Development Specialist (Fundraising & Data Operations)

Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Development Specialist serves as the critical "engine room" and operational backbone of the Organizational Advancement team, providing the precise data management and logistical support necessary to drive PICI’s ambitious revenue generation goals. This role is far more than a traditional database manager; it is pivotal for implementing a data-driven strategy as PICI prepares for and executes a multi-year, comprehensive fundraising campaign. The Specialist ensures the integrity, accuracy, and utility of all constituent data, tracking not only traditional philanthropic gifts but also proactively managing and monitoring the complex venture ecosystem relationships, including Limited Partners (LPs), Venture Capital firms (VCs), and Founders, to identify and cultivate new, non-traditional funding sources for PICI's mission. Success in this role directly translates to the COAO's ability to execute high-value relationship management and secure transformative funding.

Requirements

A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in non-profit development operations, development services, or a related data management role, preferably within a complex organization like an academic institution, research center, or life sciences focused non-profit.
Demonstrated expertise and comfort serving as a primary administrator/super-user for a major CRM platform (Salesforce strongly preferred; Raiser's Edge accepted). Must possess the ability to manage complex data sets, including revenue, constituent details, and relationship tracking, beyond simple philanthropic donations.
Exceptional attention to detail and proven organizational skills, with a commitment to maintaining rigorous data integrity and accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, compelling, and professional correspondence, reports, and internal memos.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel expertise required for data analysis and reporting).
A collaborative spirit and proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including executive leadership, finance, and scientific staff.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required to successfully execute the event portfolio.

Nice To Haves

Experience or familiarity with venture capital terminology, industry tracking tools (e.g., PitchBook, Crunchbase), or the life sciences/biotech ecosystem is a significant advantage.

Responsibilities

Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) & Venture Data Management:
Serve as the primary, expert administrator for PICI’s donor database (Salesforce), responsible for system configuration, maintenance, and overall data hygiene.
Design, implement, and maintain sophisticated tracking systems for PICI's expanded network of "non-traditional" constituents, ensuring comprehensive data capture for venture investors, portfolio company founders, industry partners, and strategic corporate alliances.
Develop and manage data imports/exports, segmentation queries, and custom reports to support all Advancement team activities, ensuring a single, accurate source of truth for all constituent interactions.
Campaign Operations and Financial Tracking:
Provide comprehensive logistical and data management support for the planning, silent phase, and public launch of the PICI fundraising campaign.
Maintain real-time tracking of the campaign pipeline, accurately reflecting prospect moves management stages and commitment amounts.
Generate and analyze critical campaign metrics, including campaign pyramid reporting, gift forecasting, commitment pacing, and pledge fulfillment tracking to inform leadership decision-making.
Coordinate with the Finance department to ensure seamless reconciliation of committed and received funds.
Major Gift Strategy and Moves Management Support:
Provide high-level administrative and operational support to the COAO and other members of the PICI team.
Manage and coordinate complex meeting schedules, travel arrangements, and pre- and post-meeting logistics for principal prospects.
Develop detailed briefing books and background materials for all major prospect meetings, synthesizing biographical, philanthropic, and venture-related data into actionable intelligence.
Oversee the formal moves management process within the CRM, ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all prospect interactions and next steps.
Stewardship and Impact Reporting:
Lead the production of timely, accurate, and highly personalized stewardship reports and gift acknowledgments.
Draft and produce tailored impact reports for major donors and partners that effectively synthesize and highlight both PICI's core scientific breakthroughs and the measurable commercial and venture success metrics of its portfolio companies and research initiatives.
Maintain a system for tracking and reporting on the impact of specific gifts and restricted funds.
Prospect Research and Intelligence:
Execute targeted and proactive prospect research using specialized tools like WealthEngine, PitchBook, and other industry intelligence platforms.
Focus research efforts on identifying new prospective partners, including family offices, high-net-worth individuals, strategic corporate partners, and impact investors aligned with PICI's mission.
Develop detailed prospect profiles and capacity ratings to support prospect identification and assignment meetings.