Director, Technology & Information Systems

About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Breast cancer is a complex disease with no simple solution. Research is the key to stopping it in its tracks. Founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world. By investing in the best minds in science to examine every aspect of the disease from prevention to metastasis—and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration—BCRF is accelerating the entire field and moves us closer to the answers we urgently need to be the end of breast cancer.

About the Role

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is creating its first internal technology leadership position. BCRF has historically relied on an outsourced IT managed service firm, with no internal staff to guide technology strategy, own operational accountability, or serve as a bridge between back-office infrastructure and the fundraising, financial, and program systems that power mission delivery. BCRF is now moving to bring real ownership in-house. This is a cross-functional, leadership-oriented role for a senior technologist comfortable with working in both a strategic and hands on manner and energized by the opportunity to build a technology function to support BCRF’s mission.

The Director, Technology & Information Systems will be BCRF’s senior technology owner, playing a key role in maturing BCRF’s information technology program.  In addition to managing the relationship with the MSP which provides helpdesk services, among other duties, the Director will have accountability for the full 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, implementation of enterprise data strategies, and ensuring that strategic data products strengthen how data assets and resources are utilized and managed, including coordination across BCRF’s specialized fundraising and program software ecosystem.

This position is based in New York, NY.  BCRF currently requires staff to work onsite a minimum of three days per week.

Primary responsibilities

IT Strategy & Leadership

• 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

 IT Operations & Service Delivery

• 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

Cybersecurity, Privacy & Compliance

• 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

Data Governance & Stewardship

• 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

Applications, Systems & Integration

• 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

AI & Emerging Technology Governance

• 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

Vendor, Budget & Resource Management

• 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

About You

You bring a strong curiosity for learning, adaptability in dynamic environments, and a deep appreciation for leveraging data to drive informed decision-making.  You excel in relationship management, technical leadership, and vision for how to advance data maturity at BCRF. With attention to detail, you focus on strengthening processes, enhancing operational efficiency, and implementing scalable solutions.  You are a strong project manager, able to communicate with technical and nontechnical stakeholders while managing change.  You are motivated by purpose-driven work and are committed to advancing the mission and impact of BCRF through strategic use of technology and information systems.

In addition, you have the following qualifications and experience:

• Bachelors’ Degree 
• 8 – 10 years of progressive technology leadership experience, with demonstrated ownership of IT strategy and operations, cybersecurity, and data governance functions
• Experience in a nonprofit, foundation, health research, or similar mission-driven environment preferred
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Experience being the first or most senior technologist in an organization is a genuine advantage

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time exempt role.  The salary range for this role is $175,000-$190,000.  Our compensation packages include an exceptional benefits package focusing on employee physical, mental and financial wellness.  More specifically we offer

• Medical, dental and vision coverage from the first day of employment; with the election of certain medical plans, BCRF helps significantly defray the cost of out-of-pocket expenses with contributions to a health reimbursement account or heath savings account. 
• The opportunity to enroll in pre-tax Commuter Transit, Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account and Dependent Care Account 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

• • Paid Time Off including
    • 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 along with BCRF wide half days and summer Fridays

To Apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter expressing your intention to apply for the role. After uploading your CV, please select the "upload attachment" option on the next screen to provide your cover letter.
Only candidates short-listed for an initial interview will be contacted. Please, no phone calls.

Our Commitments
BCRF upholds an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, gen etic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all applicants, employees, consultants, third-party workers.

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.