Enterprise Innovation Lead
Inside Higher Ed, Athens, GA, United States
About the University of Georgia
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full‑time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.
Position Summary This position will lead a team of 3‑5 staff members responsible for coordinating the implementation and maintenance of a portfolio of AI products and other leading‑edge innovative digital services, communicating with campus about changes to the product portfolio, and training for all products within the portfolio. This position will also be accountable for making recommendations on how best to position the University for ongoing success in the deployment of AI for research, instruction, and service, and will be the first point of contact for assessing and offering solutions to new challenges in this area.
In addition, this position will serve as a liaison to campus AI governance groups, working groups, functional committees, and other areas where coordination with EITS will be necessary or beneficial for the productive deployment of AI services at UGA.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent and 8 years of professional experience
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with IT staff and systems within a higher education environment.
Experience leading technical teams responsible for client‑facing IT services.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies
Familiarity with several commercial Generative AI services, such as ChatGPT, Claude, MS Copilot, or Google Gemini
Understanding of the capabilities and risks of Generative AI and Large Language Models
Experience working with IT staff and systems within a higher education environment
Experience leading technical teams responsible for client‑facing IT services
Strong communication and organizational skills
Familiarity with change management, staged deployments, and other systems governance best practices
Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft Office/Office365 products
Experience writing or reviewing documentation for end‑users of online services
Strategic Planning, Governance, and Risk Management
Serve as the primary liaison to campus AI governance groups, working groups, and committees, ensuring alignment and coordination with EITS objectives.
Act as the first point of contact for assessing and offering solutions to new challenges related to deployment of AI tools and other digital services.
Make recommendations on how best to position the University for ongoing success in the deployment of AI and other innovations for research, instruction, and service.
Ensure supported services align with institutional data governance, security, and compliance standards, mitigating risks associated with the use of unsanctioned tools and preventing potential violations (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA).
AI Service Portfolio Management and Implementation
Manage and supervise the Enterprise Innovation and Training team.
Coordinate the implementation and ongoing maintenance of AI products and services supported by EITS.
Oversee the adoption and management of enterprise‑grade solutions, such as a universal conversational AI platform, including vendor management, integration complexity (identity management), and leveraging existing cloud infrastructure investments.
Develop and manage service and chargeback models for advanced commercial services, such as extensions of pilot programs (e.g., ChatGPT Edu), to support sophisticated use cases while managing cost volatility.
Monitor and manage ongoing operating expenses for cloud infrastructure and model utilization, anticipating and planning for growth in platform utilization over time.
Training, Communications, and Adoption
Develop and implement communication plans to inform campus stakeholders about changes, updates, and the evolution of the product portfolio.
Take accountability for coordinating and maintaining training and self‑help resources for all products within the services portfolio, measurably meeting the high expectations of campus respondents.
Lead change management efforts to facilitate the transition of users from unsupported tools to secure, institutional platforms, focusing on driving adoption that sticks and ensuring equitable access to capabilities across all constituencies.
Driving Research and Innovation
Support the evaluation and development of AI and other advanced technology applications through proofs‑of‑concept, prototypes, and pilot initiatives across administrative domains (e.g., finance, research administration, public safety).
Collaborate with technical teams (e.g., Advanced Research Computing) to ensure the foundation for advanced infrastructure, such as API gateways, is leveraged to support research and application development.
Define and measure metrics for success for new AI applications, focusing on quantifiable return on investment (ROI), including estimated time savings for faculty/staff, and production workflows or use cases involving AI or other supported technologies.
Other Duties
Other duties as assigned.
Contact Details For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.
Recruitment Contact Name: Dave Crouch Recruitment Contact Email: dave@uga.edu
EEO Policy Statement The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
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Position Summary This position will lead a team of 3‑5 staff members responsible for coordinating the implementation and maintenance of a portfolio of AI products and other leading‑edge innovative digital services, communicating with campus about changes to the product portfolio, and training for all products within the portfolio. This position will also be accountable for making recommendations on how best to position the University for ongoing success in the deployment of AI for research, instruction, and service, and will be the first point of contact for assessing and offering solutions to new challenges in this area.
In addition, this position will serve as a liaison to campus AI governance groups, working groups, functional committees, and other areas where coordination with EITS will be necessary or beneficial for the productive deployment of AI services at UGA.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent and 8 years of professional experience
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with IT staff and systems within a higher education environment.
Experience leading technical teams responsible for client‑facing IT services.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies
Familiarity with several commercial Generative AI services, such as ChatGPT, Claude, MS Copilot, or Google Gemini
Understanding of the capabilities and risks of Generative AI and Large Language Models
Experience working with IT staff and systems within a higher education environment
Experience leading technical teams responsible for client‑facing IT services
Strong communication and organizational skills
Familiarity with change management, staged deployments, and other systems governance best practices
Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft Office/Office365 products
Experience writing or reviewing documentation for end‑users of online services
Strategic Planning, Governance, and Risk Management
Serve as the primary liaison to campus AI governance groups, working groups, and committees, ensuring alignment and coordination with EITS objectives.
Act as the first point of contact for assessing and offering solutions to new challenges related to deployment of AI tools and other digital services.
Make recommendations on how best to position the University for ongoing success in the deployment of AI and other innovations for research, instruction, and service.
Ensure supported services align with institutional data governance, security, and compliance standards, mitigating risks associated with the use of unsanctioned tools and preventing potential violations (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA).
AI Service Portfolio Management and Implementation
Manage and supervise the Enterprise Innovation and Training team.
Coordinate the implementation and ongoing maintenance of AI products and services supported by EITS.
Oversee the adoption and management of enterprise‑grade solutions, such as a universal conversational AI platform, including vendor management, integration complexity (identity management), and leveraging existing cloud infrastructure investments.
Develop and manage service and chargeback models for advanced commercial services, such as extensions of pilot programs (e.g., ChatGPT Edu), to support sophisticated use cases while managing cost volatility.
Monitor and manage ongoing operating expenses for cloud infrastructure and model utilization, anticipating and planning for growth in platform utilization over time.
Training, Communications, and Adoption
Develop and implement communication plans to inform campus stakeholders about changes, updates, and the evolution of the product portfolio.
Take accountability for coordinating and maintaining training and self‑help resources for all products within the services portfolio, measurably meeting the high expectations of campus respondents.
Lead change management efforts to facilitate the transition of users from unsupported tools to secure, institutional platforms, focusing on driving adoption that sticks and ensuring equitable access to capabilities across all constituencies.
Driving Research and Innovation
Support the evaluation and development of AI and other advanced technology applications through proofs‑of‑concept, prototypes, and pilot initiatives across administrative domains (e.g., finance, research administration, public safety).
Collaborate with technical teams (e.g., Advanced Research Computing) to ensure the foundation for advanced infrastructure, such as API gateways, is leveraged to support research and application development.
Define and measure metrics for success for new AI applications, focusing on quantifiable return on investment (ROI), including estimated time savings for faculty/staff, and production workflows or use cases involving AI or other supported technologies.
Other Duties
Other duties as assigned.
Contact Details For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.
Recruitment Contact Name: Dave Crouch Recruitment Contact Email: dave@uga.edu
EEO Policy Statement The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
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