Associate Director of Technology

At CIMA, we believe technology should amplify the impact of mission-driven organizations-not create another barrier to their success. We help clients navigate rapid technological change, thoughtfully integrate AI, and build the systems, workflows, and evaluation practices that enable teams to work more effectively and sustainably. We apply these same principles internally, creating technology-enabled environments where our team can deliver exceptional results while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

As Associate Director of Technology, you will serve as CIMA’s lead technical architect, shaping the firm’s technology strategy in partnership with the Director of Systems & Innovation and the Leadership Team. You will design and implement technology, workflow, automation, and data management solutions that strengthen both our internal operations and client engagements.

This role is ideal for a builder in technology consulting-someone who enjoys creating new service offerings, working directly with clients to design and implement solutions, and helping grow a consulting practice within a mission-driven organization.

In this role, your work will span:

Client-Facing Technology Consulting and Delivery

You will contribute to and help grow CIMA’s technology consulting practice by partnering with prospective and current clients to scope engagements, design solutions, and support delivery. You will work directly with clients to help translate their needs into clear, actionable consulting opportunities. You will lead consulting projects that include system design, data migrations, workflow automation, AI integration, and analytics solutions.

Internal Systems & Technology Leadership

You will act as an intrapreneur within CIMA-improving internal systems, optimizing databases and Notion workspaces, integrating tools, and enhancing workflows to ensure our team can deliver high-quality work efficiently as we scale.

Core Responsibilities

1. Technical Architecture & Building
2. Low-Code and No-Code Development: Design and deploy sophisticated internal systems and client-facing tools using Notion, Airtable, Make.com, Zapier, Softr, Bubble, and more.
3. AI & Automation Integration: Identify areas where AI tools can support the work of our consultants, and lead the integration of these resources into daily consulting workflows.
4. Workflow Engineering: Leverage technology tools as a support partner to our consultants throughout the client lifecycle, ensuring that best practices are accessible, processes are automated where appropriate, and quality standards are met as we grow.
5. Technical Product Management & Scoping
6. Project Scoping: Partner with Business Development to assess client needs and scope custom technical engagements, from data migration to tech assessments to database systems with complex front-end data visualization platforms.
7. System Roadmapping: Proactively identify internal process issues and build technical solutions that improve firm-wide efficiency and profit margins.
8. Stakeholder Management: Guide clients and colleagues through adoption and change processes, translating complex technical logic into strategic value.
9. Technical Mentorship & Training
10. Upskilling the Team: Act as the primary technical resource for CIMA, developing training materials and leading sessions to help staff leverage our internal tools and AI.
11. Supervision: Coach and mentor junior tech staff, interns, and external contractors to ensure technical excellence across all projects.

• Technical Proficiency in Core Tech Stack: You have advanced experience with Airtable and Notion, including building scalable databases, interfaces, and structured workspace systems. You design and maintain robust operational systems and may have expert-level experience or certifications. You leverage native platform capabilities to support complex organizational workflows and internal systems design.
• Automation, Integrations & Emerging Technology: You are fluent in integration platforms such as Make, Zapier, and n8n, and can select appropriate tools based on use case. You extend systems through APIs when low-code tools are insufficient. You build reliable, maintainable cross-system workflows that reduce manual effort and improve operational efficiency, and you are comfortable exploring emerging technologies and AI capabilities, where appropriate, to enhance consulting delivery.
• Data Management & Security Awareness: You understand core principles of data architecture, governance, and security, particularly in nonprofit and mission-driven environments. You design systems with attention to data integrity, access control, and scalability, and proactively surface considerations around privacy, compliance, and responsible system design during scoping and implementation.
• Client-Facing Consulting: You are comfortable supporting clients from discovery through delivery, helping define scope, shape proposals, and identify technology solutions that improve organizational effectiveness.
• Project Management: You bring experience in agile project management, lean startup methodology, and at a minimum 5 years of experience supervising tech development staff, including external consultants.
• Strategic Approach: You understand that technology is a tool for social impact; you can distill client needs and design intuitive solutions that actually save time. You have a vision for how CIMA’s use of technology can evolve to stay ahead of the curve.
• Growth Mindset: You are a lifelong learner, excited by the pace of change in technology, and bring a curiosity and eagerness to learn a new technology or platform if it’s the best solution to the challenge at hand. You likely learned how to use one or more of the tech tools in our stack on your own initiative.
• Problem Solving: You have experience assessing tech needs, evaluating potential solutions, and implementing those solutions. Prior experience in a consulting or professional services environment is preferred but not required.

CIMA is committed to providing equitable, competitive compensation to its employees. As a for-profit consulting firm, CIMA seeks to provide salaries that are in line with compensation at other comparable for-profit social impact organizations.

CIMA Consulting is a growing firm based in Charlottesville, VA, dedicated to advancing social impact through partnerships with nonprofits and mission-driven businesses. We use a customized, agile, and collaborative approach to achieve strategic and operational goals for socially conscious organizations seeking a results-oriented partner., At CIMA, we’re committed to supporting causes that matter. Our team members come from varied professional backgrounds, but we share common traits: the desire to over-deliver for our clients; a talent for clear and compelling writing; and a generous spirit toward clients and colleagues. We work hard and smart, but we also have fun and value our time away from work to recharge. We have passionate debates about punctuation, local pastries, and the right time to plant tomatoes.