"Director, Program Intelligence, Break Through Tech (NYC)"

About Break Through Tech:

Break Through Tech is changing the path to power in tech by propelling undergraduate talent that is all too often underestimated and overlooked into fields that are defining the future. Founded in 2016 by Dr. Judith Spitz, former CIO of Verizon, Break Through Tech empowers, trains, and connects undergraduate students from different lived experiences to professional opportunities in tech across sectors. Our innovative programs offer undergraduate students the technical skills training, professional readiness support, and real-world project experiences to break into influential tech roles--enabling them to write the rules that will shape the future of all of us.

About Cornell Tech:

(No specific content provided in the main job posting.)

Position Summary:

Break Through Tech is seeking a visionary and hands-on Director, Program Intelligence to lead the development and optimization of technology and data infrastructure for program management, delivery and operations. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in ensuring that our program delivery is efficient, data-informed, and scalable. You'll design and implement solutions that enhance every aspect of our operations--including building our data warehouse, integrating existing systems and new vendor solutions, developing in-house tools (like apps and AI-driven solutions), and creating actionable reports for operational to address our technical challenges. This is an incredible opportunity for someone who thrives at the intersection of technology and mission-driven work, and who wants to make a tangible impact on the next generation of tech leaders.

Successful candidates will need to have and display the following competencies as part of this role:

• Organizational savvy: Is sensitive to how people and organizations function; Anticipates land mines and plans approach accordingly; Deals comfortably with organizational politics; Knows who has power, respect, and influence; Steers through the organizational maze to get things done.
• Strategic Mindset: Anticipates future trends and implications accurately; Readily poses future scenarios; Articulates credible pictures and visions of possibilities that will create sustainable value; Creates competitive and breakthrough strategies that show a clear connection between vision and action.
• Business Insight: Knows how businesses work and how organizations make money; Keeps up with current and possible future policies, practices, and trends in the organization, with the competition, and in the marketplace; Uses knowledge of business drivers and how strategies and tactics play out in the market to guide actions.
• Cultivates Innovation: Comes up with useful ideas that are new, better, or unique; Introduces new ways of looking at problems; Can take a creative idea and put it into practice; Encourages diverse thinking to promote and nurture innovation.
• Manages Ambiguity: Deals comfortably with the uncertainty of change; Effectively handles risk; Can decide and act without the total picture; Is calm and productive, even when things are up in the air.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible 3-year term position with the possibility of renewal. This position requires occasional work on evenings and weekends, particularly during the academic year. The responsibilities may be completed remotely or hybrid. Travel may account for up to 25% of the time. Please note: there will be several in-person team meetings per year held at our NYC campus. All travel-related expenses will be covered in accordance with University policy.

Visa sponsorship is not available. Starting salary range: [$130,000-$145,000].

Position Responsibilities:

Data Infrastructure, Intelligence and Reporting- 25%

• Responsible for overseeing the development, operations, and maintenance of the data warehouse environment, ensuring balance and system coherency between front-end and back-end processing functions.
• Lead the activities of the data warehouse project teams in the design, development, and implementation of data warehouses, and audit configurations to ensure data quality control.
• Develop tools and dashboards that provide leadership and program teams with actionable insights.
• Oversee the integration of diverse data sources to ensure seamless data flow across systems.
• Oversee data security strategies, ensuring compliance with privacy and security regulations.
• Establish protocols and training to maintain data confidentiality and mitigate risks.
• Cultivate long-term strategic goals for BI development in conjunction with stakeholders, managers, and leadership teams.
• Provide guidance regarding the use, capabilities, and emerging technologies in data warehouse systems.
• Manage and plan data migrations between systems.
• Design, implement, and lead the creation of models for new database development; oversee the creation of technical requirements and design deliverables.

Technology Strategy and Implementation- 25%

• Develop and implement a forward-thinking technical strategy to address the organization's current and future needs for effective program delivery.
• Identify both in-house and third-party tools, platforms, and solutions to improve operational efficiency.
• Design scalable processes and infrastructure to enable data-driven decision making and measurable program impact.
• Lead efforts to integrate systems and tools across the organization, ensuring compatibility and efficiency.
• Evaluate and select database/data warehouse components, including hardware, relational database management systems, ETL software, metadata management tools, and database design solutions.
• Streamline workflows across CRM, student management systems, program logistics, and other tech platforms.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage third-party vendors and solutions while negotiating contracts to align with organizational goals and budget.
• Design and implement systems, policies, and procedures for disaster recovery and data archiving to protect and ensure the integrity of data assets.
• Lead the development, implementation, and advanced integration efforts for BI platforms and enterprise systems.
• Direct and evaluate the most complex existing or proposed applications and systems at all project phases.
• Lead development, implementation, and maintenance efforts for sophisticated IT services/products, including stakeholder management and resource sourcing.
• Set standards for coding and documentation.

Custom Tools and Application Development- 25%

• Develop custom in-house solutions, such as small applications and AI-powered tools, to meet the organization's specific needs.
• Oversees the development of web-based internal dashboards and tools.
• Formulate and define system scope and objectives to develop or modify highly complex software systems.
• Collaborate with users to perform needs analysis and provide appropriate resolutions.
• Design, code, test, debug, document, and maintain highly complex applications, systems, or web platforms; develop enhancements to improve end-user experience.
• Leverage technologies like AI or machine learning to automate routine tasks and surface relevant insights.
• Define, organize, and direct project activities with significant inter-dependencies across systems.
• Research, design, document, and modify software specifications throughout the production lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring less experienced developers, and checking the work of other programmers.
• Develop or modify procedures to solve complex problems, considering equipment capacity, timing, and desired results.
• Modify complex application programs from specifications and ensure compatibility with browsers, devices, and operating systems.
• Evaluate code for validity, structure, and adherence to industry standards.
• Develop and validate test routines and schedules to ensure accurate interfaces across browser and device types.

Collaboration and Leadership- 15%

• Work closely with program delivery, operations, and leadership teams to identify key technical challenges and opportunities.
• Mentor staff and stakeholders on technical best practices and promote data literacy; direct, review, and provide feedback on the work of other analysts.
• Cultivate a culture of creativity and technical excellence within the organization.
• Lead strategic priorities, complete strategic assessments, recommend actions, and implement approved opportunities for improvement and cost savings.
• Monitor the performance of multiple units or projects across the organization; oversee reports generated by multiple project/product managers and report status to leadership.
• Collaborate and negotiate to identify and resolve systemic or complex challenges while aligning with organizational priorities.

Other position-related responsibilities - 10%

• Participate in projects or other duties as assigned with occasional work responsibility falling above or below current classification.
• Completion of any university required compliance trainings.
• Contribute technical expertise to program design and execution as needed (i.e. contributing to curriculum design, project review, teaching and learning support)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 7 years' relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Deep Machine Learning / AI subject matter expertise with expertise leveraging OpenAI, Gemini, copilot and other generative AI tools.
• Proficiency in tools like Python, SQL, data visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and CRM systems.
• Proven experience in designing and maintaining data warehouses; managing data pipelines is a plus.
• Strong understanding of systems integration, APIs, and architecture design.
• Strong analytical skills with an ability to craft both technical solutions and strategic roadmaps.
• Proven ability to lead and manage high-complexity technical projects, including project scope, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience identifying and managing technical vendors and tools that align with organizational goals.
• Expertise with agile and technical project management processes and tools.
• Experience working effectively as a player/coach with a strong interest in leading strategy while delivering.
• Demonstrated ability to build and roll out systems and processes users not only readily adopt but love.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong business acumen with an ability to make effective decisions that have enterprise-wide impact.
• Detail-oriented and organized systems thinker with an ability to mentor and coach others.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, quickly changing work environment.
• Experience working effectively as a player/coach with a strong interest in leading strategy while delivering.
• Culture builder with expertise in successful change management and organizational effectiveness.
• Passion for advancing equity and inclusion, particularly in the tech sector, and alignment with Break Through Tech and Cornell Tech's mission and values.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree.
• Prior experience leading Business Intelligence, IT or Technical Project Management in the Higher Education or workforce development space.
• Familiarity with or prior experience working in software or technology-focused organizations.
• Experience supporting nonprofit organizations or mission-driven enterprises.
• Familiarity with student-facing technology, program management systems, or similar tools.
• Prior experience navigating technology implementation within a growing team or organization.

Culture of Inclusion and Community Standards:

As a university founded to be a place where '...any person can find instruction in any study,' inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.