Director of IT

POSITION SUMMARY:  

The Director of Information Technology (IT) engages with Northwest Harvest’s goal of cutting hunger rates in half by 2028 by: being a servant leader emphasizing strategy- and values-aligned projects, programs, and initiatives that reduce hunger; leading NWH’s IT planning, management and infrastructure; actively and collaboratively empowering the professional lives of the IT department employees to be challenging and fulfilling; serving on the Finance & Operations (Fin Ops) management team and the Leadership Team (LT); and putting into practice our Six Agreements and our PACI values. The Director of IT provides the vision for the IT department, and builds healthy, dynamic teams that work well together.

As a member of the Fin Ops management team, the Director of IT will help ensure that programs, initiatives, budgets, and financial planning are aligned with our strategies, and contribute to building a healthy, engaged, productive, and influential team committed to collaboration and innovation across all our organization’s activities. The Director of IT will be a thought partner for leaders across the organization and will lead with “yes” when exploring new, innovative ideas, programs, and initiatives.

As a member of the LT, the Director of IT is responsible for contributing to the overall health of the LT by working to build trust, engaging in constructive conflict, demonstrating commitment to team decisions, holding oneself and others accountable, and focusing on results. As an LT member, the Director of IT holds these key responsibilities in support of our strategy work: know and be able to communicate the Four Strategies; appreciate that our strategy work is central to the achievement of Northwest Harvest’s vision to achieve equitable access to nutritious food for all in Washington State; communicate to the IT team (and, when applicable, to external audiences) about the strategies; and encourage the IT team to pursue engagement in the strategies directly or as a support function.

Schedule: This position may be required to work occasional off-shift hours as necessary for special events or other duties assigned.

Travel:  Be responsive and adaptive to opportunities throughout Washington (WA). This can include but is not limited to local travel and occasional travel to Eastern and Western WA.

RESPONSIBILITIES:   

Adaptive Leadership:

• Provide the vision for the IT Department, and for how the team will work well across the organization
• Lead through influence within the IT Department and across all other departments
• Practice adaptive leadership as well as exercising technical skills
• Build relationships and support cross-functional collaboration, providing technical expertise with recommendations based upon internal clients’ needs

IT Strategy and Execution:

• In partnership with the Chief Finance & Operations Officer (CFOO), set Northwest Harvest’s IT strategy and roadmap
• Manage IT operations, applications, and infrastructure
• Create, implement, evaluate, and improve IT related policies and procedures
• Define and maintain IT budget, optimizing cost-effective operations
• Partner closely with Leadership Team members to offer strategic ideas and solutions aligned to NWH’s mission and vision
• Evaluate and identify the need for systems upgrades, configurations, and new systems
• Actively seek out emerging technologies and explore new trends to identify opportunities for organizational value-add
• Establish proactive vendor management honoring NWH’s commitment to race equity work 
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance regarding all IT systems and functions

IT Team Management: 

• Build healthy, dynamic teams that work well together, with team members who understand their role and impact within and beyond the organization
• Act as an adaptive, servant leader to supervise, support, professionally develop, and hold accountable the Systems Administrators, Salesforce Administrator, ERP Specialist, and IT Help Desk Technician

Offer guidance and expertise in complex situations to overcome technical challenges

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency and an understanding of oppression and its impact.

Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency.

RELATIONSHIPS: 

Internal: Frequent contact with leadership and staff. Communicate daily to ask questions, receive and provide information, discuss IT issues, explain or interpret IT policies and practices, and provide direction and support leaders and staff regarding IT issues.

External: Regular contact with stakeholders, vendors, and professional associates and networks.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

A combination of the real-life experience, education, and training listed below which provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position.  

Successful completion of a background check is required. 

Knowledge of: 

• Appreciation for the root causes of hunger and the experiences of people living in poverty and with food insecurity
• Deep understanding of and commitment to Northwest Harvest’s mission, vision, and values
• Strong management and organizational skills, managing conflicting priorities and deadlines, and an ability to work well within teams
• Top-level IT management, budgeting, and forecasting, in a fast-paced, high-demand environment, operating with the highest ethical principles
• Experience and success in servant leadership: managing, inspiring, engaging, professionally developing, and holding accountable an IT team within a collaborative work environment
• Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 application, various database and reporting applications (e.g., Salesforce, MS NAV, ERP, WMS, RF access, Business Central, Power BI, Jet Reports) and telecom infrastructure
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and think critically by identifying, analyzing, and solving problems.

Ability To:

• Understand individuals who have experienced poverty or food insecurity
• Demonstrate interest in and commitment to supporting equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ populations and people living with disabilities
• Take initiative and think critically by identifying, analyzing, and solving problems
• Project manage and multi-task successfully
• Leadership:
• As an adaptive servant leader, practice collaborative, persuasive, and transformative leadership styles, and lead through influence rather than relying solely on direct-line authority
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and leadership to ensure a high degree of mutual accountability
• Navigate and lead through ambiguity while keeping team members engaged and encouraged
• Ask questions to understand the merits of different approaches and shift strategies in response to the demands of a situation
• Possess integrity, maturity, and ethical awareness
• Handle sensitive information with strict confidentiality
• Problem-solve in a collaborative, efficient, and effective manner
• Analyze issues, synthesize information, make evidence-based decisions, and learn from mistakes
• Cultivate and steward professional relationships with diverse constituencies
• IT Management:
• Create and implement the vision and strategy of the IT Team
• Lead all IT management activities and initiatives
• Engage in the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system to offer IT-related support
• Equity and Connectedness:
• Adopt the PACI (purpose driven, anti-racist, connected and interwoven) model and practice the Six Agreements
• Support equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ populations and people living with disabilities
• Communication:
• Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing
• Listen and ask questions in order to understand
• Communicate complex IT concepts, issues, policies, and procedures to staff and leaders

EDUCATION AND TRAINING: 

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems or a related field; or an equal combination of education and experience with a personal orientation as a life-long learner.

EXPERIENCE:   

Minimum seven (7) + years of experience working in business, overseeing information technology system or a IT operations environment with three (3) years of supervising technology teams, or people management experience.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Non- Profit experience is desired but not required
• Ability to speak a second language is desired but not required

DISCLAIMER:

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an adaptive organization, responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and mission metrics.

BENEFITS AND OTHER COMPENSATION:
Northwest Harvest offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package this includes but is not limited to; medical/dental/ vision/ insurance, long term disability insurance, Life/AD&D insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 401(k) retirement plan, Vacation and Sick leave, 8 paid holidays; New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, Floating holidays for you to use should you observe a holiday not outlined in Northwest Harvests current observed holidays or at your discretion, and birthday holiday. Employees are eligible to participate in payroll deducted supplemental benefits i.e., Flexible Spending account-HRA and DCE, various AFLAC and New York Life plans.