Associate Director of Prospect Research

Rice University•Houston, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Director of Prospect Research & Intelligence, the Associate Director of Prospect Research provides strategic and operational leadership for the Prospect Research team within a Prospect Development & Analytics organization. This role oversees research operations, staff development, workflow management, quality assurance, and service delivery while ensuring the timely completion of prospect research projects that support the university's fundraising priorities. The Associate Director also manages the institution's most complex and strategic research projects and serves as a key resource for principal and major-gift fundraising efforts. Serving as a strategic partner to fundraising staff, the Associate Director provides prospect intelligence, prospect identification, wealth assessment, and research-based recommendations that inform fundraising strategy and decision-making. Working closely with Prospect Management, Business Analytics, and Advancement colleagues, this role helps strengthen prospect development efforts, improve operational processes, and support data-informed fundraising success across the division.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a discipline requiring strong writing, communication, research, or analytical skills, such as liberal arts, library science, journalism, or business.
3+ years of professional experience in prospect research or a related research and analytical field.
Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite, CRM systems, online research tools, and business directories
Strong research, analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills
Ability to gather, evaluate, synthesize, and present complex information from multiple sources
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, and attention to detail
Strong organizational, project-management, customer-service, and interpersonal skills
Demonstrated leadership, sound judgment, professionalism, and relationship-building abilities
Ability to train, mentor, and guide colleagues on research methodologies and best practices

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Business Administration, Library and Information Science, Higher Education Administration, Data Analytics, or a related field
3+ years of direct supervisory or people-leadership experience
Experience in higher education advancement, academic medicine, or a large nonprofit fundraising environment
Experience supporting major- and principal-gift fundraising programs
Experience working within a comprehensive Prospect Development organization that includes Prospect Research, Prospect Management, and Analytics functions
Experience leading prospect identification initiatives, research operations, and process improvements
Familiarity with prospect-management principles, CRM systems, reporting tools, and research technologies
Knowledge of Houston-area philanthropy and the regional fundraising landscape
Active participation in relevant professional organizations such as APRA, CASE, or AFP

Responsibilities

Leads the day-to-day operations of the Prospect Research team and ensures high-quality research service delivery.
Supervises, coaches, mentors, and evaluates Prospect Research staff.
Oversees research workflows, project assignments, prioritization, and quality-assurance activities.
Conducts and reviews complex prospect research, wealth assessments, due diligence, and prospect analyses.
Develops research profiles, briefing materials, and strategic prospect intelligence for fundraising and university leadership.
Serves as a primary research liaison and strategic partner to assigned frontline fundraising staff.
Provides prospect identification, portfolio analysis, and strategic fundraising recommendations.
Interprets and synthesizes complex financial, corporate, legal, and biographical information into actionable fundraising intelligence.
Partners with Prospect Management, Business Analytics, and Advancement colleagues to support integrated prospect-development strategies and fundraising effectiveness.
Contributes to operational planning, service standards, workflow enhancements, and continuous process improvement.
Provides guidance and training on prospect research methodologies, tools, and best practices.
Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.
Maintains prospect and research data within the university's CRM and supports data-integrity efforts.
Recommends enhancements to research resources, data-collection practices, and operational processes.
Monitors news, industry publications, and other sources for information related to current and prospective donors.
Evaluates emerging technologies, industry trends, and research resources to identify opportunities for improvement.
Participates in professional-development activities, benchmarking initiatives, conferences, and professional associations.
Supports cross-functional projects and division-wide initiatives.
Travels occasionally for conferences, training, and university meetings.