Director, Global IT

Spirit of America•Arlington, VA

3h•$150,000 - $170,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Global IT is responsible for leading Spirit of America’s enterprise-wide technology strategy, cybersecurity posture, and IT operational excellence across U.S. and international locations. Reporting to the CAO, this role ensures that SOA’s systems, infrastructure, data, and users—both domestic and international—are secure, resilient, and fully aligned with organizational needs. The Director oversees all IT governance, cybersecurity compliance, vendor oversight, and end-user support while ensuring that SOA’s growing global presence (Amman, Manila, Stuttgart, and field locations) has reliable, secure, and scalable IT capabilities. This leader is both strategic and hands-on—capable of building a strong IT function, driving cross-organizational adoption of secure practices, and partnering with senior leadership to strengthen operational readiness, risk mitigation, and business continuity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field; advanced degree or relevant certification (CISM, CISSP, CISA, CCSP, PMP) strongly preferred
Minimum 10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, including cybersecurity oversight, global operations, and enterprise technology management
Demonstrated experience designing and managing secure IT systems across dispersed international environments
Strong knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks (NIST CSF, CIS Controls), cloud environments (Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS), and contemporary IT best practices
Experience managing IT risk, incident response, business continuity, and disaster recovery.
Proven ability to manage vendors, negotiate contracts, and oversee major technology initiatives
Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical issues to non-technical audiences
Strong leadership, integrity, and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to building a secure, high-performing, mission-driven organization
Availability during off-hours for critical incidents or urgent IT matters.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute SOA’s global IT strategy, ensuring alignment with mission objectives, organizational growth, and international operational needs
Serve as the organization’s senior IT expert and advisor to the CAO, CEO, CFO and broader leadership on cybersecurity, systems, and infrastructure
Establish and maintain IT governance frameworks, technology standards, policies, and best practices
Lead implementation of SOA’s Cybersecurity Policy, ensuring comprehensive compliance across all systems, locations, and users
Oversee identity and access management (IAM), multi-factor authentication (MFA), encryption, system patching, endpoint protection, monitoring, and incident response protocols
Conduct annual cybersecurity risk assessments, penetration testing, and vulnerability scans; present findings and remediation plans to the CAO and Audit Committee
Ensure donor, partner, financial, and employee data is protected across all environments and platforms, including cloud and on-premises systems
Lead cybersecurity training, phishing simulations, and awareness programs for all staff
Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of SOA’s IT infrastructure—networks, hardware, cloud systems, storage, collaboration platforms, and communication tools
Ensure secure connectivity and operational readiness for all international offices and forward locations, including compliance with host-country regulations and SOA security standards
Develop and enforce policies for BYOD, remote access, device management, and mobile security for globally dispersed teams
Maintain a robust ticketing and helpdesk support function ensuring timely resolution of technology issues
Lead global incident response efforts, ensuring prompt identification, containment, investigation, and reporting of security incidents
Maintain and test disaster recovery and business continuity plans; ensure regular backup integrity and system redundancy
Oversee IT risk, including geopolitical, operational, and reputational risks affecting international offices and staff
Ensure secure IT support for high-risk travel, remote fieldwork, and sensitive missions
Manage SOA’s IT systems portfolio, ensuring reliability, security, integration, and user experience
Oversee vendor selection, contract negotiation, performance management, and compliance monitoring (including SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST-aligned providers)
Work closely with HR and Finance to ensure secure integration between systems (e.g., ADP/HRIS, Sage Intacct, CRM, SharePoint)
Build a global training program that is short, clear, role-based, and repeatable.
Own: onboarding compliance + cyber training annual recertification cycles targeted refreshers (e.g., travel security, data handling, partner due diligence)
Develop training in multiple formats (live sessions, brief videos, job aids, micro-learning)
Track completion, identify gaps, and adjust based on risk and feedback
Serve as a trusted “translator” turning policy into practical habits
Partner with Ops, Programs, Development, Finance, HR, and IT to embed compliance and cyber thinking into real workflows
Create a culture where staff see compliance/security as mission-enabling rather than punitive
Provide thought leadership on global risk trends affecting nonprofit international work
Build and manage a high-performing global IT team, including domestic IT staff and international IT support provider(s)
Provide clear direction, mentorship, and performance management to ensure alignment with SOA’s mission, values, and culture
Foster a proactive, customer-focused IT environment that consistently supports organizational productivity and operational excellence