Senior Director, Technology

Position Purpose: 

Corporate Systems such as Financial and Legal play a critical role in the operations of our business, requiring a robust technology strategy that ensures the highest levels of security and resilience.  The Senior Director, Technology is instrumental in advancing the enterprise's technical vision by strategically aligning multi-year corporate systems objectives and fostering collaboration across a diverse portfolio of Finance and Legal products. This role requires the creation and implementation of robust, fiscally responsible strategic plans, ensuring the alignment of enterprise goals with customer needs while cultivating fruitful partnerships with functional and technical leaders, as well as key vendors. In driving operational excellence and adopting a customer-centric, data-driven approach, the Senior Director, Technology is pivotal in steering both sustainable process improvements and talent development to support the overarching goals and values of the company. 
 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to identify and align on strategic requirements, ensuring the successful execution of multi-year business goals and the enterprise roadmap. 

• Develop and implement strategic corporate systems plans that meet critical business objectives, adhering to timelines and budget constraints to effectively drive enterprise-wide performance. 

• Apply an AI first strategy to support automation and transformation within the Enterprise Application organization. 

• Oversee the selection, implementation, integration, and support of corporate enterprise systems, including Financial, Legal, and other critical business applications. 

• Deliver secure and resilient corporate enterprise systems, ensure adherence to and compliance with internal policies and external regulations (e.g. SOX, data privacy) 

• Foster strategic partnerships with functional, technical, and vendor leaders, leveraging industry insights and innovations to inform and steer product strategy, roadmaps and organizational goals. 

• Drive process improvement initiatives by developing sustainable and efficient operational procedures, aligning with internal and external customer needs to enhance satisfaction and operational excellence. 

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to direct reports, fostering a high-performing, motivated team aligned with organizational objectives and succession planning. 

• Cultivate a culture of innovation and engagement by creating actionable strategies that align with the organization's vision, values, and customer-centric ethos. 

• Utilize a sophisticated understanding of technology and market trends to apply technology leadership that translates the company's vision into actionable results, driving business growth and success. 

 
Direct Manager Direct Reports: 

• The Senior Director, Technology reports directly to the Vice President of Enterprise Applications 

 
Direct Reports: 

• The role includes managerial responsibilities, entailing oversight and development of direct reports. The Senior Director, Technology is tasked with providing leadership, mentorship, and professional growth opportunities to their direct reports. This encompasses managing and coordinating strategic direction, conducting performance evaluations, and supporting talent management through succession planning and staff development initiatives. 

 
Travel Requirements: 

• The Senior Director, Technology's role requires some travel. Up to 30% 

 
Physical Requirements:  

• The Technology Senior Director position within the company's predominantly operates in a standard office environment. This role requires the ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods during meetings or while working at a computer. Frequent communication with team members and external partners is essential, necessitating the ability to exchange information accurately. The role may occasionally require light physical activity, such as setting up meeting spaces or handling job-related materials. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. The organization is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment, ensuring the successful fulfillment of responsibilities through appropriate adjustments in accordance with applicable laws and guidelines. 

 
Working Conditions: 

• The working conditions for the Senior Director, Technology primarily revolve around a hybrid work environment, which is designed to foster collaboration and flexibility. This balance of remote and on-site work is aimed at optimizing productivity while promoting work-life integration. The corporate headquarters serve as the central hub for strategic planning and cross-departmental synergy, offering a professional setting equipped with advanced technological resources to facilitate high-impact decision-making processes. The position operates within a fast-paced, deadline-driven framework, requiring agility and decisive leadership to navigate complex projects and multi-year strategic initiatives. This dynamic environment emphasizes a results-oriented approach, where proactive contributions and strategic alignment with organizational goals are crucial. The role necessitates a high-level of engagement and the ability to drive outcomes, ensuring that customer needs are met efficiently and effectively. 

 
Minimum Qualifications: 

• Educational Background 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is preferred. 

 
Work Experience 

• Minimum of 10 years progressive technology leadership experience, including at least 4 years managing enterprise financial and legal applications that span multiple business units. 

• Proven experience supporting enterprise financial processes, including consolidation, planning, forecasting. 

• Proven experience integrating financial applications (Onestream, EPM, etc) with other business applications. 

• Proven track record of leadership at a Director level or above, with the ability to guide strategic direction and execute plans across a portfolio of products. 

• Demonstrated experience in managing and developing direct reports with their own operational spans of control. 

• Strategic and Leadership Expertise 

• Expertise in defining, communicating, and driving value propositions, success metrics, and outcomes that align with enterprise goals. 

• Skilled in shaping, aligning, and guiding the execution of strategic direction and roadmaps. 

• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships, influence high-level vendor partners, and collaborate effectively with functional and technical leaders across all organizational levels. 

• Proven track record in cultivating strategic vendor relationships that align with domain, portfolio, and enterprise objectives. 
  - Experience in leading talent management efforts including talent attraction, retention, development, and motivation. 

Technical and Industry Acumen 

• Comprehensive understanding of market trends and industry innovations, specifically pertaining to finance and Legal technology  portfolios. 

• Competence in applying business insights and financial acumen to drive enterprise goals and make informed business decisions. 

• Proficiency in technology strategy development and the adoption of innovations in business-building digital and technology applications. 

• Exposure to multiple, diverse technologies and processing environments including hybrid enterprise landscapes utilizing cloud and on-premise solutions. 

• Experience with enterprise SaaS applications, financial datasets and use of API led design principles. 

 
Core Competencies 

• Builds effective teams and drives engagement and operational excellence to meet organizational objectives. 

• Executes sound decision-making and planning at both strategic and tactical levels. 

• Demonstrates a customer-centric focus with the ability to deliver viable solutions and build strong customer relationships. 

• Exhibits organizational savvy, navigating through complex policy, process, and people dynamics efficiently. 

• Possesses a strategic mindset, capable of translating future possibilities into actionable breakthrough strategies. 

• Demonstrates situational adaptability and the courage to address and resolve complex issues effectively. 

• Drives vision and purpose, motivating teams to achieve a compelling and aligned future state. 

 
Preferred Qualifications: 

• Minimum of 12 years progressive technology leadership experience, including at least 6 years directing enterprise financial and legal applications that span multiple business units. 

• Deep knowledge of financial business processes and consolidation of information across multiple business units. Proven ability to deliver effective enterprise solutions that integrate with and leverage a SaaS platforms 

• Proven experience using AI tools and automation to enhance process execution. 

Advanced Leadership and Influential Skills:

• Proficiency in guiding and inspiring large, cross-functional teams toward the accomplishment of strategic objectives. Demonstrated capability to motivate and align diverse groups around a shared vision and strategy, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.

​Strategic Business Acumen 

• Proven ability to design comprehensive business strategies that align with corporate goals while demonstrating fiscal responsibility. Experience in crafting long-term technology roadmaps that support expansive, multi-year growth agendas within a multi-division organization. 

• Exemplary Communication and Negotiation Skills 

• Superior capacity to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, including non-technical stakeholders. Established track record of successfully negotiating and managing key strategic vendor relationships to support enterprise objectives. 

 
Proficient in Change Management 

• Demonstrated success in driving transformational change initiatives and managing the complexities associated with significant organizational restructuring or technology shifts. Capability to influence and engage stakeholders in alignment with strategic changes. 

 
Innovative Mindset 

• Forward-thinking approach to technology adoption; skillful at exploring and implementing cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational efficiency and strategic positioning. Proven history of cultivating an innovation-centric mindset across teams. 

• These qualifications, while not mandatory, significantly contribute to the success of a Senior Director, Technology within the company, enabling the organization to sustain competitive advantage and drive forward-looking strategies in a dynamic market environment. 

Minimum Education: 

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study is preferred. 

 
Preferred Education: 

• A Master’s degree in Technology, Business Administration, or a related field is highly desirable, underscoring a commitment to continuous learning and deepening of industry-relevant expertise. 

 
Minimum Years Of Work Experience: 

• The minimum years of experience required for the Senior Director, Technology role is 10+ years of relevant work experience. 

  
Competencies:  

1. Strategic Vision and Planning: Demonstrating the ability to envision future possibilities and translate them into strategic action plans that align with enterprise objectives, enabling the organization to proactively respond to market and industry trends. 
 
2. Stakeholder Collaboration and Influence: Building and nurturing effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including technical and functional leaders and strategic vendors, to ensure alignment with business goals and drive organizational success. 
 
3. Leadership and Talent Development: Providing mentorship and coaching to develop direct reports and their teams, fostering a culture of growth, engagement, and high performance to strengthen the organization's leadership pipeline. 
 
4. Operational Excellence and Process Improvement: Developing and implementing repeatable, reliable processes that drive efficiency and enhance satisfaction, ensuring that operational metrics are met while prioritizing both internal and external customer needs. 
 
5. Business and Financial Acumen: Applying a comprehensive understanding of the business landscape and key financial indicators to make informed decisions that advance strategic goals and optimize the allocation of resources and budgets. 
 
6. Innovation and Adaptability: Cultivating a culture of innovation by fostering new ideas and solutions that enhance the organization's capabilities and adapting strategies and plans to the shifting demands of dynamic environments. 
 
7. Customer-Centric Approach: Building and maintaining strong customer relationships by creating solutions and strategies that prioritize customer needs, ensuring that the organization consistently delivers value and satisfaction. 
 
8. Decision Quality and Courage: Making well-considered and timely decisions that propel the organization forward, addressing difficult issues with confidence and ensuring that strategic objectives are consistently met.