Director of IT and Digital Platforms (Remote, US)

Are you a mission-driven technology leader passionate about strengthening local journalism? Do you excel at managing complex IT infrastructure, integrating SaaS services, and developing streamlined business processes?

The Embarcadero Media Foundation is seeking a dedicated Director of IT and Digital Platforms to support our network of seven hyper local news publications and our core business operations teams (marketing, fundraising, sales).

About Embarcadero Media Foundation

We champion the vital importance of local news as a cornerstone of healthy democracy. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life and democracy in the San Francisco Bay Area by publishing high-quality local news and information, fostering a more informed, engaged, and cohesive community.

After serving our communities for over 40 years as a for-profit entity, we recently converted to non-profit status. Our focus is now explicitly on public value and community sustainability. Our publications include the Palo Alto Weekly, Pleasanton Weekly, the Almanac, and hyperlocal digital news sites and newsletters serving 11 communities across the Mid Peninsula and Tri-Valley.

We are recognized leaders in community journalism, earning 57 awards in 2024 from the California News Publisher Association. We are transforming our legacy print publications for the digital age, setting an example for sustainable local news publishing nationwide.

About the Role: IT Generalist & Digital Strategy

This is a remote position open to candidates across the US. Familiarity with or presence in the San Francisco Bay Area is a plus. This role reports directly to the CEO.

Our 45-50 person organization relies on a robust tech stack centered around SaaS applications, supplemented by a handful of home-grown web applications. We require an IT generalist capable of supporting, evolving, and extending this infrastructure. Extensive experience with Wordpress (Newspack experience is highly preferred) and Mailchimp is essential. Experience with PHP/MySQL based web applications is a significant advantage for migrating legacy systems.

Core Technology Stack Includes:

• Google Workspace
• Newspack (Wordpress) with WooCommerce
• Braintree
• Mailchimp
• Google Ad Manager
• Google Analytics & Looker Studio
• Chartbeat
• Quickbooks
• Bloomerang
• Airtable

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain the organization’s IT infrastructure and provide technical support to staff.
• Oversee external services and manage vendor relationships to ensure system stability and alignment with business needs.
• Develop and execute a strategy for migrating legacy PHP/MySQL systems, prioritizing the use of no-code tools such as Airtable and Zapier for rebuilding key services.
• Design and implement metrics and reporting dashboards.
• Evaluate, recommend, and execute transitions within the tech stack, particularly focusing on sales CRM tools.
• Identify and experiment with leveraging AI technologies to enhance business processes, especially supporting sales operations.
• Analyze and design effective business processes, utilizing software creatively to simplify and streamline workflows in collaboration with staff.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of experience developing and leveraging web applications and services.
• Proven experience integrating web services via APIs.
• Extensive Wordpress and Mailchimp expertise.
• Proficiency in testing and debugging.
• Ability to connect and build workflows across diverse applications.
• Exceptional collaboration and strong interpersonal skills.
• Expertise in business process analysis, including identifying opportunities for technology improvements, understanding colleague requirements, and delivering solutions.
• Demonstrated passion for local news and commitment to community journalism.
• Experience with CRM systems.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $90,000 - $110,000, based on experience.
• Health and dental insurance for employees and dependents, covered at 50-70% (based on tenure).
• 403(b) retirement plan.
• Two weeks vacation.
• Opportunity to work for a mission-driven organization making a real difference in local communities.
• Collaborative and supportive work environment, joining a team of passionate community builders.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We encourage candidates who may not meet every requirement but are passionate about the role to apply for discussion.