Position Summary

The Vice President of IT plays a critical role in the strategic vision and daily operational leadership of the IT department at NAIS. The VP of IT manages and develops a multi disciplinary team of IT, software and salesforce engineering, and data specialists. Additionally, this role provides forward-thinking IT guidance and best practices to internal and external partners of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the technology strategy of the organization to align with the overall business objectives.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers, data specialists, cybersecurity specialists, and general technologists in the development, deployment, and maintenance of technology solutions that meet the evolving needs of our staff in service of our members.
• Partner with NAIS vice presidents in formulating effective new ideas and strategies for product/service development and/or business opportunities; collaborate across the organization to execute a technology roadmap that aligns with the goals of the association.
• Lead the enhancement and integration of all core NAIS databases and applications.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, fostering a flexible and collaborative work environment.
• Serve as the face of technology for the association, representing our organization at conferences, events, and industry forums.
• Effectively communicate technology strategies, progress, and challenges to key stakeholders, including executive leadership, board members, and external partners. Serve as a bridge between the technology function and other business units, ensuring alignment and transparency.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners and vendors to leverage cutting-edge technologies and best practices in the development and maintenance of our technology solutions.
• Manage team resources, personnel, and budget to ensure optimal IT support.
• Promote a culture of customer service among the IT department through timely, accurate, and proactive service to employees and members.
• Identify opportunities and create solutions to enhance inward and outward facing platforms to advance NAIS’s mission to provide value added service to our member schools. Ensure the NAIS website, CRM, and other major platforms and applications are functioning effectively and are designed to meet the needs of users.
• Identify needs and implement training to enhance use of existing technologies among employees.
• Foster a culture of innovation and spearhead transformative efforts by encouraging creativity, exploring new technologies, and promoting collaboration across teams.
• Oversee development of detailed technical specifications for RFPs and review major proposals to ensure that NAIS business goals are met.
• Serve as the main point of contact for outsourced tech services, application developers, and other IT vendors to ensure favorable contracts and timely execution of all services in support of specifications.
• Ensure that all IT documentation is prepared, maintained, and improved as necessary for day-to-day work and for superior business risk management.
• Ensure best practices are observed for data security and IT systems and provide timely, professional IT support for all employees.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• Proven experience in a leadership role overseeing the development and implementation of complex technology solutions, preferably within a membership association or the education sector.
• Deep experience with Microsoft-based and open-source development environments.
• Proven track record helping organizations maximize the power of technology to accelerate momentum, cultivate community, and increase productivity.
• Strong understanding of Agile development methodologies and experience leading agile teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Experience working with data analytics, AI/machine learning, and visualization tools.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate future technology trends and develop innovative solutions to address them.

Competencies

• Exceptional customer service
• Solution-oriented thinking
• Innovation mindset
• Team building and development
• Strong written & verbal communication
• Collaboration and change management
• Good judgment

Position Attributes

• Role: Vice President
• Status & Classification: Regular, Full-time, Exempt
• Business Unit: IT
• Supervisor: Chief Operating Officer
• Location: Remote with preference for those located in the Washington, DC area
• Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk, working on a computer.
• Travel: Ability to travel to the headquarters in Washington, DC on a consistent basis, up to 50%.

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, personal appearance, marital status, family responsibilities, political affiliation, matriculation, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Disclaimer: This document describes the position currently available. It is not an employment contract. NAIS reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time, as determined by the needs of the organization.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $175,000.00 - $215,000.00 per year

Experience:

• people management: 3 years (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20006