Salesforce Administrator (Dept Applications Developer III)

The Salesforce Administrator serves as the dedicated subject matter expert for the Salesforce ecosystem, ensuring its optimal configuration and strategic alignment with the University's fundraising and donor engagement goals. This role is primarily responsible for maintaining the security, integrity, and scalability of the CRM environments by implementing robust automations, managing user access, and leveraging third-party solutions and integrations. Acts as a strategic thought partner to Development and External Affairs (DEA) leadership, advising on how best to leverage the expansive Salesforce ecosystem (including Sales, Experience and Marketing Cloud capabilities) to drive operational efficiency, deepen donor engagement, and directly contribute to the accomplishment of the University's philanthropic and engagement objectives., * Serves as the primary Salesforce Subject Matter Expert (SME), guiding on optimal platform usage, feature adoption, and best practices. The admin will translate business requirements into technical solutions, ensuring the platform is configured to maximize efficiency and drive key business outcomes. Cross train colleagues while maintaining a scalable, secure and high-performing environment.

• Establishes and maintains security, including managing access, sharing, roles, profiles, and permission sets to comply with data governance policies. Implements and manages data protection solutions like Shield and OwnBackup to ensure data integrity, facilitate reliable backups, and support quick data restoration. Proactively monitors for vulnerabilities and enforces data quality standards.
• Designs, develops, and deploys complex automation solutions (Flows) to streamline processes, improve data consistency, and reduce manual effort. Requires continuous partnership with DEA and SMU colleagues to identify pain points and implement innovative solutions that enhance the user experience. Balances automation benefits against technical debt and platform stability.
• Handles all Salesforce administrative tasks, including managing standard and custom objects, fields, validation rules, page layouts, experience cloud, and Lightning configurations. Supports Salesforce and third party configuration changes, partnering to deploy updates, maintain system health, and ensure seamless operation. Requires attention to detail and adherence to deployment best practices.
• Provides administration and support of the Kindsight Ascend managed package, ensuring it is correctly installed, configured, and integrated with Salesforce environments. Troubleshoots issues unique to the managed package, upgrades, and liaise with Salesforce and Kindsight to resolve complex errors or leverage new package features. Understands the package's impact on data models and automation within the overall Salesforce environment.
• Creates and maintains comprehensive system documentation for configurations, process flows, data models, and custom automations. Contributes to training materials and provide guidance to end-users and other technical teams to promote effective platform utilization. Requires strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with business stakeholders, developers, vendors and campus partners. Other duties as assigned,
• Occasional travel for professional conferences, speaking engagements, and/or site visits is required.

Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree in computer engineering and/or project management is preferred.

A minimum of five years of work experience is required. Direct, hands-on administration of Salesforce Sales Cloud, for at least three years, including configuration, security management, and deployment using change sets or DevOps tools is also required.

Demonstrated experience in developing complex business automation using Salesforce Flow and managing third-party tools like data backup solutions is required.

Experience working in a technical role within the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or Technology industry, demonstrating an understanding of rapid release cycles and high-growth environments is preferred. Experience in higher education or non-profit is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate must have the following:

• Expert-level proficiency with automation tools like Salesforce Flow
• Experience with Data Loader, Workbench, Dataloader IO or equivalent for mass data manipulation
• Experience with Change Sets and familiarity with environment management tools
• Basic knowledge of SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) for reporting, troubleshooting, and validation
• Salesforce Certified Administrator

Proven practical experience or formal training in utilizing and configuring Salesforce Shield (Platform Encryption, Event Monitoring) and enterprise-level data backup solutions (OwnBackup) is preferred. Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications, SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence. Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact. SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry. About the Department: Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body. DEA comprises the offices of Office of the Vice President, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, Development Services, Program Services and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Principal and Major Gifts, and School and Project Development. SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fund-raising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.