Systems Director, Conservation

American Rivers • Washington, DC

9d • $86,800 - $106,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

American Rivers is a national conservation organization working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. We combine evidence-based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 4.4 million miles of rivers and streams that are essential to our nation’s clean drinking water, extraordinary wildlife, and the strength of our communities. For more than 50 years, our staff, supporters, and partners have been driven by a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. The beauty of rivers is that they connect all people and communities – including within our organization. The life experiences, knowledge, innovation, and talent that different people bring to our work provides perspectives, experiences, and competencies which are critical to our effectiveness in protecting wild rivers, restoring damaged rivers, and conserving clean water for people and nature.

The Director is responsible for the strategic ownership, governance, and continuous evolution of the core systems that enable American Rivers to deliver its mission. Serving as the internal product owner for the organization's Conservation Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and project management platforms, this role ensures systems are integrated, scalable, user-centered, and aligned with organizational priorities. The position will lead trainings and provide ongoing coaching to support and enable consistent adoption across the organization. The position will support both day-to-day system administration and longer-term strategy, process design, and continuous improvement. As a highly cross-functional leader, the Director plays a critical role in strengthening the operational infrastructure that allows American Rivers to scale its impact and deliver on its strategic plan.

Requirements

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree required
• Systems management, product management or related field, preferably in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Hands-on experience managing a CRM
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Proficiency with core enterprise software tools (accounting and budgeting software, project management software, and/or CRM)
• Experience managing integrations preferred.
• Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Technical fluency with a variety of software tools.
• Ability to balance competing needs and evaluate tradeoffs.
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Professional discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to work across a range of personalities and work styles with staff from all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team
• Systems thinker
• Resourceful
• Reliability and integrity
• Initiative and adaptability
• Time and project management
• Collaboration and relationship-building
• Process orientation and continuous improvement mindset
• Applicant must be legally allowed to work as an employee in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• American Rivers uses Monday.com as it’s work management tool and is currently in the process to select our Conservation CRM.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the product owner for the organization's CRM, project management platform, and other core business systems.
• Develop and execute a multi-year systems roadmap aligned with organizational strategic plan objectives.
• Prioritize and implement system enhancements, balancing user needs, operational improvements, available resources, and long-term sustainability.
• Evaluate opportunities to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, and recommend solutions that improve organizational effectiveness and mission delivery.
• Own the configuration, structure, and ongoing maintenance of the CRM and project management platforms
• Manage user access, templates, system configuration, documentation, and standards.
• Ensure systems are scalable, user-friendly, secure, and aligned with organizational needs.
• Partner with Information Technology and organizational leadership to ensure enterprise systems meet security, privacy, and compliance requirements.
• Conduct periodic reviews of user access, permissions, and system controls.
• Maintain governance processes that ensure consistent, secure, and responsible management of enterprise systems and organizational data.
• Partner across departments to improve business processes and translate operational needs into technology solutions.
• Design standardized workflows, identify automation opportunities, and continuously improve operational efficiency.
• Ensure seamless integration between CRM, project management tools, and other core systems (e.g., finance, communications, data platforms)
• Build and maintain automations to streamline workflows and reduce manual effort
• Establish and uphold data governance practices (data quality, consistency, ownership)
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting to support decision-making
• Lead implementation of new functionality, system upgrades, and releases.
• Develop training, documentation, and support resources that promote successful adoption and consistent system use.
• Coordinate testing, user acceptance, communications, and ongoing user support.
• Manage relationships with software vendors and implementation partners.
• Oversee licensing, product updates, and vendor performance.
• Support software evaluation, procurement, and future technology implementations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, long-term and short-term disability, and life insurance.
• 3% employer contribution to retirement plan after one year of service with no vesting schedule.
• Four weeks of paid leave
• Eleven paid holidays
• Three floating holidays
• Sick leave.
• Home office stipend
• Sabbatical leave (every seven years)
• Paid parental leave (six weeks w/ one year of service).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Associate degree