Technology Director in at Animal Legal Defense Fund

Role Description:

The Technology Director leads ALDF’s Technology Department, setting the strategic direction and owning the security posture of a reliable, well-supported Technology environment for a fully remote workforce of 80+ staff. The Technology Director sets overall Technology strategy, owns cybersecurity and information governance, oversees the organization’s responsible adoption and governance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and directs the strategy, security, and administration of ALDF’s Salesforce platform, including its multi-year implementation. The Technology Director also manages the Technology Department budget and builds and maintains strong vendor and cross-departmental relationships. Directly supervising the Technology Manager and the Database Administrator, the Technology Director translates organizational goals into a Technology roadmap and ensures the department operates as a unified, service-oriented team. The successful candidate is a strategic thinker and self-starter with a hands-on approach, equally comfortable setting long-term vision and stepping in on day-to-day needs.

Job Duties:

Strategic Planning & Team Leadership

• Develops and implements technology strategies, policies, processes, and procedures to support ALDF’s operations, organizational needs, and strategic objectives.
• Leads technology planning initiatives in partnership with the Leadership Team and key stakeholders, delivering strategic direction and vision for the organization's information technology landscape.
• Develops and manages the Technology Department budget, ensuring cost-effective use of resources.
• Directly supervises the Technology Manager and Database Administrator: sets performance goals, conducts evaluations, and provides guidance and career development opportunities.
• Leads, motivates, and manages the Technology team, fostering a collaborative and service-oriented culture; promotes inclusion in team management and hiring practices.
• Communicates the Technology Department’s vision throughout the organization, driving a culture of innovation and adaptability.
• Owns the organization’s strategy and governance framework for the responsible, secure adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools; evaluates new tools and use cases, sets policy for their use, and serves as the primary resource to leadership and staff on how AI can be effectively leveraged to advance ALDF’s mission.
• Stays current on emerging technologies and trends, evaluating their potential impact on the organization.

Infrastructure, Security & Compliance

• Analyzes ALDF’s technology infrastructure and systems performance to assess operating costs, productivity, upgrade requirements, and other needs relative to organizational goals.
• Oversees the maintenance and upgrades of all technology infrastructure, including networks, cloud systems, and end-user devices, partnering with the Technology Manager on day-to-day execution.
• Ensures high availability of systems, data backups, disaster recovery plans, and business continuity measures in the event of emergency situations or data loss.
• Develops, implements, and enforces cybersecurity protocols and incident response procedures, partnering with the Technology Manager and Technology Systems Administrator on day-to-day monitoring and response.
• Ensures compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards, including data privacy laws, security regulations, and PCI standards.
• Directs the strategy, security configuration, integrations, and licensing of ALDF’s Salesforce platform, partnering directly with the Database Administrator on day-to-day administration.
• Leads ALDF’s multi-year Salesforce implementation, including oversight of the implementation vendor, timeline, and budget.
• Owns and facilitates the annual Technology security audit and related investigations, coordinating with the Technology Manager and Technology Systems Administrator on preparation.
• Develops and maintains risk management policies relating to information governance, including file intake, file release, file destruction, and data access requests.
• Ensures policies and procedures are followed regarding file transfer for incoming and outgoing attorneys and staff.

Vendor & Cross-Departmental Relationships

• Develops and maintains relationships with external vendors and service providers at the strategic and contractual level, partnering with the Technology Manager on day-to-day vendor and MSP management.
• Communicates effectively with internal stakeholders and external vendors; collaborates with other departments to meet their technology needs and translate technical concepts into practical solutions.
• Ensures clear documentation, user training, and support are provided for internal technology systems, security, and tools.
• Other duties as assigned.

We Are Looking for Candidates With:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, IGP, CIPP, or CIP preferred.
• At least 7 years of experience in the field of technology with broad knowledge of information management and protection laws, regulations, and best practices.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience developing and motivating technology teams.
• Experience in legal services, legal aid, or non-profit sectors is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity, CRM platforms (esp. Salesforce), cloud platforms (esp. Microsoft 365), and legal case management systems.
• Experience leading a CRM or other enterprise platform implementation, preferably Salesforce.
• Familiarity with AI governance and the responsible adoption of AI tools in an organizational setting.
• Strong strategic, project management, and organizational skills. Experience with Asana is a plus.
• Skilled in communicating to all levels of the organization in writing, speaking, and presentation.
• Proficient in current technology systems and management tools, and in the Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Strong track record in system planning and implementation.
• Proven experience managing relationships with vendors/consultants, technology teams, and internal stakeholders.
• A risk management mindset with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• An understanding of and demonstrated commitment to the mission of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
• The ability to travel periodically for staff meetings and retreats (estimated 1–3 trips annually).

We Offer Competitive Compensation with Excellent Benefits, Including:

• Starting annual salary of $153,094 for most geographic locations. For candidates located within 25 miles of Washington D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, starting pay is $169,209. To ensure salary equity, we do not negotiate salary outside of the published starting rate.
• Comprehensive health, dental, life, and vision benefits (100% employer paid); FSA and DCA also available.
• Generous paid time off: 192 hours of PTO, 19 paid holidays, and a 1-month paid sabbatical after 5 years of continuous employment.
• 401(k) plan with a 5% employer contribution after one year of employment.
• Alternative work schedules available at manager’s discretion.
• Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is a core value for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Additional Information:

This is a U.S.-based position. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Hired individuals will also be required to provide a personal United States address and to work primarily from that address.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing an employment environment which is welcoming of persons from diverse backgrounds and free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and in which all legal rights of our employees are recognized and protected. ALDF conducts all internal and external operations, programs, and employment-related decision making (including hiring decisions) without regard to actual or perceived race, ancestry, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, disability or medical condition (including physical, intellectual, or psychiatric), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, age, or other protected category, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws.

Consistent with the organization’s mission, our offices and events are free of animal products and byproducts.