Associate Director, Prospect Development / Development Research Manager

MSU Internal Job Postings Details•East Lansing, MI

About The Position

The Associate Director of Prospect Development is a member of Michigan State University’s Prospect Development Team and works with the Director of Prospect Development to provide leadership, oversight, and strategy for assigned fundraising units in prospect management, research, and analysis. The role supervises data-driven professionals who support Advancement staff in managing prospects and portfolios through systems, business processes, and interpersonal relationships. It develops strategies and tactics to coordinate portfolios, solicitation plans, and individual prospects, and partners with fundraisers on pipeline and portfolio development. The Associate Director oversees prospect management and research activity for assigned fundraising units, collaborates with Advancement leaders and development staff, and helps ensure that portfolios and prospect stage changes comply with Advancement guidelines and policies. The position leads portfolio reviews, implements prospect management protocols, analyzes philanthropic patterns and financial documents for wealth assessment, and contributes research-based insight to prospect strategy discussions. The role also collaborates with fundraising-unit directors on pipeline strategies and cross-departmental projects. It supervises regular and student employees, provides coaching and performance feedback, handles administrative management duties, and fosters a collaborative, customer-service-focused work environment. The position requires discretion with sensitive information and effective communication across University staff levels. It is a standard office role with very little physical effort and is designated remote-friendly, with remote work subject to mutual agreement.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to a four-year college degree in Computer Programming, Management, Accounting, Library Science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
One to three years of related and progressively responsible or expansive experience in data collection and analysis, library research, data entry and records operations management, staff training, and report writing and editing.
Strong interpersonal, diplomacy, written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Organizational ability, initiative, and attention to detail.
Ability to analyze and synthesize information, prioritize work, and independently manage multiple, diverse, and competing priorities while meeting deadlines.
Strong project management and problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced team environment.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and work with sensitive information.
Ability to communicate effectively across channels and with all levels of University staff.
Ability to establish collaborative, collegial, and customer-service-focused working relationships.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Prospect Development.
Previous leadership or supervisory experience.
Ability and desire to learn new software and databases quickly, with a high level of computer literacy.
Experience using a CRM database or similar system.
Understanding of wealth indicators and donor motivations for giving.
Knowledge of ethics statements by the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and related organizations.
Excellent customer service, relationship management, and time management skills, and an innate sense of curiosity.

Responsibilities

Oversee prospect management and research activity and staff for assigned fundraising units.
Coordinate with the Director of Prospect Development and regional, alumni, and central Advancement offices to support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors.
Partner with development staff to ensure portfolio compilation and stage migration comply with Advancement guidelines and policies.
Conduct regularly scheduled portfolio reviews with development staff.
Implement prospect management strategies, business processes, and protocols to motivate portfolio managers to advance prospects toward giving.
Work with the Associate Director of Business Analytics to identify potential prospects for fundraiser portfolios and maintain timely relationship information about prospects and donors.
Analyze philanthropic patterns, tendencies, relationships, and complex financial documents for wealth assessment.
Lead meetings and contribute research and analysis to prospect strategy discussions; set agendas and redirect conversations as needed.
Work with fundraising-unit directors on special projects and consultations related to pipeline and fundraising activity.
Implement prospect and lead pipeline strategies, processes, and protocols to move suspects through the pipeline.
Coordinate cross-departmental projects that build and maintain the major-giving pipeline.
Coach and provide strategic guidance and regular performance feedback to employees.
Manage employee time and attendance, performance evaluations, and other administrative duties.
Promote collaboration and open communication and build strong working relationships with colleagues.
Lead or actively participate in team, unit, and cross-departmental meetings.