Director of Advancement Services and Operations

The Lawrenceville School • Lawrenceville, NJ

22h

About The Position

Summary: The Director of Advancement Services and Operations is a senior leader within the Development team, reporting directly to the Chief Advancement Officer. This role is pivotal in ensuring the integrity of the Alumni and Development Office’s policies, procedures, and constituent database, and leveraging this information to drive strategic fundraising initiatives. The Director will oversee the technology and reporting instruments for the team, supervise and mentor a high-performing team, and provide leadership in Advancement operations, information systems, and reporting and analytics. Additionally, in close coordination with the Chief Advancement Officer, the Director is responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of the office budget, including forecasting, monitoring, liaising with Finance, and instituting budget policies. This position requires a strategic approach to planning, software and database management, gift and pledge processing, fundraising reporting, and engagement opportunities, ensuring a robust infrastructure for The Lawrenceville School’s Alumni and Development team.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership:
Create strategic plans, set goals, and lead the Advancement Services and Operations team in project management to achieve goals in three mission-critical areas of A&D: information management, gift records and reporting, and development.
Responsible for the strategic design and execution of the annual Advancement Services operation plan,to meet the division's development and alumni engagement goals.
The Director will manage the operations budget, and leads the Advancement Services team’s budget planning process throughout the year.
Participate in regular conversations with fellow Alumni and Development (A&D) team leaders to ensure department goals meet the needs of the office.
Serve as a senior member of the A&D leadership team and lead strategy conversations concerning information management, gift records, reporting, and other key meetings to help steer the direction of development and fundraising at the Lawrenceville School.
Stay abreast of best practices and key developments in the fields of information management and fundraising data analytics.
Staff Management:
Lead the Advancement Services and Operations team within the Alumni and Development Office in strategy concerning information management, gift records, reporting, and management.
The Director is responsible for leading a best-in-class Advancement Services and Operations team that provides the infrastructure for The Lawrenceville School’s Alumni and Development team.
Provides managerial and motivational skills to train, mentor, and provide best-practice coaching for a staff of four or more individuals with a wide variety of skills and responsibilities.
Manages a proactive team to help maximize fundraising and constituent relationship efforts by optimizing business intelligence processes, systems, donor and data analytics and reporting, predictive modeling, tools, and providing timely, accurate analysis to support data-driven decision-making in anticipation and support of department and donor needs.
Is responsible for hiring, training and developing employees, including performance evaluation and administration of corrective action for staff as needed.
The Director will create and maintain a program of policies and procedures for the effective management and control of these functions, as well as develop training programs to ensure all members of the division have a solid understanding of resources and tools available to support the work of fundraising and engagement.
Management of Strategic Reporting:
Drive strategic reporting and oversee reporting across the office. With support from the Advancement Services Database manager, manage office-wide reporting to ensure the department has accurate, robust metrics.
Provide timely and robust reporting for Board of Trustee meeting preparation as well as the Trustee Metrics Book.
Oversee production of financial reports, giving histories, briefings, and collateral documentation.
The Director also interacts with Finance, Information Technology Services, Facilities, Athletics, Admissions, as well as several academic departments on matters related to reporting and management of philanthropic gifts, alumni and parent volunteers, and incoming parent and student data, endowed chair reporting, and more.
With the Assistant Director of Gifts, runs monthly reconciliation reports and works with Finance to ensure consistent monthly financial reporting.
Department Budgeting:
In close coordination with the Chief Advancement Officer, the Director is responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of the office budget, including forecasting, monitoring, liaising with Finance, and instituting our office budget policies.
Represents Advancement Office:
Represent A&D at the campus level on issues of security and technology.
Work in conjunction with the Finance Office, ITS, and the General Counsel to ensure compliance with various regulations and adherence to School-wide risk management standards.
Serve as the responsible staff member for all A&D software purchases, installations, updates, and overall maintenance of such contracts on behalf of A&D.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Seven to ten years’ experience working in an analytical or information technology specialist role within an academic setting.
• Solid understanding of the field of fundraising, with the knowledge required to stay abreast of best practices in the field.
• Strong management skills, including the ability to: (1) set strategic and measurable departmental goals and ensure follow-through on tasks and projects as assigned/delegated; (2) communicate results to the broader A&D team; and (3) ensure professional development of supervised employees.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills that allow the Director to accurately distill complex data into actionable information for others.
• Superior investigative and project management skills.
• Advanced analytical skills, with the ability to think through complex data management and reporting challenges from design to implementation. Proficient in working in databases, preferably Raiser’s Edge NXT, including building, executing, and analyzing the results of queries. Proficiency in one or more reporting tools, such as: Power BI, Tableau, Excel, NXT Dashboards, or similar.
• Able to work effectively with tact and diplomacy and with a variety of people.
• Possess the highest standards of performance and ethical behavior to ensure the confidentiality and security of database information and materials.
• Able to demonstrate dedication to the mission of The Lawrenceville School.

Responsibilities

• Create strategic plans, set goals, and lead the Advancement Services and Operations team in project management to achieve goals in three mission-critical areas of A&D: information management, gift records and reporting, and development.
• Responsible for the strategic design and execution of the annual Advancement Services operation plan,to meet the division's development and alumni engagement goals.
• Manage the operations budget, and leads the Advancement Services team’s budget planning process throughout the year.
• Participate in regular conversations with fellow Alumni and Development (A&D) team leaders to ensure department goals meet the needs of the office.
• Serve as a senior member of the A&D leadership team and lead strategy conversations concerning information management, gift records, reporting, and other key meetings to help steer the direction of development and fundraising at the Lawrenceville School.
• Stay abreast of best practices and key developments in the fields of information management and fundraising data analytics.
• Lead the Advancement Services and Operations team within the Alumni and Development Office in strategy concerning information management, gift records, reporting, and management.
• Responsible for leading a best-in-class Advancement Services and Operations team that provides the infrastructure for The Lawrenceville School’s Alumni and Development team.
• Provides managerial and motivational skills to train, mentor, and provide best-practice coaching for a staff of four or more individuals with a wide variety of skills and responsibilities.
• Manages a proactive team to help maximize fundraising and constituent relationship efforts by optimizing business intelligence processes, systems, donor and data analytics and reporting, predictive modeling, tools, and providing timely, accurate analysis to support data-driven decision-making in anticipation and support of department and donor needs.
• Is responsible for hiring, training and developing employees, including performance evaluation and administration of corrective action for staff as needed.
• Create and maintain a program of policies and procedures for the effective management and control of these functions, as well as develop training programs to ensure all members of the division have a solid understanding of resources and tools available to support the work of fundraising and engagement.
• Drive strategic reporting and oversee reporting across the office. With support from the Advancement Services Database manager, manage office-wide reporting to ensure the department has accurate, robust metrics.
• Provide timely and robust reporting for Board of Trustee meeting preparation as well as the Trustee Metrics Book.
• Oversee production of financial reports, giving histories, briefings, and collateral documentation.
• Runs monthly reconciliation reports and works with Finance to ensure consistent monthly financial reporting.
• Responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of the office budget, including forecasting, monitoring, liaising with Finance, and instituting our office budget policies.
• Represent A&D at the campus level on issues of security and technology.
• Work in conjunction with the Finance Office, ITS, and the General Counsel to ensure compliance with various regulations and adherence to School-wide risk management standards.
• Serve as the responsible staff member for all A&D software purchases, installations, updates, and overall maintenance of such contracts on behalf of A&D.

Benefits

• Eligible employees receive a competitive benefit package that includes health insurance coverage, paid leave and retirement plan options and many other valuable programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level