Senior Manager of Database & Technology

Company Description

Established in 1905, the American Advertising Federation (AAF), acts as the "Unifying Voice for Advertising." Its membership is comprised of nearly 100 corporate members made up of the nation’s leading advertisers, agencies, and media companies; a national network of nearly 200 local clubs representing 40,000 advertising professionals; and more than 200 college chapters with 5,000 student members. The AAF operates a host of programs and initiatives, including the Advertising Hall of Fame, the Advertising Hall of Achievement, the American Advertising Awards, the National Student Advertising Competition, the Mosaic Center for Multiculturalism and AdCamp for high school students, to name a few. Currently our national headquarters are a mighty staff of 15.

Job Summary:

The Senior Manager reports directly to the Director of Finance and Operations. This role manages all network, data, and technology vendor relationships for the AAF (American Advertising Federation). This individual will be the primary support for the association’s management of the Association Management System (IMIS) and be the first level of interaction for all help desk and network support requests.

Within this role, you will develop and implement IT goals and strategic planning using AAF business objectives. You will maintain AAF’s primary Association Management System iMIS Cloud and CMS iMIS Rise. This person will lead and plan company-wide technology initiatives and plan business growth through technology. They will be responsible for managing technology vendors to ensure that service-level agreements are met and to ensure secure transactions of association data and ensure network security. They will participate in vendor negotiations and quarterly quality calls with vendors. This role will also manage and develop the yearly IT budget for the Association.

Responsible for the day-to-day managerial and administrative operations associated with:

• Manage the association’s IMIS Cloud Enterprise database system and IMIS Rise website.
• Modify the database structure, as necessary.
• Manage and implement all database customizations and configurations.
• Manage Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Exchange, and other systems integrations (inbound and outbound), web portals and data and analytics cloud infrastructure with the assistance of technology vendor.
• Cultivate a team-oriented, problem-solving culture focused on delivering quality data solutions that facilitate business success.
• Maintain and develop AAF technology budget
• Enforce IT policies and standards
• Research needed technology based on goals, strategies, practices, and user projects.
• Domain management, continuity planning, and updates
• Equipment management, review, and inventory
• Collaborate with departments to establish a data strategy and to determine how technology and other tools can best service business needs.
• Disseminate website contact forms to appropriate staff.
• Resolve minor user network authentication and credential issues
• Serve as initial help desk support for staff and members before escalating to IT vendor.
• IT systems monitoring and service contract negotiations.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices.
• Maintain relationship with IT support vendors to ensure prompt response and completion on IT projects.
• Monitor network bandwidth, computer access, and website uptime.
• Preserve assets by implementing disaster recovery and backup procedures and information security and control structures.
• Provide essential hardware to support staff for increased productivity.
• Recommend information technology strategies, policies, and procedures by evaluating organization outcomes; identifying problems; evaluating trends; anticipating requirements, in conjunction with computer maintenance vendor.
• Other responsibilities as needed.

Essential Responsibilities:

Database Management – This role will be the sole provider of IMIS Cloud AMS administration. AAF provides training using ASI’s training portal. The ideal person will be able to customize the Redirector page and create Public and Staff site profile forms. Create accounting reports using IQA and SSRS. Have extensive knowledge of IQAs, Process Automation, and marketing communication templates. Adding new events, products, and setting up membership billing cycles using the correct general ledger accounts. Familiarity with CSI’s I-import is a plus as it is used to import significant information for dues billing purposes. The ability to create and maintain tagged lists and pages using IMIS Rise. Escalate unresolved issues to ASI using their help desk portal and follow up with them.

Strategy – This role is responsible for developing the department’s strategic vision through technology. They will develop, implement, and manage long-term strategic plans, policies, and procedures for the organization. This position will require a strategic leader for the department, as well as in collaboration with all AAF departments, volunteers, and members.

Project Management – You will oversee the implementation and management of current Information Technology, develop added support systems, and oversee IT projects. The Manager will create project timelines, budgets, and manage all network and database logistics. Senior Manager of IT requires a hands-on approach to all facets of the association’s technology. The position requires the individual to be forward-thinking, as well as provide immediate support to all AAF staff for all technology needs. To successfully fulfill this role, one must be able to provide help desk, software, website, and network support daily on an ad hoc and planned basis. One must excel in crisis aversion, mitigation, and possess wide-range knowledge of all specialized IT areas, AAF vendor relationships, and AAF technology history.

Within this role, you will create a method to manage staff concerns and communicate resolutions and follow-up. Time management is essential as you are the only IT personnel on staff. You must leverage immediate staff requests, ongoing projects, and escalate vendor tickets simultaneously. The role must develop a strong relationship of communication between staff including tech changes, training, and support to encourage their technology independence.

Technology Management – You will be responsible for all AAF hardware, network systems and vendor contracts. This role is the first point of contact for inoperable machinery and organization-wide technology systems including software. The person must delegate and escalate issues limited under warranty and jobs defined under the retainer described in AAF vendor service agreements. You will be responsible for the decommission and destruction of obsolete machinery and data. It is also your responsibility to ensure that AAF systems are up to standard using NIST and PCI compliance methodology.

 Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in related fields (Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Data Analytics, Information Security)
• 3 or more years of IMIS database administration experience
• Or any combination of education and experience to meet the above requirements

Compensation and Benefits

This position is a Full Time Salaried position with multiple employer paid benefits.

Our office is based in a downtown DC newly renovated office building with onsite fitness facility, parking garage, rooftop lounge and access to a variety of metro stations and common bus lines.  Some benefits include:

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance

• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• Parental Leave
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

*This position is based in Washington DC and will be a hybrid of in office and remote due to COVID-19. 

**Light travel is required for this position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Proficiency in the Association Management System IMIS Cloud is required
• Proficiency in IMIS Rise content management
• Ability to manage and prioritize tasks and projects.
• Able to initiate action and follow-through with minimal supervision.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of helpdesk support and workstation setups
• Understanding of Microsoft Office 365, Azure cloud server technology
• Sound understanding of computer systems, networks, security, telecommunications, databases, and storage systems.
• Must be highly organized with a demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects.
• You must have excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Power Point, Excel, and Outlook) are required.
• Ability to lift 50lbs, bend under desks, and reach on shelving 6-7 ft.
• Team-oriented