Head of Technology

Who We Are

The Alliance for Decision Education (the Alliance) is a national nonprofit and field builder with the mission of improving lives by empowering K-12 students with essential skills and dispositions for making better decisions. Founded in 2014 and backed by experts in decision sciences, business, and education—including several Nobel laureates—the Alliance believes that better decisions lead to better lives and a better society.

As a field builder, the Alliance partners with teachers, academic and business leaders, families, and community members to raise awareness and lead the growing call to have Decision Education taught in schools across the country.

The Alliance is committed to an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative culture. Our diverse team comprises educators, researchers, subject matter experts, and other professionals dedicated to our mission. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

What We Offer

The Alliance offers a comprehensive total rewards package, inclusive of competitive compensation.

Annual Salary: 

$135,000 - $160,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications*

Benefits:*

Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% employer paid)

Basic life insurance and AD&D (100% employer paid)

Long-term disability insurance (100% employer paid)

Employee Assistance Program

401(k) retirement plan with up to a 5% employer match (100% vested)

Flexible Spending Accounts (healthcare and dependent care)

Up to 20 days of Paid Time Off per calendar year (prorated the first year based on hire date)

Unlimited paid sick time

Hybrid work schedule

Paid lunch stipend while working on-site

*Salary range is a good-faith estimate based on external benchmarking, internal equity, and the industry standards, and may vary based on qualifications and experience. Benefits are subject to change at the organization’s discretion.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Head of Technology will provide strategic oversight and hands-on management of the Alliance’s technology ecosystem. This role is ideal for someone who understands the unique landscape of K-12 education technology — including data privacy laws, school district tools, and the operational realities of a mission-driven organization. 

As our first dedicated technology leader, this role is responsible for building a cohesive, secure, and well-governed technology environment that supports our rapidly growing work with K-12 schools and districts, including the responsible collection and use of student data.

The Head of Technology will report to the Director of Operations within the Operations department. This is a Director-level, exempt position with no direct reports at this time.

LOCATION AND SCHEDULE

This full-time role requires an 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek. It is an Exempt position under the FLSA, meaning it is not eligible for overtime pay.

This position is open to local candidates based in the Philadelphia region. Local team members are expected to follow a hybrid schedule, working onsite at our headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, PA, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with remote work permitted on other business days. While working remotely, employees are expected to maintain a productive home-based work environment and remain actively engaged in team operations during East Coast hours. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Create a clear, organization-wide plan for how our technology should work together—covering current tools, system integration, new technology initiatives, and a timeline for improvements that support the organization’s evolution. This will include a needs assessment to support our rapidly growing work with schools and districts, as well as the collection of student data.

Own technology budget and purchasing decisions, ensuring proper vetting, interoperability review, and ROI assessment before adoption.

Define organization-wide standards, rules, and governance over data.

Build and maintain a risk register with ongoing monitoring of cybersecurity and reputational exposure; develop crisis response plans and backup/recovery processes; and lead incident response in the event of a breach.

Oversee AI governance and product evaluation for internal staff use and K-12-facing tools.

Champion a culture of technology literacy across the organization — develop and deliver staff training on tools, security practices, and data hygiene; create accessible documentation and resources that reduce reliance on ad hoc support and build organizational confidence in day-to-day technology use.

Ensure Salesforce and other core systems are well configured and maintained, and produce reports that meaningfully inform organizational decision-making.

Manage Google Workspace security, access controls, and operational reliability.

Lead compliance efforts around data sharing regulations relevant to K-12 organizations (FERPA, COPPA, state-level requirements).

Achieve and maintain compliance with the organization's Document Retention and Destruction Policy.

Advise leadership on build-versus-buy decisions and serve as an internal advisor for all technology-related discussions.

Assess and advise on hardware needs for staff, including procurement recommendations, lifecycle planning, and device standardization.

Evaluate website infrastructure, security, and functionality, with eventual internal management of those functions.

Serve as an escalation point for technical troubleshooting.

These responsibilities may change or expand over time, consistent with the organization’s needs and initiatives.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Requirements

5+ years progressive leadership experience overseeing K-12 education technology, ideally within a school district or EdTech-adjacent organization.

Familiarity with tools commonly used in K-12 settings (Clever or similar platforms a strong plus).

Working knowledge of K-12 data sharing laws and compliance frameworks (FERPA, COPPA, state privacy regulations).

Hands-on skills across desktop support, cybersecurity, and systems analysis.

Experience managing or auditing a multi-platform technology ecosystem.

Ability to communicate technical risks and recommendations clearly to non-technical leadership.

Strong judgment on vendor selection, technology vetting, and risk management.

Comfortable providing hands-on or remote technical support as needed.

ATTRIBUTES WE VALUE

Strategic Technology Leadership in Education Contexts: Proven ability to develop and execute technology roadmaps that align with the unique needs of K-12 environments, including data privacy, interoperability with school systems, and scalable solutions for growing student data demands.

Ethical Technology Stewardship and Risk Management: Strong judgment and proactive mindset in balancing innovation with security, compliance, and ethical considerations—especially around student data protection and AI governance in an educational nonprofit setting.

Detail-oriented and able to handle a fast-paced work environment

Ability to work efficiently with a high level of independence and initiative; self-motivated

Be proactive, solve problems effectively, and possess excellent communication skills

Have excellent time management skills and a commitment to meeting tight deadlines

Reflects the Alliance’s core values and standards:

Humanism: valuing others as human beings

Rationality: thinking and skills to help answer “What is true?” and “What to do?”

Education: growth mindset; dedication to developing knowledge and skills

Conscientiousness: diligent work ethic; professionalism; high-quality work

Initiative: owners’ and founders’ mentality; leadership skills

Mission Alignment: dedication to the organization’s mission and goals

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Successful completion of the pre-employment screening process.

Comply with all company policies and procedures.

Understand and demonstrate safe work practices to ensure a safe work environment.

Complete special projects and other duties as assigned by management.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Primarily desk-based work involving sitting at a workstation

Occasional walking, standing, or lifting/carrying up to 10 lbs

Constant hand/finger dexterity for typing, writing, or handling objects

Good vision and hearing are required for reading, computer work, and communication

The Alliance is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions, including the use of assistive technologies.

The position is based in the United States.

The Alliance for Decision Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Employment with the Alliance for Decision Education is at will. This means that the employee or the company can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.