Executive Brief

Vice President of Technology
AARP Foundation

The Organization: AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation works to end senior poverty by helping vulnerable people over 50 build economic opportunity. The Foundation's approach emphasizes equitable outcomes for populations that have faced systemic discrimination. AARP Foundation serves all people 50 plus and their families. Through vigorous legal advocacy and evidence-based solutions, and by building supportive community connections, the organization fosters resilience, advance equity and restore hope. 

AARP Foundation (Foundation) is a 501c3 public charity with annual revenue of $250M operating programs across the US serving over one million people over 50 with low income annually. 

AARP Foundation's Vision & Mission:

Vision: "A country free of poverty, where no older person feels vulnerable."

Mission: "AARP Foundation creates and advances effective solutions to reduce poverty for and with older adults."

AARP Foundation's Focus:

AARP Foundation works for and with vulnerable people over 50 to end senior poverty and reduce financial hardship by building economic opportunity. The Foundation achieves this initiative through these main focus areas:

AARP Foundation Executive Spotlights

Claire Casey - President

Claire Casey
President


One in three seniors struggle to make ends meet. That is why, every year, AARP Foundation helps millions of older adults find jobs, get benefits, and stay connected to their communities. Now is a pivotal time to join the Foundation.

Since I joined as President in January 2023, we have engaged our partners, grantees, donors, clients and staff and developed a shared vision for how we can better harness our unique strengths and assets for the greatest good. Now, building on our powerful brand, the deep expertise of our team, and the success of our volunteer-based programs, we are poised to dramatically expand the reach and impact of our work.

We are doubling down on technology and research so we can use data more effectively to inform our programs and decision-making. We are amplifying our communications and marketing to drive greater awareness to our work and the needs of seniors living in poverty. We are putting the people we serve at the center of everything we do. 

The new VP Technology will play an essential role in helping us fulfill our vision of building a country free of poverty, where no older adult feels vulnerable. This person will have the opportunity to build and lead a dynamic and high performing team to help create opportunities to enable the Foundation to  drive our performance – and our impact.  

At AARP Foundation, we foster a collaborative, supportive culture. We share a passion and commitment to the work of ending senior poverty and fighting systemic injustice. We value innovation, high performance, diversity and inclusion. We look for leaders who share these values. If this sounds like you, we hope you will apply.   

Sincerely,

Claire Casey
President, AARP Foundation

The Opportunity: Vice President of Technology

AARP Foundation - VP, Technology - Job Description (PDF Download)

Position Summary

The Vice President of Technology oversees the management of unique business unit applications, legacy systems, databases, and web interfaces to meet current and emerging business needs. This position partners with business unit leadership to develop and communicate technology strategy and vision to support organizational goals. Additionally, the VP, Technology partners with the AARP Chief Information Officer (CIO) and other AARP IT staff to design, develop and implement enterprise-wide information services and security decisions while ensuring compliance with enterprise technology standards and policies. The VP, Technology collaborates with senior management to gather requirements, design, develop and execute strategic technology initiatives and is responsible for organizational level IT operations, compliance with information security and privacy policy and standards, and technology/digital innovation.

This position is the senior technology position in the Foundation responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of the Foundation’s technology and data strategy in support of the Foundation’s mission and goals.

Responsibilities:
  • In partnership with AARP CIO and IT, formulates and implements unique program IT strategy, ensuring alignment with AARP enterprise IT requirements and strategy. Advises executive and senior leadership on emerging trends. Maximizes technology return on investment by determining capital investment priorities, parameters, and risks.
     
  • Establishes the ideal technology business operating models, ensuring compliance with corporate requirements, and ensures that current and planned technical architecture, investments and solutions are aligned with business unit and strategic objectives. Identifies opportunities to leverage technology to optimize processes and harmonize data across programs. Assesses potential impact and application on technology innovations.
     
  • Builds strong relationships with internal groups within the organization and across the overall enterprise and develops a deep understanding of their issues, challenges, and opportunities to support effective execution.
     
  • Defines and leads the organizational and program data strategy and oversees data integration and all aspects of data governance to ensure efficient processes and consistent data flows and alignment with AARP enterprise standards and requirements.
     
  • Oversees technology operational budgets, plans and annual goals. Reviews, recommends, and oversees all technology services and software license agreements.
     
  • Promotes a business first and customer centric approach. Fosters strong IT governance through adoption of software development standards, methodology development, change control processes and other operational standards as established by AARP. Directs the design, planning, implementation, and maintenance of the technology infrastructure in support of operations. Ensures the integrity, confidentiality and availability of relevant systems, applications, and data.
     
  • Establishes metrics for monitoring and managing technology effectiveness. Establishes appropriate service levels. Defines, tracks, and communicates key performance indicators to inform success criteria and track results

Qualifications & Expectations

Qualifications & Requirements:
  • Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree in a technical field preferred.
     
  • 10+ years of overall technology experience, including managing technology solution/application development teams.
     
  • Demonstrated experience in successful execution of technology transformation projects.
     
  • Knowledgeable about the Salesforce platform, standard functionality and use cases, object architecture, and development patterns.
     
  • Experience managing the deployment of custom applications on the Salesforce platform.
     
  • Experience with Software Development Life Cycle methodologies.
     
  • Vendor selection and management/Professional services experience.
     
  • Experience with SAAS and Cloud based technologies, especially AWS and Salesforce.
     
  • Demonstrated experience in structure and/or large audience communication with an ability to effectively communicate technical issues to a broad audience.
     
  • Technical implementation competence and direct experience to determine and lead appropriate software development, solutions, and capabilities with a strong understanding of project management principles.
     
  • Certifications: AWS, Salesforce, Architecture Framework, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated success in building a new team and organizational culture of aligning technology and data to support organizational goals.
     
  • Demonstrated success in organizational technology transformation, including but not limited to governance, data architecture, information security, privacy, and change management.

Additional Requirements:

  • Regular and reliable job attendance.
     
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills.
     
  • Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships.
     
  • Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions.
     
  • In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise.

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.

Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA):

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as telecommuting workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work and telecommuting can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Compensation and Benefits:

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Applications & Nominations

AARP Foundation has partnered with Boyden Executive Search. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:

Wendy Wilsker
Managing Partner, Boston
wwilsker@boyden.com
LinkedIn

Wendy Wilsker has dedicated her entire career to the non-profit sector, serving in leadership roles within charitable organizations and working alongside them as an executive recruiter and consultant. She excels at identifying the unique challenges and opportunities non-profits face, and partners with senior leadership to build successful organizational structures, teams and advancement programs.

Sara Swisher-Anderson
Senior Executive Search Recruiter
sanderson@boyden.com
LinkedIn

Sara is an experienced Chief of Staff, COO, and Executive Search Recruiter with over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, project management and C-suite/senior leadership executive recruiting across several industries. Sara has successfully executed numerous placements, including C-suite roles in the Higher Education, Non-Profit and Financial Services sectors. After transitioning from administration and operations to executive search in 2018, she has had the honor of filling key leadership roles within HR, Tech, Risk/Compliance, Operations, Advancement, Marketing and more.

Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.

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