Development Operations Specialist

Bay Area Discovery Museum•Sausalito, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Love the intersection of data, strategy, and mission? Join Bay Area Discovery Museum! Own the systems that fuel our fundraising, from CRM optimization and prospect research to managing a curated donor membership program. Your work directly enables world-class early childhood experiences. Position Summary The Development Operations Specialist leads the strategic oversight and continuous improvement of systems and processes that support all contributed revenue streams — Individual and Trustee Giving, Institutional Giving, Special Events, and Capital contributions. This role is a key partner to the Director of Development in advancing fundraising goals through effective use of the museum's CRM, analytics, reporting, and donor research. The Specialist ensures data integrity, operational efficiency, and donor stewardship through data-driven insights and systems management, and oversees Discovery Circle, the museum's membership program for donors giving $1,000–$10,000 annually, which provides $275,000 in essential philanthropic support. This position is a hybrid role with minimum 2 days a week onsite with periodic weekends.

Requirements

AA/BA/BS degree or equivalent experience; advanced training in data analytics, nonprofit operations, or CRM systems a plus
2+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising or operations with direct CRM/database administration
Expertise in CRM platforms and data visualization tools; high proficiency in Excel and reporting; experience leveraging AI tools to accelerate analysis and automate workflows
Demonstrated ability to lead system implementations and optimize workflows across teams
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
Familiarity with nonprofit financial processes and donor stewardship best practices
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a track record of building strong relationships
Experience producing donor reports and research materials
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work independently and collaboratively
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion and the mission of Bay Area Discovery Museum
Ability to work one customer-facing shift per quarter and support early morning, evening, and weekend events as needed

Nice To Haves

advanced training in data analytics, nonprofit operations, or CRM systems a plus

Responsibilities

Leads management and optimization of the museum's CRM, including data integrity, systems development, user training, and regular audits
Oversees implementation and configuration of new CRM tools, ensuring seamless integration with fundraising operations
Ensures best practices for data privacy, donor recordkeeping, and ethical fundraising standards
Develops and maintains reporting systems and dashboards to provide timely insights to Development, Finance, and Leadership teams
Conducts monthly gift reconciliation and financial reporting in partnership with Finance; ensures accuracy in campaign tracking and donor reporting
Manages the gift processing workflow, including acknowledgments, donor receipts, pledge reminders, and matching gifts
Conducts proactive and reactive donor research, including wealth screening, biographical profiles, and philanthropic history, to inform fundraising strategy
Prepares detailed donor briefs and tracks trustee giving and stewardship activities
Produces customized donor communications and reports for individuals, foundations, corporations, and trustees in collaboration with frontline fundraisers
Manages annual fund giving and partners with the Director of Individual Giving to drive donations throughout the year
Coordinates all Discovery Circle e-communications, including invitations, monthly newsletters, and member correspondence
Drives execution of a calendar of events for Discovery Circle members and prospects, partnering with external vendors and internal teams including Learning & Museum Experience, Membership, Visitor Services, and Facilities
Partners with the Director of Individual Giving and Development Director to identify and cultivate Discovery Circle members as Major Gift and Trustee prospects
Collaborates with Development leadership to create streamlined systems for prospect management, campaign tracking, and donor engagement
Provides operational support for fundraising events and ensures data integration across departments

Benefits

100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision for employee only premiums
Life and long-term disability insurance
Paid time off starting at 3 weeks, on an accrual basis.
10 days of sick leave (Five frontloaded, and the other five accrued throughout the year)
Eight (8) paid holidays and three (3) floating holidays.
Paid parental leave
Discounts at museum café and store, and on museum programs
All staff celebrations
Reciprocal admission benefits at other museums
Professional development training