Director of Data, Systems & Strategy Scholarship Foundation

Collaborative Strategies is conducting this search on behalf of The Scholarship Foundation, a mission-driven organization with more than a century of impact, expanding access to higher education for students facing the greatest financial barriers.

The Scholarship Foundation is seeking a Director of Data, Systems & Strategy to play a pivotal role in shaping how the organization uses data and technology to drive impact. This is not a traditional systems role as this leader sits at the center of strategy, operations, and execution, ensuring data informs decisions, systems enable growth, and the organization continues to evolve ahead of the needs of the students it serves.

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, and reporting to the Executive Director, this leader will serve as both a strategic partner and hands-on operator, owning the vision, performance, and continuous improvement of the organization’s data and technology ecosystem.

With a strong foundation of trust, a deeply committed donor base, and outcomes that significantly outperform national benchmarks, the organization is positioned for continued growth. This role will help accelerate that momentum by bringing clarity to complexity and strengthening how decisions are made across the organization.

This is an opportunity for a leader who thinks in systems, takes ownership, and can translate between technical tools and real-world impact. You bring strong judgment, a high level of accountability, and a practical, service-oriented approach to supporting others.

Lead the organization’s approach to data by shaping key questions, delivering clear reporting and dashboards, and generating insights that support fundraising, program evaluation, and leadership decisions. Strengthen data quality, governance, and consistency while identifying trends, gaps, and opportunities.

Serve as the primary owner of Salesforce and related systems, aligning structure, workflows, and integrations with organizational priorities. Partner with external vendors to enhance functionality, automate processes, and improve overall system performance.

Act as the primary on-site resource for day-to-day technology needs, providing hands-on support and troubleshooting. Translate technical concepts into practical guidance, deliver training, and build confidence and adoption across staff and stakeholders.

Develop and implement a technology roadmap aligned with organizational goals. Manage external IT partners, ensure system reliability, and reinforce strong data security, privacy, and usage standards.

Lead and develop data-focused staff, fostering a collaborative, service-oriented approach while strengthening internal capability and ownership of data and systems.

• 5-8+ years of experience in data, systems, or technology roles, including ownership of systems or data environments.
• Strong experience with CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred), including system design, workflows, and optimization.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into practical, scalable technical solutions.
• Experience working with and managing external vendors or service providers.
• Experience with data governance, reporting, and analytics in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a resource-constrained setting.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences.

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $117,177–$175,756 per year. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, skills, internal equity, and market considerations.