The Senior Director of Advancement Strategy and Operations provides a suite of strategic supports to the Vice President for Advancement; leads and manages key advancement operations; and increases the university’s fundraising capacity and outcomes.
The position reports to the Vice President for Advancement and supervises an Advancement Operations team, which includes an Associate Director of Prospect Management & Research, a Manager of Advancement Operations, and a Data Entry Specialist.
The primary responsibilities of the role are divided across the three competency areas below.
StrategyThe successful candidate is results-focused and is experienced working with C-suite executives to develop and implement strategic plans with success and impact. Below are the key responsibilities in this competency area:

• Leverage advancement and university data to inform fundraising goals, strategies, and plans
• Work closely with the VP for Advancement to develop and implement short- and long-term fundraising plans that detail advancement priorities, goals, strategies, success metrics, and data and reporting processes and timelines
• Provide VP for Advancement with reports that inform decision making and fundraising plans and strategies – including managing the creation of dashboards, queries, and reports that provide dynamic updates on progress towards fundraising goals
• Develop on-demand materials, including presentation decks, speeches, funder briefs, and customized donor proposals and reports, for the VP for Advancement
• Provide insights and recommendations to the VP for Advancement based on internal and external trends and contexts, donor behavior, as well as operational, fundraising, and budgetary needs, challenges, and opportunities
• Work with the VP for Advancement to develop workplace trainings to increase team engagement and effectiveness and to increase the University’s overall fundraising capacity

OperationsOperations functions require a candidate who has a high-level of integrity and reliability. This person prioritizes timeliness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness and is driven to ensure compliance with IRS, FASB, CASE, and other guidelines regarding best and ethical practices and procedures in advancement operations. Below are the key responsibilities in this competency area:

• Manage an Advancement Operations team to ensure timely, accurate, and comprehensive data entry, effective prospect management and research, and efficient and compliant advancement operations
• Provide oversight for the daily gift processing workflow to ensure timely and accurate posting of gifts into the database, reconciliation with the Business Office, donor acknowledgement, and management of pledge reminders
• Work with the Associate Director of Prospect Management & Research to ensure a steady and iterative pipeline of prospects and prospect assignments; Conduct ongoing monitoring of prospect management and research efforts against fundraising strategies, goals, and outcomes.
• Consult with Advancement and University colleagues and offices to ensure compliance with donor agreements and contracts
• Ensure that policies and procedures for database management, gift processing, prospect management, and other key functions are developed, disseminated, and maintained.
• Assist in integrating knowledge resources and department data and systems with other administrative office systems throughout the institution including the Office of the President, the Business Office, the IT Department, Financial Assistance, and the Registrar.

FUNDRAISINGThe successful candidate has a proven track record of fundraising success across varied frontline roles. This person is deadline-oriented, highly-organized--with strong written and oral communication skills.

• Contribute to the achievement of the Advancement Office’s annual fundraising goal by setting and achieving fundraising targets in corporate and foundation giving
• Manage and grow a portfolio of corporate, foundation, civic, and faith-based prospects and funders through focused year-round discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities
• Develop and maintain an annual calendar of new and renewal grant prospects and opportunities
• Work collaboratively with academic and non-academic units to identify funding needs and priorities; to develop logic models, proposal narrative, and approach strategies; to prepare non-advancement staff for engagements with donors; to provide consultation around funding deliverables and expectations; and to liaise between University staff and funders when necessary.
• Develop compelling, research-informed, data-based grant narrative and fundraising communications
• Provide project and grant management to ensure compliant and successful achievement of grant milestones, budget expenditures, and project deliverables
• Collaborate with Advancement major gift and other fundraisers to ensure effective fundraising coordination and to optimize fundraising success

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with business or informational science background preferred.
• Minimum of five years of professional experience, preferably in nonprofit fundraising and/or database management with proven success
• Management experience preferred.
• Knowledge of charitable giving and receipting requirements; IRS, FASB, and CASE guidelines; and federal, state, and city regulations pertaining to charitable funds solicitation and handling and the ability to use sound judgment and discretion.
• Proficient user of MS Windows operating system, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and donor databases
• Must be service-oriented and capable of working independently while functioning as a key member of the Advancement team.
• Strategic thinker who is results orientated
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent customer service skills and ability to work well with a diverse group of staff, donors, volunteers, board members, and other stakeholders
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion and deliver the highest level of client service and response.