Lerch Bates is seeking an Innovation Technology Specialist to help shape the future of how our business leverages technology, data, and emerging solutions. This strategic role serves as the bridge between business operations and technology, ensuring our systems are thoughtfully designed, scalable, and aligned with long-term organizational goals before development begins.
As an Innovation Technology Specialist, you will serve as the internal expert for CRM strategy, system architecture, data governance, and technology evaluation. Working closely with business leaders, IT, and external development partners, you'll design solutions that improve operational efficiency, strengthen data integrity, and enhance the employee experience. You'll also evaluate emerging technologies, including AI, to identify practical opportunities that support innovation across the organization.
This position is ideal for a systems thinker who enjoys solving complex business challenges, improving processes, and influencing technology strategy in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
One of the biggest advantages of working at Lerch Bates is that we are 100% employee-owned through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
Unlike many companies that offer only a salary and retirement plan, eligible employees receive company-funded ESOP shares at no cost to them as part of their long-term retirement benefits.
As Lerch Bates grows, employee-owners share in the company's success. For many employees, the ESOP becomes one of the most valuable financial benefits of their career by helping build meaningful long-term wealth in addition to their salary and traditional 401(k).
When you join Lerch Bates, you are not just building better buildings. You also have the opportunity to build your financial future alongside the company's success.
Lerch Bates (LB) is a global technical consulting firm focused on improving how buildings perform for owners, designers, and the people who use them every day. For more than 75 years we’ve partnered on some of the world’s most complex and high-profile projects. Today we provide Total Building Performance expertise that integrates Building Science and Building Flow into a unified delivery model.
Our work spans design, construction, investigation, repair, rehabilitation, management, and modernization with one consistent goal: helping clients make confident, well-informed decisions in an increasingly complex built environment.
We are 100% employee-owned through our ESOP. That means when the company succeeds, our employee-owners share in that success. It's more than a retirement benefit—it's an ownership mindset backed by the opportunity to build long-term financial value while helping shape the future of the company.
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed in this position. They are not intended to prescribe or restrict the assignments that management may make.
CRM Strategy & Platform Management
Serve as the internal subject matter expert for CRM platform strategy, architecture, and best practices, with a primary focus on Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Design and maintain scalable CRM data models, workflows, business processes, reporting structures, and system integrations.
Evaluate current CRM capabilities and develop recommendations to support future growth and business objectives.
Partner with IT teams, vendors, and external developers to ensure technical solutions align with business requirements and long-term strategy.
Technology Strategy & Solution Design
Evaluate business needs and recommend technology solutions that are scalable, user-friendly, and maintainable.
Define business requirements, functional specifications, and success criteria before development begins.
Provide strategic guidance on build-versus-buy decisions, system enhancements, and technology investments.
Ensure proposed solutions support operational workflows and business objectives rather than simply addressing individual feature requests.
Data Governance & Business Intelligence
Establish and promote best practices for data governance, ownership, consistency, and quality across enterprise systems.
Define data standards and systems of record to improve reporting accuracy and business decision-making.
Identify data quality issues and recommend solutions that improve consistency, usability, and long-term data integrity.
Support scalable data strategies that enable reporting, analytics, automation, and AI initiatives.
User Experience & Process Improvement
Advocate for user-centered design when developing business processes, workflows, and system configurations.
Identify usability challenges and opportunities to improve employee adoption and operational efficiency.
Collaborate with stakeholders to translate user feedback into practical system improvements.
Innovation & Emerging Technologies
Research emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced analytics, to identify opportunities that improve business performance.
Evaluate technology vendors, platforms, and solutions for alignment with organizational strategy and operational readiness.
Support innovation initiatives that enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and improve the employee and client experience.
Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
5+ years of experience working with enterprise CRM platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar systems.
Experience designing business systems, data models, workflows, or enterprise technology solutions.
Strong understanding of CRM architecture, business process analysis, and systems integration.
Knowledge of data governance principles, reporting structures, and data quality best practices.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills with the ability to evaluate complex business challenges and recommend scalable solutions.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to influence decision-making through thoughtful analysis, business case development, and strategic recommendations.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 certifications or administration experience.
Experience with Microsoft Power Platform, including Power BI, Power Apps, and Power Automate.
Familiarity with ERP or project management platforms such as Deltek.
Experience supporting professional services, architecture, engineering, construction (AEC), or consulting organizations.
Experience evaluating or implementing AI, automation, or other emerging technology solutions.
Experience supporting multi-office, multi-entity, or acquisition-driven organizations.
Why Work with Lerch Bates?
Competitive compensation
100% Employee-Owned ESOP (company-funded retirement benefit that allows eligible employees to share in the company's long-term success)
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Paid time off (starting at 17 days annually)
10 paid holidays
401(k) with employer match
Paid parental leave
Professional development and tuition reimbursement
Performance-based incentives and bonuses
Employee assistance and wellness programs
Ownership • Community • Integrity • Respect • Optimism
This position is primarily performed in a professional office or remote office environment with regular use of computers and standard office equipment. Occasional travel for meetings, training, conferences, or company events may be required depending on business needs.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
This position requires prolonged periods of sitting while working at a computer, along with frequent use of hands and fingers for typing and operating office equipment. Employees regularly communicate in person, by telephone, and through virtual meeting platforms.
Occasional standing, walking, bending, and lifting or carrying office materials weighing up to 20 pounds may be required.
This position requires strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills. Employees must be able to prioritize multiple assignments, maintain attention to detail, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing business priorities.
The role requires sound judgment, professionalism, problem-solving abilities, confidentiality, and effective collaboration with colleagues, clients, and external partners.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug test. The drug test includes screening for marijuana, regardless of state or local laws permitting its use. A conditional offer of employment will be rescinded if a candidate fails either the background check or the drug test. This requirement is mandated by federal regulations applicable to our government contracting obligations.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
