Director of IT and Head of Technology

Responsibilities

Vision and Strategy

• Collaboratively develop and communicate a forward-looking technology vision and strategy aligned to the foundation’s desired impact, approach and business needs.
• Implement, evolve, and measure the impact of the technology strategy over time.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs), service agreements and objectives for the technology function. Actively solicit end user, internal business partner, and leadership feedback to inform continuous improvement.
• With curiosity and commitment, proactively identify technology tools, solutions and approaches which meet current business needs and anticipate future needs. Ensure the foundation takes advantage of leading-edge technology tools, systems and ideas.
• Collaborate with other teams (e.g., Legal, Programs) on foundation-wide AI strategy and implementation, leading implementation of internal AI technology tools and solutions.
• Share expertise and learn from others by participating in peer networks and associations, including but not limited to philanthropic technology peer groups.

Technology Governance

• Maintain foundation-wide technology policies (e.g., data privacy, information security, device use) and standards. Provide collaborative leadership and input on foundation policies which have a technology component.
• Ensure clear technology governance, prioritization, and decision-making processes that are collaboratively developed and incorporated into work/projects.

Team and Organizational Leadership

• Oversee a skilled and high-performing technology team, ensuring the growth, engagement, and professional development of team members.
• Create a collaborative team working environment, leveraging the expertise and input of technology team members to advance the department’s vision and achieve its objectives.
• Ensure cost-effective management of resources by overseeing the technology operating budget and technology contract negotiations.
• Serve on the foundation’s Senior Management team and play a foundation-wide leadership role in achieving impact and creating an engaging and satisfying work environment for all.

Technology Infrastructure

• Lead the visioning for the foundation’s technology infrastructure and ensure implementation of an infrastructure roadmap aligned with that vision.
• Anticipate technology shifts and take early advantage of them to optimize the foundation’s infrastructure.
• Ensure a highly reliable, secure, and scalable technology infrastructure.
• Continuously improve business continuity planning, including but not limited to cyber security, data security and disaster recovery. Participate in and integrate technology risks with enterprise risk management efforts.
• Support and enhance a cloud-first infrastructure to maintain business continuity.
• Maintain high levels of staff awareness of security threats and address gaps as needed in the foundation’s security posture. Implement robust security measures (e.g., access controls, security awareness training).

Technology Operations

• Deliver highly responsive onsite and remote helpdesk technology support for all staff and offices.
• Ensure end users have the technology and information tools they need.
• Manage an office and hybrid technology roadmap aligned to current and future business needs. Continuously scout for new technologies for more efficient and effective office and hybrid work.
• Stay ahead of security trends and maintain a security-focused environment without being intrusive.

Solutions and Applications

• Oversee the roadmap for the foundation’s use of custom internal and externally-sourced solutions.
• Share technical and functional expertise, guidance, and training to end users on foundation applications. Ensure own high level of competence with the foundation’s standard applications while developing own and team members’ expertise with emerging applications.
• Scout, assess, and as needed, deploy new back-end and front-end platforms and applications to meet the business needs of the foundation and give staff tools for effective and meaningful work.
• Understand the business needs of end users and other partners across the foundation (Programs, Administrative, Investments and Legal), and collaboratively identify/implement solutions that meet their needs.
• Oversee development strategy and roadmap for the foundation’s custom grant management system, ensuring that it effectively supports the grantmaking process and end user needs and experience. Identify and guide improvements that enable the system to deliver high comparative value to the organization.
• Partner with program colleagues, including Adaptive Management and Evaluation staff, to identify and deliver full-cycle adaptive management and evaluation solutions which enable measurement and insights on the foundation’s programmatic impact.

Data and Knowledge Management

• Lead data governance and strategy to ensure the integrity, quality, consistency, and responsible use of data across the foundation.
• Advance data, AI, information visualization and other business intelligence capabilities across the foundation, ensuring the foundation has tools for increasing automation and deriving actionable insights.
• Refine knowledge management strategy and provide tools for effective knowledge management.

Skillset

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or equivalent education and experience in a related field. Master’s degree in technology, business, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of ten to fifteen years’ progressive experience leading Information Technology teams/functions.
• Hands-on technical background and track record of expertise and leadership spanning technology operations (e.g., sysadmin, security, end user support), data and information (e.g., analytics, AI, visualization), and solutions (e.g., development, programming, sourcing applications).
• Deep hands-on experience in the Microsoft environment, including experience with typical on premises infrastructure, Microsoft cloud, and typical development environments.
• Current knowledge of technology issues and leading-edge technology solutions/approaches, with a demonstrated ability to maintain working expertise in a fast-moving field.
• Demonstrated expertise in creating and implementing technology strategies and roadmaps across the technology functions (infrastructure, solutions, data & analytics, AI, office technology, etc.).
• Track record of successful hands-on technology deployment and change leadership, from needs assessment to whiteboarding solutions to achieving buy-in and implementing.
• Experienced project leader with commitment to and working knowledge of best practice project management and software development tools and methodologies (e.g., Agile, waterfall).
• Proven experience building credibility and partnering with senior leaders and staff to identify and assess opportunities, prioritize, drive consistency, and deliver results; drives change through data-driven reasoning, collaboration and adaptation.
• Demonstrated success in working effectively with external partners including expertise in evaluating, negotiating with, and managing vendors.
• Track record of strong technology team leadership and mentorship.
• Candidates from all sectors, including those whose experience is primarily outside the philanthropic and non-profit sectors, are encouraged to apply, with preferred experience in data and information-intensive organizations.