Salesforce Solutions Architect & Team Manager

About the position

The University of Colorado's (CU) Office of Advancement manages and coordinates administrative functions that support the campus-based fundraising field staff. These functions include communications, data management, CRM operations, reporting & analytics, estate gift planning, gift processing, marketing, research, and other services. These centralized services place the institution in an optimal position to attract substantial support from the philanthropic sector. The Salesforce Solutions Architect & Team Manager serves a crucial role by being responsible for the development and maintenance of the Salesforce Ascend system and leading the Salesforce team of analysts, administrators, and developers. The Salesforce Solutions Architect & Team Manager role will work with business analysts and key partners to understand business processes and design efficient, scalable, secure solutions to enable them. The role will understand Salesforce architecture at a high level and evaluate and recommend solutions including declarative development, custom code, and Salesforce AppExchange products. This role will manage work assignments across the team, supervise technical development, mentor and coach team members, and manage performance and goal setting. This position reports to the Executive Director of Advancement Data & Technology and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified Staff system.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with business analysts and key partners to understand Advancement business requirements and translate them into scalable, secure, and efficient technical solutions on the Salesforce Ascend platform.
• Design and architect comprehensive solutions that align with the university's technical landscape, Salesforce standard methodologies, and the strategic roadmap laid out by the Advancement leadership team.
• Ensure solutions adhere to campus security policies and align with regulatory standards such as PCI, HIPAA, and FERPA.
• Design technical solutions that account for large data volumes and data privacy requirements.
• Evaluate and implement Salesforce AppExchange solutions to enhance system functionality and user experience.
• Maintain clear and accessible documentation of solutions and system landscape.
• Drive user adoption through release notes and enablement.
• Lead and organize the CU Ascend Admin team (Salesforce CRM team), by assigning tasks, managing resourcing and workload, supervising solution development, and providing technical guidance.
• Train and mentor team members on CU policies, protocols, standard processes, and tools, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.
• Supervise Salesforce CRM team members, including holding regular 1:1 sessions with each team member, maintaining job descriptions, preparing performance reviews, setting performance goals, and supporting career development.
• Ensure the team stays updated on Salesforce releases and incorporates new features into workflows effectively.
• Develop and track internal metrics to measure the success of CRM team initiatives.
• Be responsible for the maintenance and enhancement of the Salesforce Ascend system, including managing upgrades, data integrations, and data quality initiatives.
• Develop and maintain declarative and custom code solutions to meet the evolving needs of system users.
• Monitor and optimize system performance, ensuring scalability and reliability.
• Lead DevOps processes, including version control, continuous integration, and deployment pipelines.
• Be responsible for the software release cycle, ensuring smooth and timely delivery of updates and enhancements.
• Maintain strong relationships with Salesforce and AppExchange vendors to ensure effective collaboration and support.
• Act as a liaison between technical and non-technical partners, ensuring clear communication and alignment on project goals and outcomes.
• Contribute to the development and execution of the Salesforce technical roadmap, finding opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Stay informed about emerging Salesforce technologies and trends, recommending and implementing solutions that align with the university's strategic goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in Computer Science, Information Technology, related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Five (5) years' experience working on the Salesforce platform.
• One (1) year experience in a team lead or supervisory role, which includes assigning and reviewing the work of others, providing guidance to internal and external team members, and assisting management with performance reviews.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's or post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the field of Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• Seven (7) years' professional experience, as indicated above.
• Two (2) years' experience in a team lead or supervisory role, as indicated above.
• Salesforce Certification(s).
• Hands-on experience with Salesforce Ascend.

Benefits

• No-cost or low-cost medical & dental plan options, some inclusive of IVF assistance.
• Disability, Life, Vision Insurance options.
• Multiple retirement planning options including a mandatory 401(a) plan where CU contributes 10% of your gross pay, a 401k or 403b plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan.
• Pre-tax savings plans, such as Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Ample sick and vacation leave, along with at least 12 paid holidays, including a dedicated week off for winter break.
• 6 weeks of parental leave to adjust to the joys of parenthood.
• A tuition benefit program for you and/or your dependents.
• Free RTD EcoPass and Free Onsite Parking at our 1800 Grant Street Office.