The Association for association professionals in Chicagoland
Posted: 05-May-26
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Type: Full Time (Remote & In Office)
Categories:
Required Education:
Location: Remote or hybrid with office access at headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Position Summary
CREW Network is seeking a Director of Information Technology to lead the organization’s technology strategy and operations across enterprise systems, digital platforms, and internal infrastructure.
CREW Network is an international federation of affiliated member organizations (chapters) of commercial real estate professionals. The organization supports more than 85 chapters and affiliates across North America and Europe, representing over 15,000 individual members in more than 10 countries. In addition, CREW Network offers service support (i.e. technology, accounting) for the majority of its chapters.
In this role, technology leadership extends beyond CREW Network’s internal operations to a broader, interconnected ecosystem. The Director will oversee and evolve systems that support not only the global organization, but also chapter-facing platforms and services, including websites, membership and financial systems, communications tools, and event technologies. Success in this role requires the ability to design, govern, and support scalable solutions across a distributed network of independently operated, but centrally supported, entities, while balancing standardization with chapter autonomy.
This role comes at an important point for the organization, with a focus on strengthening core technology systems, improving integration across platforms, and defining a clear path for future technology investments. The Director will assess the current environment, build on what is working well, and bring structure and strategic direction to how technology is prioritized and delivered.
The role requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on leadership. The Director will be responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the organization's technical infrastructure and software systems to meet business goals. This includes ensuring that systems supporting membership, educational content, events, and financial operations are reliable and effective today, while also guiding longer-term decisions about the organization’s technology landscape.
The Director will lead the design of a technical architecture that supports CREW Network’s near-term digital needs, while managing implementation, integration and ongoing development efforts with technology vendors. This role also requires close collaboration with key staff across the organization and strong communication, project management, and vendor management skills. This role also requires navigating competing priorities across stakeholders with varying levels of technical maturity and bringing alignment to complex, and at times ambiguous, technology decisions.
At CREW Network, technology underpins how members engage, how chapters operate, and how the organization delivers on its mission. This role plays a key part in ensuring those experiences consistent, accessible, and well-supported across the network.
What You’ll Focus On
Core Systems and Integrations
- Lead oversight of the association management system (AMS), content management system (CMS), learning management system (LMS), communications and financial systems, optimizing how they function together to meet business goals and improve the overall user experience
- Improve system reliability and performance, particularly for membership, educational programs, event management, and transactions
- Strengthen integrations so data flows consistently and accurately across platforms
- Reduce manual processes and inefficiencies through an imprroved system arcitecture
- Bring practical expertise in working with enterprise AMS platforms such as NetForum
Technology Direction and Planning
- Establish and maintain a clear, viable roadmap for our current infrastructure and future technology needs
- Partner with leadership to prioritize investments and sequence work appropriately
- Introduce structure to decision-making, balancing immediate needs with longer-term improvements
- Ensure technology efforts are aligned with organizational goals, resources and capacity
Digital Platforms and Experience
- Oversee the performance and evolution of public, member- and chapter-facing platforms
- Improve key user experiences such as joining, event registration, and payments
- Work closely with internal teams to identify needs, gaps and implement improvements
- Maintain a focus on usability and accessibility across a range of users and chapters
Staff Enablement
- Ensure systems support the global organization staff effectively
- Streamline tools and processes so they are easier to use and maintain
- Provide guidance and documentation that promotes consistency without adding unnecessary complexity
- Support more aligned workflows across membership, events, and financial operations
Operations, Security, and Vendor Management
- Maintain a stable, secure, and well-supported technology environment
- Oversee cybersecurity practices, data protection, and risk management
- Manage vendor relationships and contracted service obligations to CREW Network, ensuring accountability for delivery and performance
- Oversee the technology budget with attention to cost-effectiveness and impact
Qualifications
Required
- 8+ years of experience leading technology functions in a complex environment
- A Bachelor’s degree
- Experience working with enterprise systems, including AMS platforms such as NetForum
- Strong understanding of system integrations and data flow between platforms
- Experience improving and managing existing systems while planning for future needs
- Experience in working with associations, nonprofits, or membership-based organizations
- Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives involving technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Experience managing vendors and external partners
- Working knowledge of current cybersecurity and data governance practices
- Clear and effective communication skills
- Travel approximately once a quarter for leadership team and/or all staff meetings
Preferred
- Familiarity with financial systems such as NetSuite and payment platforms such as Stripe
- Experience supporting distributed or chapter-based organizations
What Success Looks Like (First 6-12 Months)
- Core systems are more stable and easier to use, particularly for membership, event registration, and donations
- A clear and actionable roadmap is in place for system improvements and future platform decisions
- Integrations between systems are more reliable, reducing manual work and errors
- Staff have greater confidence in the tools they use
- Technology decisions, strategy and priorities are communicated to internal and external teams with consistency and transparency
Impact
This role is central to how CREW Network operates and grows. By improving the reliability, integration, and alignment of its technology ecosystem, the Director enables staff to work more efficiently and supports chapters in delivering consistent, high-quality experiences. In turn, members are better equipped to build meaningful connections, access valuable content, fully utilize their benefits, and advance their careers in commercial real estate.
CREW Network offers competitive benefits including the opportunity to work remotely, employer-paid health care, and a health savings account. CREW Network is an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable laws.
