Associate Director, Data Strategy

The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York • New York, NY

394d • $70,000 - $84,000

About The Position

The Associate Director of Data Strategy at Columbia Business School will lead the development and implementation of data-driven strategies to enhance fundraising and alumni engagement efforts. This role involves translating business needs into data requirements, providing actionable insights, and fostering a culture of data literacy within the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) team. The incumbent will collaborate across teams, manage data systems, and serve as a liaison for the ongoing CRM conversion project.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• At least 3-5 years of experience as a business analyst, data analyst, or similar role, ideally within a nonprofit, higher education, or fundraising environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to provide relevant, timely, and actionable insights.
• Proficiency in CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau, Power BI).
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to maintaining data integrity and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for senior leadership.
• Familiarity with predictive analytics, segmentation strategies, and donor lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Partner with stakeholders across DAR to understand business requirements and create data-driven insights for campaign performance, prospect identification, portfolio management, and alumni engagement.
• Analyze donor, prospect, and fundraising data to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges.
• Provide regular and ad-hoc analysis and insights to guide data-driven decisions, presenting recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Assist in developing performance benchmarks and identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) for fundraising and engagement activities.
• Provide regular projections to assist in financial planning.
• Analyze current fundraising and operational processes, identifying areas for improvement through technology and data solutions.
• Lead initiatives to streamline data collection, reporting, and analysis across departments.
• Drive the adoption of new tools and methodologies to support efficient data management and reporting.
• Understand and document business requirements for reporting and process automation, liaising with the University's Insights & Analytics team to create or modify reports and dashboards.
• Oversee DAR's involvement in the University's CRM conversion project, ensuring integration of CBS's data management and reporting needs.
• Lead testing, user adoption efforts, and continuous improvement initiatives post-implementation to maximize the system's impact on fundraising and engagement outcomes.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for data strategy, providing support and guidance to team members on data-related initiatives.
• Foster a culture of data literacy and analytical thinking.
• Provide training and support to DAR staff on data analysis tools, CRM best practices, and process improvements.
• Create documentation and resources to help colleagues interpret data and leverage insights for decision-making.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Ambulatory Health Care Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree