Project Director, Digital Innovation and Strategic Initiatives

POSITION: Project Director, Digital Innovation and Strategic Initiatives

REPORTS TO: President & EVP, Chief Operating and Financial Officer

DIRECT REPORTS: None

LOCATION: New York, NY

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

WEBSITE: www.thenytrust.org

START DATE: Fall 2025

ABOUT US

The New York Community Trust is New York's largest community foundation, serving New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. For more than 100 years, The Trust has brought together the local knowledge and diverse expertise of its team and nonprofit and philanthropic partners to support thriving and equitable communities and help donors champion the causes they love. The Trust makes approximately $200 million in grants each year from its charitable funds set up by individuals, families, foundations, and corporations.

The Trust is a regional philanthropic leader. It established the first donor-advised fund in 1931 and works at the forefront of critical causes, including education, health care, racial and gender equity, immigrant services, affordable housing, and LGBTQ+ rights. The Trust has also played a vital role in our region's response to crises such as the AIDS epidemic, September 11th, and COVID-19.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Project Director, Digital Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, a new permanent position at The Trust, will play a critical role in facilitating project management processes and cross-functional collaboration to drive the successful deployment of key elements of The Trust's recently adopted strategic plan:

Primary Focus: Digital Transformation & Innovation (85% focus during the first three years; percentage to decrease after year four)

The Project Director will lead The Trust's three- to five-year digital transformation initiative, transitioning from a legacy Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") system to a modern, integrated platform built on Salesforce and Sage Intacct. The goal of the transformation is to significantly enhance the user experience for Trust staff, grantees, and donors. This shift is central to The Trust's strategic growth and modernization, requiring a solid understanding of enterprise systems, data architecture, and process optimization.

This role requires strong technical expertise to guide the evaluation, customization, and implementation of digital solutions that streamline operations; balance a keen sense of human dynamics; and drive effective collaborative work processes. The Project Director will manage vendor and consultant relationships, oversee system integration, and ensure that digital tools are aligned with organizational needs and scalable for future growth. The Project Director will also serve as the chief promoter and facilitator of this digital transformation, which will require significant contributions from internal and external system experts, as well as a wide variety of stakeholders.

A key responsibility will be to review and transform existing work processes by identifying system requirements, inefficiencies, designing improved workflows, and facilitating their adoption across departments. The Project Director will unite employees with varying levels of ERP and Customer Relationship Management ("CRM") experience, fostering collaboration and ensuring consistent progress in the adoption of new systems. Reporting to the EVP, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, the Project Director will collaborate closely with the Senior Director of Administration and IT, the Controller and Assistant Treasurer, and key legacy ERP users to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Secondary Focus

Strategic Initiatives (15% focus during the first three years; percentage to increase after year four): Supporting a range of collaborative efforts aligned with The Trust's newly established strategic plan (e.g., Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility). The Project Director will report to the President and work closely with the executive team and project owners of the strategic plan.

Workplace Transformation (starting in 2028): Lead a mission-aligned office relocation that reflects our identity and branding as a leading community foundation. Use workplace design strategies to focus on creating a modern, collaborative, and accessible space that serves as a hub for convening with employees, donors, grantees, and nonprofit partners. The Project Director will report to EVP, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, and collaborate with the Senior Director of Administration and IT, as well as senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management

• Ensure all initiatives adhere to the established structure, including clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and decision-making frameworks established by the President and EVP, Chief Operating and Financial Officer.
• Utilize project management tools to develop and maintain comprehensive dashboards, project plans, timelines, budgets, performance metrics, and resource allocations across all workstreams for the President and executive team. Continuously update project plans to reflect evolving priorities and workflows, supporting periodic updates for the Distribution Committee and its subcommittees.
• Analyze and synthesize diverse project documentation to define the scope and identify key data points. Review and edit documentation to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with internal branding requirements.
• Provide updates on project progress to staff leads, senior leadership, executive team members, and the President as needed. Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and propose recommendations and contingency plans to the President and EVP, Chief Operating and Financial Officer.
• Schedule project meetings to foster transparent and ongoing communication and collaboration among cross-functional teams. Proactively follow up with team members to maintain momentum and address any challenges that may arise.
• Develop meeting agendas, draft notes, and facilitate discussions on next steps and upcoming deliverables.
• Establish adoption metrics to evaluate project effectiveness and inform strategic decision-making.

Employee Engagement and Proactive Communication

• Develop project-related presentations and memorandums for leadership. Develop communication plans, training programs, and staff engagement initiatives to facilitate change and transition.
• Build meaningful and authentic relationships with staff across departments, gain insight into their role and history at The Trust, current needs, and how existing initiatives intersect and impact their department operations.
• Serve as a proactive and enthusiastic change leader, fostering open communication and continuous feedback during organizational transitions. Demonstrate optimism, adaptability, and a solution-oriented mindset to inspire teams and ensure project momentum, even when navigating challenges.
• Foster strong staff engagement and alignment by proactively supporting clear communication and collaboration. Use sound judgment and discretion to constructively address any challenges, ensuring a positive and cohesive team environment.
• Recognize and celebrate cross-functional team achievements to improve morale and engagement.

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of work experience in project management or related roles, preferably in large-scale multi-year initiatives that require collaboration with cross-functional teams, including leading or supporting ERP system implementations.
• Strong knowledge of ERP/CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Sage Intacct, or related), system integration, and digital platforms.
• Proficiency in Project Management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Clickup, MS Project)
• Certifications in ERP or Project Management (e.g., PMP, PgMP, Agile, Six Sigma) preferred.
• Familiarity with philanthropic and nonprofit operations is a plus.

Core Competencies

• Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills to work with cross-functional teams and navigate complex team dynamics and processes with diplomacy and tact.
• High level of emotional intelligence (EQ) with confidence, credibility, and poise in various settings, and active listening skills and empathy to understand different perspectives.
• Effective conflict resolution skills to build team cohesion, minimize project delays, and strengthen stakeholder relationships-critical for delivering complex and technical projects on time and within scope.
• Independently manage and oversee multiple concurrent projects and tasks with competing deadlines, often with limited supervision.
• Self-motivated, resourceful, focused, and adaptable in a fast-paced, mission-driven work environment.

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