Salesforce Architect

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued-and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

The Salesforce Architect plays a critical role in the design, implementation, and optimization of Salesforce-based enterprise applications. This role will lead cross-functional teams to design scalable, integrated, and user-centric solutions supporting academic, research, and administrative functions. The Salesforce Architect will drive alignment with the IT Strategic Plan and work collaboratively with academic departments, campus stakeholders, and IT teams to create sustainable software solutions that meet the evolving needs of the university.

Essential Functions

• Lead the technical design, development and implementation of Salesforce-based applications to support university-wide functions. This includes student services, faculty workflows, research management, and administrative processes. Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and adaptable to future needs.
• Oversee the assessment of system integration needs and perform feasibility studies to ensure optimal use of Salesforce technology. Define product specifications and architectural blueprints, considering integration with existing campus technologies such as SIS (Student Information Systems), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and other enterprise applications.
• Guide initiatives to improve response times, training, and documentation for end-users for the Salesforce instance.
• Partner with academic departments, research teams, and administrative units to gather requirements and deliver integrated Salesforce solutions that align with university goals. Work closely with other IT leaders to ensure seamless integration with existing systems.
• Oversee and manage the end-to-end software development lifecycle for Salesforce projects, ensuring quality assurance, secure code practices, and adherence to university standards for integration, deployment, and service delivery.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to Salesforce staff and IT staff, promoting best practices in Salesforce development and fostering a collaborative learning environment.
• Collaborate with senior leadership in IT and campus stakeholders to align Salesforce initiatives with the broader IT Strategic Plan. Advise on resource allocation, project timelines, and the sustainable evolution of the Salesforce ecosystem at the university.
• Stay current with developments in the Salesforce ecosystem and higher education technology trends. Promote the adoption of innovative technologies and solutions that drive efficiencies and improve service delivery to students, faculty, and staff.
• Ensure that Salesforce solutions meet the needs of the campus community by continuously improving user experience, providing support for system issues, and collaborating with the IT Help Desk and other support teams.
• Ensure that Salesforce solutions adhere to university policies regarding data privacy, security, and accessibility. Collaborate with the Data Governance team to ensure compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, and other relevant regulations.

Other Functions

Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's degree with at least 10 (ten) years of experience in technical program architecture for CRM, enterprise software solutions, and cross-functional project leadership.
• Proven experience in architecting and implementing Salesforce solutions, including familiarity with Salesforce Lightning, Apex, Visualforce, and integrations with other systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, collaborate with senior leadership, and effectively mentor staff. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively across campus departments and teams.
• Experience managing multiple projects, including budget management, resource allocation, and timeline oversight. Strong organizational skills and the ability to work under deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work with diverse teams and contribute to a workplace culture that fosters respect, inclusion, and equity in technology services.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience working with enterprise systems in a university or academic setting, particularly in the implementation and integration of Salesforce solutions.
• Salesforce certifications (e.g., Salesforce Certified Technical Architect, Platform Developer I/II) are highly desirable.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours a week.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 33

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.