Jobs at Western

Director of Academic Technology & User Services (ATUS)

Apply now Work type: Permanent Full Time
Location: Bellingham, WA
Categories: Business and Financial Affairs

Position Title Director of Academic Technology & User Services (ATUS)
About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department The Information Technology Services (ITS) Department supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
About the Position As a department of Western Washington University’s Information Technology Services (WWU ITS), Academic Technology and User Services (ATUS) delivers programs and services to the entire university with a focus on end-user experience and academic/instructional technologies. The Director of ATUS oversees all units in ATUS, including student and employee Service Desks, Device and Computer Lab support, Classroom Services, Video Services/Digital Media Center, and the Center for Instructional Innovation.

Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, the Director sets the vision for technology adoption, ensuring alignment with the university’s mission. As part of ITS senior leadership, the Director continually evaluates services and operations, leading improvements to meet evolving institutional needs.

The position manages a $4M budget, balancing sustainability with innovation, and leverages departmental resources to maximize capacity. ATUS is comprised of 35 staff and about 100 student employees. The Director ensures the ongoing growth and development of ATUS employees, cultivating an ethic of care and building a culture that reflects the mission and values of ITS and WWU.

For more information, view the position profile:  https://atus.wwu.edu/director-academic-technology-user-services-atus-position-profile

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Five years of progressive management experience in supporting customer-focused technology services and direct reports, within a large, complex organization
  • Demonstrated ability to advance the application of technology to enhance ITS operations using a solutions-based mindset
  • Proven organizational, fiscal management, staff development and supervisory skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with technology users in a diverse environment
  • Superior oral and written communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master’s Degree and seven years or more leading a technology support organization in higher education
  • Demonstrated experience managing IT Service Management tools, specifically Atlassian’s Jira
  • Experience teaching instructional technology within higher education in the classroom and online
  • Enterprise project or portfolio management experience
  • Demonstrated ability to articulate an informed, nuanced vision for the application of innovative technologies like generative and agentic AI in an education setting
Conditions of Employment All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.

This position requires a fingerprint background check.

Salary Hiring range is $131,399 - $151,109/year depending on qualifications and experience.  Though longevity position tops out at $170,818.
Benefits Information

Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.

Application Instructions

Application materials should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

Application Materials

Applicants should submit:

1. A cover letter describing your interest in the role and your approach to leadership.

2. A resume.

3. A 1–2 page statement responding to the following prompt:

In this role, you will facilitate conversations with students, faculty, staff, and executive leadership about the use of generative and agentic AI at Western Washington University. Please describe your perspective on the benefits and risks of AI in higher education and how you would engage constructively with stakeholders who hold differing viewpoints.

Closing Date Notes Application review begins March 25, 2026; position is open until filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of Student Life at student.life@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.

Job no: 502919
Advertised: Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:

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