Technology Director

Technology Director

Classification: Exempt; non-union

Location: New York City; Hybrid; 2-3 days a week onsite

Compensation : $138,332 to $188,591

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Direct reports: Technology Manager and Technology Support Manager

About the Center for Constitutional Rights

The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, the Center for Constitutional Rights has taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach.

The Center for Constitutional Rights partners with communities and social movements to build power and co-design legal, policy, and cultural interventions that advance justice. Through strategic communications, the Center for Constitutional Rights works to challenge dominant narratives and build public support for systemic change.

Position Summary

The Technology Director (TD) will lead and strengthen the Center for Constitutional Rights’ technology function to support its mission and long-term strategic goals. This role requires a collaborative, people-centered leader who can balance strategic vision with hands-on technical understanding.

The Technology Director will oversee day-to-day IT operations while guiding the organization toward a more proactive, structured, and effectively implemented technology environment. A key focus of this role will be ensuring that systems, processes, and policies are not only designed but consistently adopted and maintained across the organization.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Technology Director will manage and develop a small IT team, with an emphasis on mentorship, accountability, and building a culture of trust, clarity, and shared ownership. The role will also work closely with staff across departments to ensure technology solutions are responsive, accessible, and aligned with organizational needs.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise—particularly in cybersecurity, infrastructure, and IT operations—along with the ability to assess systems in practice, identify gaps between design and execution, and drive meaningful improvements. They are a clear communicator who can translate complex concepts for non-technical audiences and lead with a thoughtful, values-aligned approach to technology.

Key Priorities for the First 6–12 Months

• Build trust and establish strong working relationships with IT staff and cross-functional teams
• Assess current systems, infrastructure, and workflows, including gaps between design and day-to-day execution
• Strengthen cybersecurity practices, policies, and staff awareness
• Improve consistency in processes, documentation, and system usage across the organization
• Provide mentorship and development to IT staff, strengthening skills, accountability, and confidence

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the IT team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning
• Build trust within the team and across the organization through transparent, responsive, and inclusive leadership
• Set clear expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and support professional growth and skill development
• Strengthen team performance by introducing greater clarity, structure, and consistency

Technology Strategy & Infrastructure

• Partner with the COO to develop and implement a forward-looking technology strategy aligned with organizational priorities
• Lead modernization of systems, tools, and infrastructure to improve efficiency and user experience
• Oversee data infrastructure and backend systems supporting operations and programmatic impact
• Monitor emerging technologies and assess relevance to organizational needs

Cybersecurity & Risk Management

• Lead cybersecurity strategy, infrastructure, and initiatives
• Continue to develop and maintain data privacy and security policies and protocols
• Strengthen staff awareness and compliance with digital security practices
• Identify vulnerabilities and implement risk mitigation strategies

Operations & Service Delivery

• Oversee daily IT operations, including systems, hardware, software, and help desk support
• Ensure services are responsive, reliable, and aligned with staff needs
• Improve communication, prioritization, and follow-through in IT service delivery
• Identify and address gaps between system design and real-world execution

Systems, Processes & Implementation

• Develop and maintain IT documentation, policies, and procedures
• Introduce and enforce consistency in workflows, system usage, and internal processes
• Ensure systems are effectively adopted across the organization
• Lead implementation of technology projects from planning through execution

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Vendor Management

• Partner with Legal, Advocacy, Communications, Development, and Operations on technology initiatives
• Support cross-organizational system integration
• Manage vendor relationships and contracts
• Collaborate with leadership on budgeting and resource allocation

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience leading technology functions, including both strategic planning and hands-on execution
• Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and developing teams in a collaborative and hybrid environment
• Strong background in IT infrastructure, systems management, and enterprise applications
• Deep knowledge of cybersecurity, risk assessment, and data privacy practices
• Proven ability to identify gaps between system design and execution and drive adoption of processes and tools
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences
• Experience leading initiatives in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Commitment to collaboration, inclusion, and mission-driven work
• Alignment with the mission of the Center for Constitutional Rights

Preferred

• Experience in a nonprofit, advocacy, or social justice organization
• Proficiency across Google Workspace, Microsoft, and hybrid infrastructure systems, with hands-on experience supporting cross-platform operations, cloud-integrated workflows, and transitioning organizations to open-source and non-big-tech alternatives.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $138,332 – $188,591, commensurate with experience.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is committed to equitable compensation; offers are determined based on experience, skills, and internal equity.

Benefits include employer contribution to a 401(k) plan, flexible spending account, generous paid time off, and 100 percent employer-paid health benefits (medical, dental, life, and disability insurance).