Director, Technology & Information Systems

Breast Cancer Research Foundation • New York City, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is establishing its first internal technology leadership role. Historically, BCRF has relied on an outsourced IT managed service firm, lacking internal staff to guide technology strategy, manage operational accountability, or bridge the gap between back-office infrastructure and the systems supporting fundraising, finance, and program delivery. BCRF is now bringing this ownership in-house. This is a cross-functional, leadership role for a senior technologist skilled in both strategic and hands-on work, motivated by building a technology function to support BCRF’s mission. The Director, Technology & Information Systems will be BCRF’s senior technology owner, crucial in maturing the organization's IT program. In addition to managing the relationship with the Managed Service Provider (MSP) for helpdesk services and other duties, the Director will be accountable for the entire scope of the organization’s technology and systems operations. This includes strategic and hands-on responsibility for back-office systems and infrastructure, data privacy and security, regulatory compliance, implementing enterprise data strategies, and ensuring strategic data products enhance the utilization and management of data assets. This involves coordination across BCRF’s specialized fundraising and program software ecosystem. This position is based in New York, NY, with a requirement for staff to work onsite a minimum of three days per week.

Requirements

• Bachelors’ Degree
• 8 – 10 years of progressive technology leadership experience, with demonstrated ownership of IT strategy and operations, cybersecurity, and data governance functions
• Demonstrated hands-on accountability for cybersecurity and data privacy, not in an advisory capacity, but as the person responsible for outcomes
• Familiarity with data privacy compliance frameworks relevant to nonprofits and to organizations handling sensitive donor, financial, or research data (e.g., PCI-DSS, state privacy laws, SOC 2, NIST)
• Experience building or rebuilding a technology function with a small internal team; comfort operating without a large staff and managing external resources strategically
• Technically fluent across infrastructure, network administration, cloud services, data integration, cybersecurity, and data privacy, able to go deep when needed and know when to bring in a specialist
• Equally skilled at translating technical complexity into plain language for leadership and program staff
• Strategic and hands-on: comfortable setting direction and doing the work
• Relationship-oriented and credibility-driven; earns trust across departments by being genuinely useful rather than by asserting authority
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis without the need for employer support or sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a nonprofit, foundation, health research, or similar mission-driven environment preferred
• Familiarity with fundraising CRM platforms, particularly Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or similar systems, is a meaningful plus; deep platform expertise in any one system is less important than the ability to learn quickly and ask the right questions
• Experience developing organizational technology policies, including AI use policies, data governance frameworks, or acceptable use standards
• Experience being the first or most senior technologist in an organization is a genuine advantage

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a technology roadmap aligned with organizational strategy in partnership with leadership.
• Advise executives on technology investments, priorities, risks, and emerging opportunities (including AI).
• Serve as the organization’s internal authority on IT, data, and technology-related decision-making.
• Oversee all internal IT operations, including end-user support, infrastructure, networks, systems administration, and hardware/software lifecycle.
• Ensure reliable, secure, and well-documented IT services.
• Manage the managed services provider (MSP) and other external partners, ensuring performance, accountability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Lead cybersecurity strategy and operations, including risk assessments, incident response, and vulnerability management.
• Ensure compliance with applicable data privacy, regulatory, and security requirements (e.g., donor data, financial systems, PCI-DSS, vendor standards).
• Establish and maintain policies for security, acceptable use, business continuity, and disaster recovery.
• Promote a culture of security awareness through training and ongoing risk mitigation.
• Establish and lead enterprise data governance practices, including data ownership, quality standards, access controls, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure data integrity, security, and usability across systems.
• Act as a steward of organizational data, partnering with departments to resolve data quality issues and improve reporting reliability.
• Maintain documentation of systems architecture and data flows to support institutional knowledge.
• Maintain working oversight of mission-critical platforms (fundraising, finance, grant management, digital engagement).
• Support system integration, selection, and improvement initiatives to ensure sound architecture and long-term sustainability.
• Provide technical guidance on licensing, system changes, and vendor solutions.
• Develop and maintain policies governing appropriate use of AI and emerging technologies.
• Advise leadership and staff on AI-related risks, opportunities, and responsible adoption.
• Ensure alignment of AI usage with data privacy, security, and governance standards.
• Own technology vendor relationships, contracts, and performance management.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and ensure strong data protection and technical alignment.
• Collaborate with CFAO on the IT budget, including cost optimization and eventual transition from MSP reliance.
• Report on IT performance, spending, and return on investment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage from the first day of employment
• Contributions to a health reimbursement account or health savings account
• Pre-tax Commuter Transit, Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account and Dependent Care Account enrollment from the first day of employment
• 401K, with up to a 5% match each pay period; employee contributions and any match are immediately fully vested
• Paid parental leave offering 18 weeks 100% paid leave for a birthing parent and 12 weeks 100% paid leave for non-birthing parent
• 15 days of annual vacation time in first year of employment, increasing with length of service
• 7 days of annual paid sick time
• Paid holidays
• BCRF wide half days
• Summer Fridays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director