Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a leading nonprofit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation, and respectful dialogue. By bringing together Republicans and Democrats—and providing them with the space, policy insights, and evidence-based research needed to negotiate in good faith—BPC helps turn legislators’ best ideas into passable, durable laws. In the 17+ years since its founding, BPC has played an integral role in countless legislative accomplishments.
With projects in multiple issue areas including economic policy, energy, health, housing, human capital and democracy, BPC combines politically balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach. As the only Washington, D.C.-based organization that actively promotes bipartisanship, BPC works to address the key challenges facing the nation. Its policy solutions are the product of informed deliberations by former elected and appointed officials, business and labor leaders, and academics and advocates who represent both sides of the political spectrum.
BPC is committed to seeing its policy solutions enacted by lawmakers. Through BPC Action, its (c)(4) affiliate, BPC engages in advocacy and strategic outreach and education to bolster the legislative center and support efforts that bring Republicans and Democrats together on the difficult issues facing the country. While a healthy, civil debate among those with differing viewpoints is an essential component of our democracy, the current partisan tone in government is impeding progress. Through the Democracy Program and bridge-building events, political summits and timely policy discussions, BPC is fostering an ongoing conversation about how to overcome political divides and help make our government work better.
Mission:
• Build connections.
• Negotiate policy.
• Achieve bipartisan solutions.
• Improve lives.
The Director of IT’s primary responsibility is to oversee the operation of the IT department and to ensure it aligns with the business objectives of the Bipartisan Policy Center. This individual’s principal goals are to develop and manage application portfolios for each department and to maintain a high level of IT for the user community within the BPC.
Responsibilities
Strategy & Planning
- Formulate and deploy long-term strategic plans for acquiring and enabling efficient and cost-effective information processing and communication technologies.
- Manage IT department operational and strategic planning, including business requirements, project planning, and organizing and negotiating the allocation of resources.
- Establish IT departmental goals, objectives, and operating procedures.
- Lead IT strategic and operational planning to achieve business goals by fostering innovation, prioritizing IT initiatives, and coordinating the evaluation, deployment, and management of current and future IT systems across the organization.
- Identify opportunities for the appropriate and cost-effective investment of financial resources in IT systems and resources, including staffing, sourcing, purchasing, and in-house development.
- Assess and communicate risks associated with IT investments.
- Assess and make recommendations on the improvement or re-engineering of the IT organization.
- Participate in strategic and operational governance processes of the business organization
- Direct development and execution of an enterprise-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plan.
Operational Management
- Where necessary, re-engineer applications support to ensure it aligns with business processes, tactical planning, and strategic vision.
- Ensure continuous delivery of IT services through oversight of service level agreements with end users and monitoring of IT systems performance.
- Define and communicate project milestones and resource allocation to executive team, department leads, support staff, and end users.
- Develop and review budgets for the IT department to ensure they comply with stated goals, guidelines, and objectives.
- Review performance of IT systems to determine operating costs, productivity levels, and upgrade requirements.
- Benchmark, analyze, report on, and make recommendations for the improvement of the IT infrastructure and IT systems.
- Authorize and oversee the deployment, monitoring, maintenance, development, and support of all hardware and software based on department needs.
- Develop business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending and initiatives.
- Direct research on potential technology solutions and implementations in support of new initiatives, opportunities, and procurement efforts.
- Promote and oversee strategic relationships between internal IT resources and external entities, including government, vendors, and partner organizations.
- Oversee provision of end-user services, including help desk and technical support services.
- Develop and implement all IT policies and procedures, including those for architecture, security, disaster recovery, standards, purchasing, and service provision.
- Oversee negotiation and administration of vendor, outsourcer, and consultant contracts and service agreements.
- Establish and maintain regular written and in-person communications with the organization’s executives, department heads, and end users regarding pertinent IT activities
- Establishes, develops and maintains with IT suppliers, vendors and service providers.
Human Resources management
- Establish goals, objectives and operating procedures for all IT department personnel
- Develop recommendations for the IT department’s organizational structure, including analysis of current and future staffing needs.
- Responsible for the recruitment, development, motivation and retention of assigned management staff conforming to budgetary objectives and personnel policies.
- Ensures appropriate training programs for the organization are in place to attract, retain and develop the key personnel required to support information services.
Vendor Management
- Manage relationships with all IT vendors including budget oversight, contract negotiation, and invoice processing.
- Key vendor relationships include, but are not limited to:
- Network Services: Verizon, Lumen, Comcast
- Systems: Microsoft, Salesforce, NetSuite, ADP, Zoom, Adobe
- Hardware: Meraki, Dell, Apple, Xerox
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Ample knowledge of:
- Business principles and techniques of administration, organization, and management to include an in-depth understanding of the key business issues that exist in the non-profit industry
- Data processing methods and procedures, and computer software systems
- Cloud operations and administration, especially in Microsoft 365 and Azure environments
- Finance and Administrative operations and processing as it relates to accounting, audit and control procedures, human resource management and administrative management systems
- Development operations and processes related to CRM/contact management, gift cultivation, event management and related system support
- Communications and policy operation as it relates to digital communications standards including internet, voice/fax, e-mail and web architecture
- Online Marketing practices and tools
- Content Management systems for the design and implementation of web design and implementation
- Experience in grant management applications and processes
- Knowledge of equipment and software features of various computer systems and an understanding of system features and their integration capabilities
- Experience with systems design and development process
- Business process analysis and redesign
Proven skills:
- Written and verbal communication
- Negotiating with vendors, contractors, and others
- Budget preparation and monitoring
- Planning and organizing
- Management and leadership
- Interpersonal relationship building
Demonstrated ability to:
- Relate to all levels of the user community
- Be a team player that motivates and educates other team members
- Plan, implement and support systems in a professional non-profit environment
- Set and manage priorities
- Comprehend complex, technical subjects
- Translate technical language to lay audiences
- Link and apply complex technologies to business strategies
- Create and motivate behavior change
BPC offers a highly competitive salary and provides generous benefits. Individuals interested in this position should send a resume and cover letter in one document. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. BPC does not sponsor employment visas.
BPC is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce.
Work Schedule
The work/life balance of employees is a priority for the Bipartisan Policy Center. As a result, BPC is currently operating on a hybrid schedule. Employees at BPC are currently coming into the office three times a week. Exact time and schedules will be determined between an employee and their manager.
BPC offers comprehensive health insurance benefits with a choice of open access HMO, POS, or PPO plan. HMO and POS individual plans have a monthly premium cost share of 10%. Dependent and Family HMO and POS plans are offered with a monthly cost share equal to 20% of the difference between the plan premium and the individual HMO monthly premium. PPO plans are offered with a 20% premium cost-share for all plans.
Additional benefits include 403(b) matching contributions of up to 7% of salary in addition to a non-elective contribution of 2% of salary (both after 90 days of employment); 15 vacation days, 2 personal days, 15 sick days, and 12 holidays per year; education benefits up to $5,250 per year after one year of employment; $2,000 for professional development expenses after six months of employment; Metro benefits of up to $130 per month; Company provided life insurance; and dental and vision insurance coverage with a Flexible Spending Plan.
We reasonably believe that the base salary range for this position is $160,000 - $200,000. At BPC, a wide range of factors are considered when making compensation decisions including and not limited to skill set, experience, training, education, knowledge, and other business and organizational needs.