Senior Director, Data & Technology
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports to: President & CEO
Supervises: Data & Technology (D&T) Team
Position Summary
The Senior Director, Data & Technology leads the Alumni Association's data and technology function, setting the technical vision and directing the team responsible for designing, delivering, and supporting information and technology solutions for staff and constituents. This role is accountable for the strategic direction of D&T priorities, the effectiveness of the D&T team, and the Alumni Association's relationships with University technology partners. The Senior Director translates organizational priorities into a coherent technology strategy — balancing innovation, operational reliability, and risk management — and ensures the D&T team is resourced, aligned, and equipped to execute effectively.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Vision & Planning
- Define and communicate a clear vision and multi-year priorities for Alumni Association technology, in alignment with organizational strategy and in collaboration with leadership, internal partners, and University stakeholders.
- Stay on the forefront of and evaluate emerging technologies and infrastructure trends relevant to the Alumni Association's mission and operational context.
- Own the D&T roadmap, ensuring priorities are transparent, appropriately sequenced and resourced, and adjusted as organizational needs evolve.
- Work closely with other members of the senior leadership team to understand and support enterprise-wide priorities.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, develop, and support all members of the D&T team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative team culture consistent with the Alumni Association's core values.
- Align team capacity, capabilities, and individual skill development with current and anticipated organizational priorities.
- Coach and provide ongoing performance feedback; create conditions for professional growth and accountability across the team.
Technology Solutions & Infrastructure
- Direct the team in delivering technology solutions — including websites, enterprise applications, and data infrastructure — that enable staff effectiveness and constituent engagement.
- Oversee support and maintenance of technology infrastructure, ensuring reliability, scalability, and alignment with current and future operational needs.
- Enable Alumni Association staff with the productivity tools and enterprise systems required to perform effectively.
Data & Insights
- Lead the organization's approach to strategic data, ensuring staff have access to the tools and analytical support needed to make informed decisions, plan effectively, and monitor progress.
- Establish and maintain data governance standards that promote quality, consistency, and responsible use of Alumni Association data assets.
University Partnership & External Relations
- Serve as primary liaison between the Alumni Association and University technology partners, External Relations, and other affiliated units and foundations.
- Represent Alumni Association interests in technology planning and implementation processes that involve shared systems or University infrastructure.
- Build and maintain productive working relationships with University IT leadership and counterparts across related foundations.
Risk, Governance & Budget
- Ensure compliance with Alumni Association and University data governance policies, applicable laws, and information security requirements.
- Manage data security, privacy practices, and application, system, and network security for Alumni Association technology environments.
- Manage the D&T budget, including technology spend, vendor relationships, and resource allocation.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline required; equivalent experience considered.
- Experience leading technical teams in a collaborative, service-oriented environment; higher education or nonprofit context preferred.
- Demonstrated experience implementing enterprise information systems and managing complex technology portfolios.
- Strong understanding of data management, systems integration, and technology infrastructure in an organizational context.
- Proven ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise.
- Experience managing budgets and vendor relationships.
- Familiarity with relevant technology trends, cloud environments, and data platforms.
- High degree of integrity regarding information security and data confidentiality.
Competencies
- Strategic thinking and technical vision
- Team leadership and talent development
- Stakeholder communication and relationship management
- Data governance and information security acumen
- Organizational judgment and prioritization
- Cross-functional collaboration and influence
Working Environment
- General office environment with occasional lifting of computer-related equipment (approximately 40 pounds or less)
- Hybrid work environment with 2 days in-office presence expected and additional times as needed to support team and organizational needs