Director, Development Operations
About The Position
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society mobilizes people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. To fulfill this mission, the Society funds cutting-edge research, drives change through advocacy, facilitates professional education, collaborates with MS organizations around the world, and provides programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward. We partner with volunteers to accomplish our work. Staff members engage volunteers through effective and timely communications, facilitating meaningful opportunities, and continually seeking and providing feedback for reciprocal growth and learning. Job Summary: The Director of Development Operations serves as the technical lead for how the Development Department leverages Salesforce and related systems to execute fundraising strategy. This role focuses on optimizing system usage, ensuring data integrity, and delivering actionable reporting and analytics. Working closely with the AVP, Development Operations, and in partnership with the Technology team and fundraising teams across the Development Department, the Director translates strategic priorities into operational solutions, oversees technical projects, and provides expert guidance on database management and compliance standards.
Requirements
- 7+ years of experience in development operations, advancement services, or nonprofit database management.
- Advanced proficiency in CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred), including customization, workflow design, and reporting.
- Proficiency with DonorDrive preferred.
- Strong knowledge of data management principles, query development, and analytics for fundraising.
- Experience implementing technical solutions and managing system integrations in collaboration with IT teams.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to translate strategic goals into operational processes.
- Strong communication skills for explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Familiarity with fundraising compliance standards and donor database best practices.
- Experience in change management, including leading stakeholder adoption of new systems and processes.
- Experience working within a national nonprofit organization, with understanding of complex, multi-market operations.
- Curiosity, adaptability, and a continuous-improvement mindset
- Passion for the mission of the National MS Society and enthusiasm for advancing transformational philanthropy
- Ability to balance speed and accuracy in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment
Nice To Haves
- Expertise in leveraging Salesforce to design workflows, segmentation strategies, and automation that drive fundraising performance.
- Advanced knowledge of data hygiene, deduplication, and governance standards to maintain accurate donor records across complex systems.
- Ability to build dynamic dashboards, develop complex queries, and translate data into actionable insights for leadership and fundraising teams.
- Strong skills in relationship building and working across multiple departments preferred
- Strong partnership and relationship-building skills, with the ability to advise fundraisers and influence without authority
- Experience supporting a major fundraising campaign or large multi-year growth initiative
- Experience leading or supporting change management initiatives, including driving stakeholder adoption of new tools or processes
- Ability to create training, onboarding, or guidance materials to support fundraisers in using processes effectively
Responsibilities
- Drive best practices for how Development uses Salesforce to support fundraising goals, including workflow design, segmentation, and automation.
- Work in partnership with Development teams using DonorDrive and other non-Salesforce tools to bridge data across systems, enabling accurate, holistic reporting and inclusive strategic planning across the department.
- Ensure data integrity through regular audits, deduplication, and adherence to data hygiene standards.
- Develop and manage dashboards, queries, and reports to support fundraising performance and strategic decision-making.
- Provide timely and accurate data analysis to inform segmentation, donor engagement, and campaign planning.
- Lead implementation of system enhancements and new tools in alignment with AVP’s strategic direction.
- Collaborate with the Technology team on system integrations, upgrades, and troubleshooting to ensure seamless functionality.
- Create and maintain user guides, process documentation, and training materials for CRM and related systems.
- Deliver technical training and troubleshooting support for development staff.
- Ensure adherence to fundraising compliance, data privacy regulations, and organizational policies.
- Partner with Technology to align system capabilities with Development needs and ensure smooth implementation of technical solutions.
- Work closely with Technology, gift processing, donor relations, and fundraising teams to optimize operational workflows.
Benefits
- considerable Paid Time Off Plan
- Paid Holidays
- 401k Retirement Savings Plan with Society match
- Commuter Benefit Plan
- Comprehensive Health & Welfare benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Flex Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Disability Coverage, Spring Health Membership offering free therapy and professional coaching, as well as additional voluntary benefit offerings
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
