Executive Director of Advancement Information and Technology

About the role

NC State University is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to serve as the Executive Director of Advancement Information and Technology (AIT).

Responsibilities

• Stabilize and optimize the technological foundation of University Advancement, ensuring the continued effectiveness, security, and efficiency of a robust technology ecosystem that powers fundraising, alumni engagement, and communications at NC State.
• Ensure the advancement technology infrastructure, data strategy, and business processes are optimized to support ambitious fundraising and engagement goals.
• Lead the evaluation, selection, implementation, and lifecycle management of systems supporting fundraising, constituent engagement, and advancement operations.
• Conduct ongoing research and evaluation of industry trends and emerging technologies, including developments within the Salesforce ecosystem, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and automation tools, to support business requirements and enhance advancement technology systems.
• Define, implement, and enforce policies, procedures, and guidelines consistent with Advancement and NC State’s Data Governance framework, ensuring efficient, secure, and compliant use of advancement constituent data.
• Chair the University Advancement Data and Technology Governance Committee (UADTGOV) and represent University Advancement on university-wide governance committees.
• Engage, communicate, and negotiate effectively with campus partners regarding advancement technology, information, and process initiatives.
• Maintain strategic vendor and business partner relationships, actively managing contracts to ensure cost-effectiveness and alignment with business needs.
• Provide strategic oversight, coaching, and mentorship to leadership within Application Services, Analytics & Data Services, Advancement Learning, and Project Management units.
• Supervise the recruitment, retention, organizational structuring, strategic oversight, coaching, and mentorship of Advancement Information Technology (AIT) staff.
• Ensure effective project management across Advancement Services projects, utilizing industry best practices and standards.
• Promote and encourage a culture of continuous learning and training, emphasizing thorough documentation and well-defined processes.
• Provide leadership support for initiatives such as campaigns, Day of Giving, and other high-volume, high-impact activities, significantly enhancing NC State’s culture of philanthropy and constituent engagement.
• Ensure NC State’s recognition as a national leader in Advancement Services, positioning the institution as a benchmark for excellence within the higher education advancement community.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Information Science, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or other relevant field or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• 5 years of IT experience with progressive responsibilities and demonstration of leadership.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex technology systems, such as Salesforce CRM.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage technical teams, including recruiting, coaching, and performance management.
• Extensive experience with data governance, analytics strategy, data security, and compliance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of fundraising and alumni engagement within a university advancement or comparable setting.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, including experience overseeing large-scale technology projects utilizing industry best practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage varied stakeholders including senior leadership, technical teams, and end-users.
• Proven ability to develop and manage budgets, contracts, and vendor relationships strategically and efficiently.
• Proven ability to lead and manage change within large, complex organizations.