Manager of Technology and Innovation

Optima-Office; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

FSA

Monthly phone and internet stipend

Job summary

Optima-Office is seeking a Full-Time Manager of Technology and Innovation in San Diego. The role leads IT strategy, security, and the tech stack including AI tools, AMS/CRM, and BI platforms, reporting to Finance and Operations.

The position emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and a balanced 35-hour work week with a remote/hybrid work environment and periodic in-office time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS/IS or related field; 5+ years in technology innovation, or 8+ years with 3+ years in management.
• Proficiency with agile methodologies and project delivery (Scrum, PMP-style).
• Background check and a safe driving record.
• Foundational cybersecurity literacy and risk/compliance awareness.
• Experience with generative AI, LLM tools, and AI-driven process improvement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain the organization’s enterprise IT strategy and roadmap.
• Oversee IT infrastructure, networks, and cloud services for security and reliability.
• Lead cybersecurity, risk management, and staff training initiatives.
• Manage internal apps, AMS/CRM, and BI platforms; support external websites.
• Provide staff support and training on software, systems, and IT procedures.
• Document IT assets and procedures; establish SOPs and best practices.
• Liaise with IT vendors; manage contracts and SLAs.

Skills

Agile methodologies

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Generative AI familiarity

LLM tools

Cybersecurity basics

Strategic IT planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field

Job description

Description

Our client, located in San Diego, is seeking a Full-Time Manager of Technology and Innovation. Founded in 1964, our client is the leading professional association for marriage and family therapists in California, advancing the profession and supporting thousands of mental health professionals statewide. Our client offers a rare combination of meaningful, mission-driven work and exceptional work-life balance. The full-time schedule is just 35 hours per week, giving you more time to rest, recharge, and thrive—without sacrificing your career growth or impact. Our client has a collaborative, supportive team dedicated to making a difference. The staff enjoys a culture of trust, respect, and connection, where contributions are valued, and employees are empowered to do their best work.

Position Summary

The Manager of Technology and Innovation will be responsible for providing leadership, operational oversight, and management of our client's information technology environment. This role ensures that all technology systems, infrastructure, applications, AI, and services are secure, reliable, cost-effective, and aligned with our client’s mission and business objectives. This includes, but is not limited to, Microsoft 365, various AI tools, the AMS (association management system, which includes a CRM), project management software, the external website, and platform integrations within the overall technology stack. This position will report to the Director of Finance and Operations.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Planning

• Develop, implement, and maintain the organizations enterprise IT strategy and roadmap aligned with organizational goals.
• Work with staff to develop strategies to optimize service delivery, operational efficiency, staff experience, and member experience.
• Monitor emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices; evaluates and recommends solutions and budget for meeting business, security, and scalability requirements.

Infrastructure, Systems, and Network Administration

• Work with external IT service provider, overseeing the administration, availability, performance, and security of all networks, endpoint, and cloud-based services.
• Ensure proper user access controls, identity management, security configurations, and staff training to prevent unauthorized access to systems and data.
• Develop, plan, and oversee systems for disaster recovery, business continuity, data backup, and restoration procedures.
• Manage mobile device services, email systems, spam filtering, antivirus, and endpoint protection solutions.
• Ensure high availability and reliability of systems supporting both internal staff and external users.

Cybersecurity and Risk Management

• Work with the IT partner, establishing information security policies, standards, and best practices to protect the organizations data and systems.
• Monitor cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities; coordinate remediation, patching, and incident response activities.
• Lead staff training and awareness initiatives related to cybersecurity, data protection, and acceptable technology use.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual technology requirements.

Application and Systems Management

• Work with staff and consultants to identify and implement software solutions that support business processes.
• Develop, maintain and support internal websites and platforms (e.g., Board portals, internal systems, and databases).
• Develop, maintain, and support the organization’s business intelligence platform.
• Administer the Zoom enterprise collaboration and communication platforms.

Staff and End-User Support

• Serve as staff liaison for volunteer technology committee(s) work.
• Oversee day-to-day IT support services, including hardware, software, and system issues submitted through Tech Support.
• Provide and coordinate training for staff on software, systems, and IT procedures.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality customer service for internal users and timely resolution of technical issues.
• Develop, maintain, and support the external online technology stack (web hosting, CMS, LMS, AMS member portal, email and social marketing platforms), working with the team to optimize the member experience.

Documentation, Policies, and Procedures

• Maintain comprehensive documentation for IT infrastructure, systems, configurations, procedures, assets, licenses, and credentials.
• Establish standard operating procedures and best practices for IT operations and end users.

Vendor and Contract Management

• Serve as the primary liaison with IT vendors, contractors, and service providers.
• Manage and monitor vendor contracts and service-level agreements.

Other

• Satisfactory attendance.
• Other duties, as needed.

Supervisory Responsibility

• N/A

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The position is primarily remote/hybrid, with in-office attendance required 4 times per year.

This role operates in a modern, newly appointed office environment with quiet cube settings. The workspace is configured as hoteling office space, with technology equipment available on-site. Staff presence is rotational; typically, 3–5 employees are in the office at any given time.

The physical demands for this role include:

• Frequently sitting
• Occasionally lift, carry, push, pull, up to 30 lbs.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including:

• Medical insurance
• Dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Aflac supplemental insurance options
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Monthly phone and internet stipend – would provide laptop
• Staff appreciation perks, including food provided at monthly staff meetings
• Organization-sponsored benefits are available to employees in regular, full-time, permanent positions unless otherwise specified.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Business, Data Science, or other related field and 5 years of experience in technology innovation, digital transformation, product management, security operations, cybersecurity compliance or R&D program leadership to include 1 year at a manager level leading innovation or cross‑functional tech programs; OR 8 years of experience in technology innovation, digital transformation, product management, security operations, cybersecurity compliance or R&D program leadership to include 3 years at a manager level leading innovation or cross‑functional tech programs
• Proficiency with agile. Project delivery methods (scrum, PMP‑level planning) or proven experience in project management (planning projects, Gannt charts, meeting deadlines)
• Safe driving record and successful completion of a background check.
• Foundational cybersecurity literacy; working knowledge of risk assessment, compliance frameworks and secure technology evaluation
• Working experience with generative AI; practical exposure to LLM tools, AI Integration, or AI‑driven process improvement, including awareness of ethics, data privacy, and governance
• Self‑starter, ability to identify needs and execute
• Demonstrated experience leading cross‑functional initiatives from concept through pilot or operations deployment
• Must be highly organized, detail‑oriented, flexible, and collaborative, and have good interpersonal skills. Excellent ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Additional qualifications include good time management, problem solving skills and strong project management, with ability to manage concurrent projects. Ability to communicate technical concepts to technical and non‑technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity working with an association or non‑profit
• Master’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Business, Data Science, or other related field.
• Manager‑level Certifications (PMP PMI‑ACP, CSM, SAFe Agilist, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, ITIL 4 Foundation or Change Management)
• Certification in Security+
• Certification in Design Thinking or Human‑Centered Design
• Change management credential (e.g., Prosci)
• Experience scaling innovation in a hybrid/remote environment with rotational in‑office collaboration