Senior Director of Enterprise IT

Description

The Cato Institute is seeking a highly capable Senior Director of Enterprise IT to lead and manage core IT operations and Salesforce-based digital services for our 200-person organization. The ideal candidate must possess strong expertise in the Microsoft Office 365 ecosystem, SharePoint, Teams, Azure Active Directory, and related Microsoft cloud services. Experience managing Microsoft licensing, configurations, and enterprise deployments is essential. Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices is preferred. 

The Senior Director will oversee a team of eight hybrid and remote staff and coordinate with external vendors. This individual will be responsible for advancing the Institute’s technology infrastructure, enhancing enterprise productivity through Microsoft systems, and ensuring secure, efficient delivery of IT services.

This is a hands-on leadership role that combines strategic IT oversight, infrastructure management, and cross-departmental collaboration, with an emphasis on team development, service excellence, IT training, and operational reliability.

This role offers the opportunity to lead enterprise IT operations at one of the country’s most influential think tanks. You’ll support and enable Cato’s mission by delivering secure, scalable, and well-managed technology systems that power research, fundraising, education, and outreach.

This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC. Occasional availability required for after-hours system maintenance.

The projected salary range for this role is $120,000 - $155,000 per year. 

Compensation is based on the successful candidate's educational background, experience, and skills.

About Cato

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization—a think tank—dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution — individual liberty, limited government, and free markets – turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future.

Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Department Management

• Lead and develop a high-performing, collaborative, hybrid, and full-time remote team supporting infrastructure, user support, CRM, and enterprise applications.
• Set clear, measurable objectives for individuals and the team, aligning them with broader organizational goals.
• Foster a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement by modeling integrity, curiosity, and a service-oriented mindset.
• Provide regular coaching, mentorship, and career development opportunities to nurture team growth and retain top talent.
• Act as a liaison between technical staff and non-technical departments, translating needs and solutions in accessible, collaborative ways.
• Help manage change effectively by preparing team members for new technologies, processes, or organizational shifts, while maintaining stability and morale.

IT Operations & Infrastructure Oversight

• Manage Cato’s Microsoft-centric IT environment, including Office 365, Azure Active Directory, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Oversee hardware provisioning, software licensing, network performance, device management, patch management, and helpdesk operations.
• Lead IT budgeting, procurement, and vendor contract negotiations.
• Develop system documentation, business continuity procedures, and lifecycle upgrade plans.
• Oversee system maintenance and upgrades, and ensure responsive user support.
• Establish and maintain internal control infrastructure across IT systems, ensuring compliance with security, audit, and regulatory requirements.
• Implement and enforce segregation of duties within IT operations to minimize risks, prevent conflicts of interest, and strengthen accountability.

Salesforce & Digital Services Oversight

• Provide oversight for the Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud ecosystem.
• Supervise team members responsible for Salesforce operations an