Service Owner, Enterprise Data and Integration

Please note, we are not offering H-1B or Green Card sponsorship for this position. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

The University of Minnesota is committed to fostering local talent through employment opportunities. While this position utilizes a hybrid work modality, prospective applicants must be located either in the state of Minnesota or near the Wisconsin border or otherwise open to relocation.

Within the central Office of Information Technology (OIT), we are excited to offer a new Service Owner position for our enterprise data platform. This is a unique opportunity to lead a fundamental shift in how the University uses data. In this role, you'll be responsible for leading work defining and guiding the future of our data platform. This will include deprovisioning a legacy data warehouse that has been in place since 1985 and building a modern data platform from the ground up. Managing stakeholder needs will be critical to success as we design, develop, implement, and maintain a new platform utilizing technologies such as Data workbricks and Golden Gate on cloud infrastructures such as Azure and OCI. This is a business-aligned function requiring strong business insight, technical expertise, and an ability to communicate with a broad audience.

Job Responsibilities:

Service Strategy

• Establish the vision, roadmap, and priorities for the Enterprise Data Platform (EDP), the University's new cloud-based lakehouse architecture designed to unify data for teaching, research, operations, and decision-making.
• Actively communicate the value of the platform, highlighting benefits such as easier access to trusted data, improved scalability, enhanced analytics, and support for innovative research and student success.
• Engage with higher education and industry best practices to ensure the platform evolves in alignment with cutting-edge trends.
• Anticipate and mitigate security risks while ensuring the platform adheres to strong data governance and compliance frameworks.
• Identify emerging data capabilities (e.g., AI/ML, real-time streaming, self-service BI) that can provide value to faculty, researchers, and administrators.
• Plan and manage budgets in support of the platform's long-term growth and sustainability.
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure the team develops the skills needed to support onboarding, adoption, and future expansion.

User Adoption & Service Improvement

• Serve as a key advocate and guide for faculty, researchers, and staff adopting the Enterprise Data Platform, ensuring a smooth onboarding experience.
• Design and maintain processes, documentation, training, and knowledge resources that empower users to self-serve effectively.
• Regularly engage with colleges, campuses, and business units to understand needs, assess satisfaction, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Review user feedback, support tickets, and surveys to enhance the platform's usability and reliability.
• Mentor team members and foster a culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and service excellence.

Service Operations

• Lead initiatives of moderate to high complexity involving cross-campus stakeholders, ensuring successful delivery through Agile and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) practices.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the enterprise data platform, including performance monitoring, incident resolution, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain and enforce service-level agreements (SLAs) for reliability, security, and accessibility.
• Ensure high-quality documentation of standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and knowledge base articles to support both staff and end users.
• Manage vendor relationships for technologies supporting the lakehouse ecosystem (e.g., Databricks, GoldenGate, SQL-based tools, cloud providers).
• Apply ITIL best practices to proactively identify root causes of issues and implement durable solutions.
• Ensure adherence to all University security, accessibility, and compliance standards.
• Manage vendor relationships for technologies supporting services.
• Engage with budgeting activities to manage the budget associated with services

Please Document Qualifications in Application Materials

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS plus at least six years of relevant technical experience OR master's degree plus at least four years of relevant technical experience.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading and managing technical teams.
• Experience leading the design, implementation, and maintenance of enterprise data platforms, including direct experience with cloud-native data services in Azure or OCI, or similar platforms.
• Demonstrated experience in product ownership or service management, including defining a service catalog, managing a product backlog, and establishing and enforcing service-level agreements (SLAs).
• Demonstrated experience managing change initiatives that involve a large, diverse user base.
• Experience with IT policy creation and compliance adherence when managing sensitive data.
• Demonstrated experience with data governance establishing data stewardship models, and implementing data quality and integrity frameworks.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with ability to translate technical concepts and requirements into business value for a broad, non-technical audience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BA/BS plus at least ten years of relevant experience OR master's degree plus at least eight years of relevant experience.
• Background in Agile and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) principles, with a demonstrated understanding of policies, and best practices.
• Experience as a Service Owner, Product Manager, or similar role responsible for leading a new service offering from inception to adoption.
• Experience with data management technologies such as Databricks, GoldenGate and SQL.
• Experience in a higher education or public sector environment, with a demonstrated ability to communicate and create buy-in for new data and technology initiatives.

Pay Range: $130,000 - $145,000 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Professional & Administrative (P&A) Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022). #ZR