About FIRST
The mission of FIRST, an international not-for-profit organization (501(c)(3)) founded in 1989, is to provide life-changing robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world. FIRST delivers its mission through a suite of welcoming, team-based robotics programs for ages 5-18 (K-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges.
FIRST Core Values
The FIRST Core Values emphasize friendly sportsmanship, respect for the contributions of others, teamwork, learning, and community involvement and are part of our commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of unity and STEM for Everyone™. The FIRST Community expresses the FIRST philosophies of Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition® through our Core Values:
- Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
- Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
- Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.
- Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
- Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
- Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!
Learn more about FIRST at https://www.firstinspires.org/.
The Opportunity
FIRST is seeking a Vice President of Information Technology (VP) to lead the next phase of the organization’s technology transformation. Over the past several years, the organization has made significant investments in its technology infrastructure and digital capabilities, laying the foundation for a broader, multi-year transformation. With major platforms implemented, a new e-commerce experience underway, and additional digital initiatives in progress, the VP will have the opportunity to carry that forward. Approximately three years into a five-year digital transformation, FIRST has made substantial progress while recognizing there is more work ahead. The VP will assess what has been built, identify opportunities to strengthen and better integrate existing systems, and bring focus and prioritization to the next phase of the work. As FIRST develops new experiences, including its K–8 programming, this leader will ensure technology is designed around the needs of students, families, educators, volunteers, staff, and partners.
Reporting to the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and leading a software development team and IT operations team, the VP will continue to strengthen the IT function itself by implementing a long-term vision for an independent team that is less reliant on outside resources where appropriate and investing in additional training and professional development. Working closely with leaders across FIRST, they will translate organizational needs into practical technology solutions and ensure complex initiatives are thoughtfully prioritized and simply and effectively executed.
The VP will bring experience leading complex technology initiatives, overseeing cybersecurity, managing competing priorities, and ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives. For a leader who enjoys both strategy and execution, including engaging directly in complex initiatives when needed, this is an opportunity to inherit meaningful work already underway while having significant influence over the next chapter of the organization’s technology evolution. Moreover, it’s a chance to contribute to a mission that is changing the lives of young people around the globe.
Key Responsibilities
The Vice President of Information Technology will:
- Lead the next phase of digital transformation and develop a technology roadmap aligned with organizational priorities and the needs of the FIRST community.
- Assess and optimize existing technology investments, including enterprise platforms, e-commerce, digital experiences, and internal systems.
- Strengthen technology operating practices, including system ownership, governance, documentation, support and escalation processes, monitoring, accountability, and ongoing system health.
- Lead complex technology projects from planning through implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement.
- Partner across FIRST to understand business needs and translate them into thoughtful, scalable technology solutions.
- Bring a human-centered approach to technology development, ensuring the experiences of users inform design and decision-making.
- Lead and develop the IT team, strengthening internal capacity, building bench strength, and evaluating the structure and talent needed for the future.
- Oversee the organization’s broader technology environment, including software development, enterprise applications, AI integration, infrastructure, cybersecurity, help desk, and external technology partners.
- Develop and manage the IT budget, strategically balancing internal talent and external resources to optimize capacity, control costs, and ensure responsible stewardship of nonprofit funds while maximizing technology investments in support of the FIRST mission.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
Passion for the FIRST Mission
The successful VP will bring a genuine connection to the mission of FIRST and an appreciation for the role technology can play in expanding access and creating an exceptional experience for young people and the broader FIRST community. The VP will bring the curiosity and humility to learn a complex organization and ecosystem and to build authentic, trust-based relationships with colleagues and other stakeholders. They will understand that technology is ultimately about people and will be energized by the opportunity to use it to strengthen how FIRST delivers its mission.
Digital Transformation & Technology Strategy
The VP will bring significant experience leading complex, multi-year digital transformations and moving organizations from implementation to optimization. They will be comfortable stepping into a transformation already underway, assessing what has been accomplished, identifying gaps and opportunities, and establishing a clear roadmap for what comes next. This leader will balance immediate technology needs with longer-term strategy and understand how enterprise systems, digital experiences, data integrations, information security, software development, and technology operations work together to support the organization.
Project & Program Management
The successful VP will have a strong track record of leading multiple, complex technology initiatives simultaneously. They will bring structure, prioritization, discipline, and accountability to the work while remaining flexible as organizational needs evolve. They will know how to translate priorities into realistic plans, establish clear ownership and milestones, manage dependencies, and move projects successfully from concept through implementation and adoption.
Human-Centered Design & Customer Experience
The VP will bring a human-centered approach to technology, beginning with an understanding of the people who ultimately use FIRST programs, systems and digital experiences. They will know how to listen to users, understand pain points, gather feedback, and translate those insights into solutions. Whether supporting the FIRST new K–8 experience, existing programs, e-commerce platform, internal systems, or future digital initiatives, this leader will continually look for ways technology can create a simpler and stronger experience.
Relationship Building & Collaboration
The VP will be a highly collaborative and trusted partner who builds strong relationships across functions and levels of the organization. They will listen before prescribing solutions and work closely with colleagues to understand both their immediate needs and the larger organizational context. This leader will communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences, navigate differing perspectives, and build alignment around technology priorities. They will position IT as a strategic and responsive partner to the organization.
Team Leadership, Development & Organizational Design
The successful VP will be an experienced people leader with a strong commitment to coaching and developing talent. They will recognize strengths and gaps and determine what capabilities FIRST needs for the future. They will focus on building bench strength and internal expertise, creating opportunities for knowledge transfer, and developing a more independent and sustainable IT function. Given the geographically dispersed FIRST workforce, they will be intentional about communication, culture, accountability, and connection across the team.
Change Leadership & Continuous Improvement
The VP will be comfortable leading in an organization where significant transformation is already underway. They will understand that successful technology change extends beyond implementation and requires adoption, learning, refinement, and continuous improvement. They will bring a learning mindset—looking at what FIRST has already accomplished, understanding what has worked and what can be improved, and applying those lessons to the next phase of the transformation.
Experience & Qualifications
Strong candidates will bring:
- Significant progressive leadership experience across information technology, digital transformation, or a similarly broad technology function.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-year digital transformation and technology initiatives.
- Strong project and program management experience and the ability to prioritize multiple competing initiatives.
- Sufficient technical depth to engage meaningfully with developers, architects, administrators, and technology partners; evaluate solution approaches and tradeoffs; and provide informed oversight of complex technical decisions.
- Experience with human-centered design, customer experience, or product development approaches.
- Experience leading and developing technology teams and building greater internal capability.
- Broad understanding of enterprise applications, software development, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and IT operations;
- A degree in a technical or management field and demonstrated acumen in leading people and teams
- Experience with platforms such as Salesforce and NetSuite. (considered a plus)
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to work effectively across technical and non-technical teams.
- The ability to move comfortably between strategy and execution in a complex, evolving environment.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $200,000 to 220,000 with a generous benefits package. The exact salary that will be offered to the Vice President of Information Technology will be determined based on a consideration of the successful candidate’s skills and experience and aligned with FIRST compensation policies.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is led by Erin Reedy and Christy Farrell. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.