Director of Application Management

About the Opportunity

The Director of Application Management provides strategic leadership, governance, and continuous improvement for Advancement's technology applications and platforms. Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement Resources, the Director serves as Product Owner for Advancement applications, translating business needs into technology solutions that enable fundraising, engagement, stewardship, and operational effectiveness. The role oversees the Advancement technology roadmap and application portfolio, serves as the primary liaison between Advancement and Information Technology Services (ITS), and leads the Application Management team. The Director collaborates with stakeholders across Advancement, ITS, external vendors, and university partners to deliver scalable, sustainable solutions that align technology investments with Advancement priorities, strengthen business processes, improve user experience, and maximize the value of enterprise platforms.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.

• Seven or more years of experience in advancement technology, CRM administration, enterprise application management, business systems, or a related field.

• Experience managing enterprise applications and technology projects.

• Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into technology solutions.

• Experience supervising professional staff and managing competing priorities.

• Strong understanding of CRM systems, application governance, and software lifecycle management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred.

• Experience in higher education advancement or nonprofit fundraising environments.

• Experience with Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, Experience Cloud, Cvent, Shopify, or similar engagement platforms.

• Experience working with Agile methodologies, product ownership, or technology governance frameworks.

• Experience partnering with central IT organizations and external vendors.

Advancement Technology Strategy & Roadmap Management
Lead the development and execution of the Advancement technology roadmap. Establish priorities for system enhancements, evaluate technology opportunities, and ensure applications support fundraising, engagement, stewardship, and operational goals. Partner with Advancement leadership to align technology investments with organizational strategy.

Product Ownership & Application Governance
Serve as Product Owner for Advancement applications. Establish governance processes for intake, prioritization, and evaluation of enhancement requests. Manage application portfolios and ensure technology solutions align with business requirements, user needs, and institutional standards.

Project Management & Technology Delivery
Oversee application enhancement projects and technology initiatives from planning through implementation. Coordinate resources, timelines, testing, training, and stakeholder communications. Monitor project outcomes and ensure successful adoption of new capabilities.

Partnership with ITS & Technology Vendors
Serve as the primary liaison between Advancement and ITS. Translate Advancement business needs into technical requirements and advocate for Advancement priorities. Coordinate with developers, architects, and vendors to ensure effective delivery of technology solutions.

Team Leadership & User Experience Optimization
Provide leadership and direction to Application Management staff. Foster a service-oriented culture focused on continuous improvement, user adoption, and operational excellence. Monitor application performance and identify opportunities to improve user experience and efficiency.

• Expertise in CRM, advancement technology, and enterprise application management

• Strong product management and project prioritization capabilities

• Ability to balance business needs, user experience, and technical constraints

• Effective collaboration with IT, vendors, and business stakeholders

• Strategic planning and technology governance

• Change management and stakeholder engagement

• Leadership and team development

Directly supervises:

• Salesforce and Marketing Cloud Associate Director

• Business Systems Analyst

• Additional Application Management staff as assigned

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.