Director Data Innovation and AI

About Tech Impact
Tech Impact is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to leverage technology to advance social impact. Through technology services, education, workforce development, and the Data Innovation Lab, we help nonprofit organizations and communities use technology more effectively.
The Data Innovation Lab brings together data scientists, data engineers, visualization and front-end developers, to help nonprofit organizations, foundations, and government agencies solve complex community challenges. Our work includes data and AI strategy, capacity building, data optimization, analytics, visualization, and data storytelling.

Benefits of Working for Tech Impact

• We pay 87% of associate and dependent medical benefits and cover your out-of-pocket medical expenses.
• Paid Time Off - 15 days accrued in the first year.
• 10 Paid Holidays.
• IRA Matches up to 3% of gross salary.
• Employer-paid life insurance benefit.
• Our organization allows everyone to learn and grow to make a difference.
• Learn More About Tech Impact

Position Summary
Tech Impact is seeking a strategic, entrepreneurial, and externally focused Director of Data Innovation & AI to lead the Data Innovation Lab through its next stage of growth.
A central priority will be creating practical, responsible, and accessible artificial intelligence offerings for small and mid-sized nonprofit organizations. These may include funder-sponsored cohorts, bootcamps, workshops, assessments, implementation projects, and advisory services that help nonprofits use AI, automation, data, and information systems to strengthen their operations and impact.
The Senior Director will serve as a visible representative of the Data Innovation Lab, building relationships with government agencies, foundations, nonprofit leaders, and other partners. The successful candidate will combine business development and fundraising ability with enough knowledge of AI, data, and nonprofit operations to identify opportunities, shape credible programs, and guide multidisciplinary teams.
The Senior Director will help guide the Lab’s transition from its current ARPA-funded portfolio to a sustainable mix of government funding, philanthropic grants, capacity-building initiatives, and earned revenue from nonprofit consulting and technology projects. The position will oversee the responsible wind-down of ARPA-funded work through December 31, 2026, while developing the partnerships, programs, and revenue pipeline needed to sustain and grow the team going forward.

Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Organizational Leadership

• Develop and execute a multiyear strategy that positions the Data Innovation Lab as a leading provider of practical, responsible AI and data solutions for the nonprofit sector.
• Lead the Lab’s transition from ARPA-supported operations to a diversified and sustainable funding model.
• Oversee the orderly completion and wind-down of ARPA-funded programs, projects, staffing commitments, reporting, and partner relationships through December 31, 2026.
• Establish annual priorities, revenue targets, program goals, budgets, staffing plans, and performance measures in collaboration with Tech Impact’s executive team.
• Maintain a clear understanding of nonprofit technology needs and translate those needs into scalable, fundable services and programs.

Revenue Development and Partnerships

• Build and manage a qualified pipeline designed to generate approximately $3 million in annual revenue from government contracts, foundation grants, capacity-building initiatives, and fee-for-service projects.
• Cultivate relationships with government agencies and philanthropic funders interested in nonprofit capacity building, responsible AI adoption, data maturity, civic technology, and equitable access to technology.
• Identify relevant funding opportunities and lead or contribute to proposals, scopes of work, budgets, presentations, and contract negotiations.
• Develop partnerships with nonprofit networks, community organizations, technology providers, academic institutions, and subject-matter experts.
• Work closely with executive leadership, development, marketing, finance, and program staff to coordinate fundraising, sales, pricing, contracting, and revenue forecasting.
• Create pathways that move organizations from workshops and speaking engagements into assessments, cohort programs, consulting engagements, and implementation projects.

AI and Program Development

• Design a portfolio of AI-centered services appropriate for small and mid-sized nonprofits, emphasizing practical value, accessibility, responsible use, privacy, security, and organizational readiness.
• Develop repeatable offerings such as AI-readiness assessments, executive education, staff bootcamps, funder-sponsored learning cohorts, workflow automation projects, data-system improvements, and implementation support.
• Ensure that programs address real nonprofit needs rather than promoting technology for its own sake.
• Establish standards for responsible AI use, including appropriate attention to data privacy, bias, transparency, security, human oversight, and the risks faced by vulnerable communities.
• Evaluate emerging tools and trends and determine which technologies are sufficiently useful, responsible, and mature to incorporate into the Lab’s work.
• Collaborate with technical staff and external experts to ensure that proposed solutions are credible, feasible, and deliverable.

Team and Portfolio Management

• Lead, support, and develop a multidisciplinary team that may include data scientists, data engineers, developers, project and program staff, and fellows.
• Create a sustainable staffing structure for a department of approximately six to eight employees, aligned with confirmed revenue and projected demand.
• Set clear expectations for project quality, utilization, timelines, budgets, client experience, and measurable outcomes.
• Guide the development of project scopes and delivery plans while empowering technical leads to make appropriate implementation decisions.
• Monitor the financial and operational health of the Lab’s portfolio, including pipeline, contracted revenue, project margins, staff capacity, delivery risks, and client satisfaction.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, learning-oriented culture that connects technical excellence with Tech Impact’s social-impact mission.

External Representation and Thought Leadership

• Serve as a primary spokesperson and ambassador for the Data Innovation Lab.
• Represent Tech Impact through in-person and virtual conferences, panels, webinars, funder briefings, community meetings, and other speaking engagements.
• Translate complex AI and data topics into clear, useful language for nonprofit executives, program leaders, funders, and government partners.
• Develop presentations, articles, case studies, demonstrations, and other thought-leadership materials that strengthen the Lab’s reputation and generate qualified leads.
• Listen actively to nonprofit and community stakeholders and bring their needs into the Lab’s program and service design.

Measures of Success
During the first 12–18 months, the Senior Director will be expected to:

• Establish and begin implementing a clear post-ARPA strategy for the Data Innovation Lab.
• Build a credible, diversified pipeline capable of supporting the Lab’s annual revenue goal.
• Secure meaningful new government, philanthropic, and earned-revenue commitments.
• Launch a focused portfolio of market-tested AI and automation offerings for nonprofits.
• Develop strong relationships with priority funders, government agencies, nonprofit networks, and prospective clients.
• Complete ARPA-funded commitments responsibly and maintain effective relationships with the State of Delaware and other partners.
• Align staffing and operating costs with the Lab’s confirmed and anticipated revenue.
• Increase the Lab’s visibility through high-quality speaking engagements and thought leadership that produce measurable partnership and sales opportunities.

Qualifications
Required

• Progressively responsible experience in nonprofit leadership including technology consulting, government programs, philanthropy, technology services, business development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success developing significant revenue through government contracts, foundation grants, institutional partnerships, consulting engagements, or a combination of these sources.
• Experience building and managing a business-development or fundraising pipeline, including opportunity qualification, proposal development, budgeting, relationship management, and closing.
• Working knowledge of artificial intelligence, automation, data strategy, analytics, or information systems and the ability to communicate these subjects to nontechnical audiences.
• Experience designing programs or services in response to community, client, or funder needs.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex portfolios, budgets, and organizational change.
• Strong public-speaking, facilitation, presentation, and written-communication skills.
• Commitment to responsible, equitable, and human-centered uses of technology.
• Strong alignment with Tech Impact’s nonprofit mission.

Preferred

• Experience working directly with small or mid-sized nonprofit organizations.
• Existing relationships with foundations, government agencies, nonprofit associations, or capacity-building funders.
• Experience securing federal, state, or local government funding and managing associated compliance requirements.
• Experience developing cohort-based learning programs, bootcamps, technical-assistance initiatives, or funder-sponsored capacity-building programs.
• Familiarity with AI governance, data privacy, cybersecurity, change management, and technology adoption in resource-constrained organizations.
• Experience overseeing consulting or professional-services work, including pricing, contracting, utilization, and project economics.
• Experience successfully transitioning a program or department from time-limited grant funding to a diversified revenue model.

Leadership Profile

• Entrepreneurial: Able to recognize opportunities and turn broad ideas into fundable, deliverable programs.
• Externally oriented: Energized by relationship building, public speaking, partnership development, and revenue generation.
• Technically credible: Conversant in AI and data without needing to be the team’s most advanced engineer or data scientist.
• Mission driven: Motivated by helping nonprofits use technology responsibly and effectively.
• Pragmatic: Able to balance innovation with budgets, staffing capacity, organizational readiness, and delivery realities.
• Collaborative: Skilled at bringing together funders, government leaders, nonprofit practitioners, technical specialists, and internal teams.
• Accountable: Comfortable being measured against revenue, pipeline, program, delivery, and impact goals.

Tech Impact Employment Policy

• As an equal-opportunity employer, Tech Impact values a diverse, inclusive workforce, and we provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and associates. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. We also consider qualified applications regardless of criminal histories consistent with legal requirements.
• ADA Specifications: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
• Requires the ability to use a computer and other office-related equipment.
• Requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time, stand, stoop, crawl and lift up to 50 lbs.
• May require local and regional travel.