freshman class of 42 female, 6 male.
Housed in a 96,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, the school has 112,000 square foot addition in development. VCUQatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2,500 acre campus community with facilities designed by leading architects for US universities. VCUQatar has since been joined by Carnegie-Mellon University (Business and Computer Science), Cornell University’s Weill School of Medicine, Georgetown University (School of Foreign Service), Texas A&M University (Engineering) and beginning fall 2008, Northwestern University (Journalism and Communication).
Qatar, where English is the standard second language, is perhaps the most liberal, hospitable and progressive of the Arabian Gulf countries. The population of Qatar is 1,100,000 – 300,000 Qatari, 5,000 US citizens, the remainder ex-patriates. Doha, with a population of 350,000, has all the conveniences generally found in a modern city, but it also maintains a traditional Arab flavor, evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. The US Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.
Position Description
The VCUQatar Chief Information Officer provides leadership in the planning, development, and management of information technology to support faculty, students, and staff in fulfilling the teaching, learning, research, and community service missions of the VCU School of the Arts Qatar campus. The CIO is a strategic management position and reports to the VCUQatar Chief Administrative Officer. The VCUQatar CIO works closely with VCU Technology Services at the University’s main campus in Richmond, Virginia and coordinates programs, services, and planning with the VCU CIO.
Responsibilities
• Provide leadership and oversight for the development and management of information technology services
• Develop information technology strategic plans, policies, and programs in coordination with the VCU School of the Arts and VCU Technology Services.
• Develop, coordinate and implement annual operating goals, objectives and activities
• Effectively manage IT infrastructure components including network, telecommunications, hardware and software
• Organize and direct the activities of VCUQatar IT staff and contractors to maximize the use and effectiveness of technology
• Provide robust training services in new technologies and administrative software applications for students, faculty and staff
• Prepare and manage the VCUQatar technology budget
• Develop and manage plans and programs for:
Information technology security
Business continuity and disaster recovery
Hardware and software replacement and renewal
• Coordinate operations through regular communication and interaction with VCU Technology Services and the Director of the Computer Center, VCU School of the Arts to ensure that VCUQatar IT activities and services use University systems where appropriate and are compatible with University IT standards and guidelines
• Serve on VCUQatar planning and governance committees and liase with Qatar Foundation Information Technology and other Education City CIOs
Qualifications
• Master’s degree in information systems, computer science, business administration, public administration or related field from an accredited institution. A bachelor’s degree and exceptional experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Significant knowledge and experience in information technology hardware, software and systems
• Progressively responsible management experience in a complex and diverse IT environment. Demonstrable leadership skills. Experience in higher education is a plus.
• Strong oral and written (English) communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience in or potential to work in a culturally diverse work environment. International work experience a plus
• Demonstrated success developing, supporting, and sustaining professional partnerships with internal and external constituents
Benefits
• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement to base salary
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including utility allowance and wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities
Application Process: Qualified applicants who have a record of achievement appropriate to VCUQatar should submit a letter of interest with a resume, transcripts and the names of three references with phone and email contact information to Ryan Ellington (rfellington@vcu.edu), Human Resources Administrator, Qatar Support Office. Only Electronic submissions will be accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
