Overview
Join a mission‑driven organization where your digital expertise can truly make an impact. The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for UW-Madison, is recruiting for a Director of Digital Experience & Capabilities. The Director of Digital Experience & Capabilities plays a critical role in executing WFAA’s digital strategy by implementing and optimizing solutions that advance organizational priorities, as outlined in WFAA’s digital roadmap or as identified by WFAA leadership.
This position combines technical expertise with digital subject matter leadership to help WFAA deliver seamless, engaging, and effective online experiences. As a technical lead, this position collaborates with other team members to enable capabilities across Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Experience Cloud, CRM, websites, and other marketing technology platforms. The person in this role supports unified constituent journeys that drive engagement, personalized experiences, and organizational performance.
Please note: We prefer to hire for this position in a hybrid capacity (2 days in the office weekly) with a candidate residing near the Madison WI area. However, we are open to hire this position to work remotely, with periodic travel to Madison expected throughout the year. Remote candidates must reside in one of the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Texas, or Wisconsin.
Essential Functions
Technical Execution & Platform Optimization
- Lead or collaborate in the design and implementation of key initiatives identified in WFAA’s digital roadmap, ensuring timely and effective delivery of solutions to advance strategic business goals and deliver seamless digital experiences.
- Translate marketing and engagement strategies into scalable technical architectures using Salesforce systems and adjacent platforms/channels (e.g. email, SMS, websites, print-on-demand).
- Collaborate with colleagues in digital, marketing, CRM admin, and other IT or business teams to understand objectives, design, and implement end-to-end technology solutions that span Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Experience Cloud, CRM, and adjacent systems – resulting in improved business outcomes and end-user experience improvements.
- In conjunction with CRM admins and fellow Digital team members, strategize, design, and help implement seamless solution integrations with CRM and transactional systems – such as web forms, online giving, and membership applications.
- Strategize, design, and help implement automated workflows and data integration solutions for multi-channel marketing efforts (e.g. email, advertising, SMS, direct mail), personalized experiences, and business efficiency.
- Work closely with digital product managers to identify and implement cross-platform enhancements and new features that improve the constituent experiences.
- Perform system testing, quality assurance, and debugging to ensure the reliability and functionality of digital-centric systems and marketing solutions.
- Document configuration processes, guidelines, and best practices for holistic knowledge sharing.
- Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, ensuring reliability and scalability.
Strategic Leadership
- Serve as a strategic thought partner with the Vice President – Digital Experience & Innovation to translate complex business needs into scalable, user-centric, digital solutions; and support roadmap execution in an agile, integrated, and outcome-driven mode.
- Collaborate with digital, marketing, technology, and business teams to translate strategic priorities into actionable technical solutions.
- Serve as a trusted advisor on platform capabilities and industry best practices to achieve organizational objectives through technical solutions.
- Identify opportunities for platform optimization and expansion – driving quick success and long-term value.
Digital Leadership & Insights
- Serve as a subject matter expert for digital platforms, guiding stakeholders on user experience and technology alignment.
- Stay current with trends, features, and updates in the Salesforce ecosystem to propose innovative solutions and maintain a competitive edge.
- Monitor, recommend, and implement emerging technologies – including opportunities with AI and automation – to drive innovation and future-readiness.
- Support compliance with accessibility standards, security protocols, and data governance policies in digital solutions.
- Encourage the use of analytics and reporting to measure success and inform continuous improvement.
People Leadership
- Work with leadership to determine staffing needs, design jobs, write/update job descriptions and allocate team members and assign/delegate duties accordingly.
- Recruit, interview and select highly talented and qualified team members for open positions.
- Orient, train, mentor, coach, and develop team members, encouraging an appropriate level of independence supporting professional growth.
- Manage, establish, delegate, communicate, monitor and reinforce team assignments, accountabilities, performance expectations and goals.
- Effectively manage change initiatives affecting team member organization and responsibilities.
- Provide ongoing feedback and recognition as well as periodic formal performance appraisals.
- Manage and collaborate with team members on their work, providing guidance, problem solving, insight, etc., to support their success.
- Communicate, support and apply WFAA policies and procedures in collaboration with Human Resources and other management team members.
- Review and approve expense reports reinforcing the WFAA travel and expense policies.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- 10+ years of progressive experience in digital-centric roles with proven experience successfully managing teams (project or direct reports).
- Proven success in designing and executing enterprise-wide digital solutions.
- Experience with Salesforce platforms (including Marketing Cloud, Experience Cloud, and CRM), web platforms such as WordPress, and enabling improved end-user experiences and business efficiency through the integration of these systems.
- Demonstrated experience implementing and helping organizations adopt AI capabilities native in Salesforce and adjacent systems.
- Proven ability to design and implement practical and right-sized solutions – achieving technical and business objectives on time and on budget.
- Exceptional strategic thinking, executive presence, stakeholder engagement, and adaptability in a dynamic technology environment.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence without direct authority, and thrive in an environment with multiple concurrent projects/workstreams.
- Demonstrated ability to influence, negotiate, and build relationships across an organization.
- Experience leveraging external partnerships to accelerate the value of internal strategies, programs, systems and solutions – including managing vendor/consultant relationships.
- 2+ years of experience in a team lead or supervisory role.
Other Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in digital marketing, information technology, communications, or a related field.
- A dedication to continuous learning, skill advancement, and ongoing professional development (e.g., conferences, workshops, industry groups).
- Salesforce certified: Marketing Cloud Engagement (Consultant or similar), AI (Agentforce Specialist preferred), and/or Experience Cloud Consultant.
- Demonstrated knowledge of user experience design, accessibility standards (WCAG), and usability principles.
- Experience working in the higher education or advancement industry.
At WFAA, we are dedicated to creating an inspiring, creative, and respectful work environment for our employees. We offer competitive pay and an outstanding benefits program, including a generous 10% 401k contribution after just one year of service! Join us and be part of a team that values your growth and well-being. Click here to learn more about our employee benefits!
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (supportuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation