Director of Web Systems

Job Title: Director of Web Systems

Position Summary:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Director of Web Systems position. This role will oversee the evolution and management of the Foundation’s digital platforms, with a primary focus on michaeljfox.org. This pivotal role ensures the Foundation’s web systems support organizational goals, drive engagement with diverse audiences, and align with the Foundation’s mission and values. Reporting to the VP, Head of Digital Products & Data Systems, the Director will balance strategic planning with operational oversight, ensuring technical excellence and impactful user experiences. This position will be responsible for managing a team of employees and aligning their work with the Foundation’s strategic objectives.

Collaboration is essential to this role, requiring partnership across departments to deliver a scalable, reliable, and continuously optimized web presence that reflects the Foundation’s mission and fosters innovation within a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Web Architecture and Operations:

Translate organizational needs into clear, actionable technical plans in collaboration with contractors, technical staff, and internal stakeholders
Guide external engineering teams by providing detailed functional and technical specifications, ensuring features are built to exact requirements for both front-end user experience and back-end system integration and performance
Review technical approaches proposed by external engineers, offering feedback to ensure architectural alignment, code quality, and best practices are maintained
Refine michaeljfox.org’s architecture to ensure scalability, reliability, and user-centered design
Optimize integrations with tools such as Salesforce, Classy Pay, Auth0, or similar, ensuring seamless interoperability within the Foundation’s CMS (Drupal) and other systems
Act as the technical expert for web projects, providing actionable guidance, troubleshooting, and ensuring high-quality deliverables

Team Management:

Lead and mentor a team, aligning their work with the Foundation’s strategic objectives and fostering a solutions-oriented team culture
Set clear expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and conduct formal performance evaluations to drive individual and team success
Create growth opportunities for team members through training, mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration, supporting career development and team excellence
Ensure team capacity and skillsets align with evolving project priorities by managing resource allocation, identifying gaps, and recruiting as necessary
Build strong cross-departmental partnerships, particularly with Development and Marketing & Communications, to ensure seamless delivery of web systems and solutions
Establish team processes, workflows, and best practices that enhance operational efficiency, improve project delivery, and align with the Foundation’s core values

Platform Ownership:

Oversee the performance, security, and reliability of web systems, addressing issues proactively
Drive platform improvements with a focus on user experience, accessibility, and operational efficiency
Act as a champion for aligning technology decisions with the Foundation’s mission and values

Documentation and Standards:

Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including workflows, standards, and best practices to support continuity and quality across all web initiatives
Establish and enforce technical standards to ensure consistency, security, and scalability across web systems and integrations

Qualifications and Skills:

Relevant experience in web systems management, digital platform architecture, or related fields, with experience in technical design and documentation
Relevant experience managing a team, including supporting the professional development of staff
Success in developing and delivering detailed technical specifications in collaboration with contractors and internal teams
Relevant knowledge of CMS platforms (preferably Drupal). Experience with integrations involving Salesforce, Classy Pay, and Auth0 are a plus
Familiarity with APIs, web security standards, performance optimization, and accessibility best practices
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple technical projects while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
Formal project management certifications (e.g., Agile Scrum) are a plus

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $160,000 - $185,000. In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
Competitive dental and vision plans
401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
Flexible spending accounts
Employer paid life and disability insurance
18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4
Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work. We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.

Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.

About Us:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Visit www.michaeljfox.org for more information.

Research has shown that people from marginalized communities apply to roles only when they meet 100% of the job requirements. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, and you are someone who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, we strongly encourage you to apply.