Director of Technology

As a key technical leader, the Director of Technology guides the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s (CEP) IT strategy and technological approach. The Director plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing projects that optimize technologies and allow CEP to advance its mission. This role is instrumental in identifying and driving process efficiencies, maintaining and improving upon existing technical systems, planning for the future, and collaborating with staff to improve tech experiences across the organization. Reporting to the Vice President of Finance, Operations, and Technology, the Director partners with Data Systems Engineers and other internal and external stakeholders to design and develop systems that underpin CEP’s assessment tools for foundation leaders and YouthTruth’s student survey reports for schools, districts, and networks. The Director will also have oversight of CEP’s IT systems, infrastructure, and technologies including CRM, and websites. This position offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with leaders across the organization and leverage technical expertise in impactful, mission-driven initiatives.

This position is available in our Cambridge, MA office.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• You are highly organized, analytical, and detail‐oriented. You consistently produce high‐quality, error‐free work, reflecting an ability to complete tasks on time with quality and accuracy.
• You have a deep interest in and passion for education, and a belief in student voice as a powerful tool to make important changes in education.
• You have an ability to learn new tools, systems, and skills quickly.
• You are flexible, adaptable, and reliable in a fast‐paced environment.
• You are able to manage multiple priorities and timelines simultaneously.
• You are confident that your work can make a difference but humble in the knowledge that you are always learning and improving.
• You are a genuinely wonderful colleague to have around. You work well within a close knit‐team as well as across other departments. You are also excellent at managing up. Your highly positive attitude, shared commitment to excellence, and thoughtfulness are valuable assets to the organization.
• Your interpersonal and communication skills allow you to interact effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization as well as external contacts.

Resource Management:

• Supervise and mentor two Data System Engineers, including conducting performance evaluations and providing constructive feedback to support their professional growth.
• Manage relationship with CEP’s external IT provider to ensure the delivery of high-quality services and support that align with organizational goals.
• Foster a collaborative environment within the Technology team and across departments to ensure alignment on projects and initiatives while promoting a culture of teamwork and innovation.
• Evaluate proposed technology applications, systems, and expenditures to ensure coordination, mission alignment, and to meet agreed upon thresholds for return on investment and operational impact.
• Annually review and adjust the IT budget to align with changing business priorities, centering cost-benefit analysis while maximizing impact.

Technical and Project Management

• Lead the planning, development, and coordination of the organization’s technology systems, including implementing quality assurance processes, and ensuring the security and effective management of organizational data and websites.
• Assign duties, schedule work, and prioritize projects based on organizational needs, ensuring operational efficiency and alignment with the organization’s goals.
• Develop project plans and processes with focus on continual improvement of the efficiency and success of technology projects.
• Manage technology vendor relationships. Activities include negotiating contracts, setting service level agreements when applicable, maintaining regular communications to ensure alignment, and evaluating vendor performance.
• Enhance communication and collaboration with key stakeholders at various levels across the organization. Regularly update stakeholders on project progress and solicit feedback.
• In collaboration with the IT service provider, establish and oversee a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy – including regular audits, vulnerability assessments, and response plans to mitigate potential security risk- and technology-related disaster recovery procedures.

Overview of CEP’s Technical Environment

• CEP’s IT infrastructure is cloud-based. Critical operations run on Hybrid-Azure AD and AWS for cloud hosting, with key applications including Office 365, macOS, Salesforce, SQL, Postgres, a custom data visualization application (development managed by a third party, hosting on AWS and built with Ruby on Rails), and QuickBooks Online for ERP. We use Cisco Meraki for network management and maintain robust cybersecurity measures across all layers.
• Current technology stack includes Windows and Linux servers, OKTA, and Fortinet Firewalls.

The Ideal Candidate

• You exhibit excellent judgment and an understanding of change management practices.
• You can effectively cultivate a productive working relationship with senior leadership and also support your data and client analyst colleagues in a fast-paced environment while being thorough and results-oriented.
• You are organized, collaborative, and excited to work cross-functionally while building relationships and generating influence across the company.
• You have exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal. You are a strong and persuasive writer who is able to develop well-written memos and briefs that can be understood by both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• You take pride in your work and take the necessary steps to ensure the projects you manage are high-quality.
• You bring an aptitude for – and strong commitment to – continuous improvement within processes and disciplines, helping to evolve from the current state into leveraging new mindsets and approaches.
• You have an understanding of the ambiguity and uncertainty of working with technology on unique problems and have the desire to create structures, evolve systems, and build new capabilities to better serve our customers.
• You are enthusiastic about CEP’s mission and values.

Your Background, Experience, and Interests

• At least 10 years’ experience in technology, with at least 5 years’ experience in people and project management as well as the development and implementation of technology strategies. Experience managing an IT team a plus.
• Proven track record of successfully implementing organizational-wide technology initiatives.
• Experience managing and directing the technical aspects of a CRM system, preferably Salesforce.
• A strong understanding of cloud architectures (e.g., AWS, Azure) and their applications within a data-driven environment, including experience with cloud deployment, scaling, and management.
• Significant experience with data management and warehousing.
• Experience with code management and review tools such as Github, fostering a collaborative and transparent development environment.
• Familiarity with SaaS based software and SSO, SAML Integration, and Integration through APIs.
• Familiarity with Software Life Cycle, Disaster Recovery Plans, and DevOps management.
• A degree (or related practical experience) in computer programming or related field a plus.

Our nonprofit model is central to our identity: our bottom line is impact, not profit. Yet even as a nonprofit, we successfully compete for top talent across both the public and private sectors and offer competitive compensation and benefits, including:

• A commitment to pay parity and salary equity. The annual base salary for this position is $183,000. In addition, this role is eligible for a competitive Performance Based Incentive Compensation.
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off plan, including three weeks of annually accrued vacation, up to 15 holidays, plus an end-of-year break.
• 401(k) plan with a 1:1 Employer Match up to 5% of total compensation
• Generous annual personal professional development allowance.
• Health savings, flexible spending and dependent care tax free savings plans.
• Life insurance covered 100% by the organization.

We strive to balance in-person time with flexibility and the needs of each person, their team, and the larger organization. We believe culture, collaboration, communication, trust- and relationship-building, training, and certain kinds of creative work benefit from in-office interactions – and we believe that the flexibility of remote work also has many advantages. We expect staff to be in the office at least two days per week, and more frequently during new staff introduction periods to support a robust orientation. Everyone will enjoy the option to work fully remotely from anywhere four weeks per year.