Director of Prospect Management & Research

MSU Alumni Foundation • Bozeman, MT

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Prospect Management & Research at the Montana State University Alumni Foundation leads the Prospect Management & Research (PMR) function within Advancement Services. Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement Data & Research, the Director provides strategic direction and oversight of PMR staff, processes, and structures while balancing organizational priorities and developing team capabilities. The role combines team leadership with substantial hands-on prospect management, research, and analysis, with responsibilities flexing according to team capacity and campaign priorities.

The Director partners with the Senior Director, Development leadership, and other teams to align PMR strategy with fundraising goals, the strategic plan, and campaign initiatives. The role leads PMR support for the comprehensive campaign, guides prospect identification and portfolio review, develops governance and research standards, and advances data infrastructure, reporting, and analytics. The Director also oversees team development, vendor relationships, resource planning, and ethical and confidential handling of data.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including supervising, developing, and motivating a team in an advancement services context.
• Deep expertise in prospect management, research methodologies, portfolio strategy, and moves management.
• Ability to independently produce high-quality prospect research, analysis, and briefings while leading and developing a team.
• Ability to translate complex analytical concepts into organizational strategy and actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Experience developing and leading PMR programs, governance frameworks, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present and influence at senior levels.
• Progressively responsible experience with prospect research tools and CRM systems.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising campaign structures, donor cultivation cycles, and gift vehicles.
• Ability to lead change, manage competing priorities, and build organizational alignment across a complex environment.
• Ability to uphold data confidentiality, security, and ethical standards.

Nice To Haves

• Supervisory experience and higher education fundraising experience are preferred.
• Experience with prospect research tools such as LexisNexis, Kindsight/iWave, RedArc, DonorSearch, or Wealth Engine.
• Raiser’s Edge NXT or Blackbaud software experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute PMR priorities and strategy in partnership with the Senior Director, aligned with fundraising goals, the strategic plan, and campaign initiatives.
• Lead PMR support for the comprehensive campaign, including prospect identification, gift-range and pipeline analysis, and qualification and review strategy.
• Support the Senior Director in representing PMR at senior leadership tables, including with Vice Presidents, the President & CEO, and the Board of Governors as appropriate.
• Advise the Senior Director, Development leadership, and other teams on prospect strategy and pipeline health; anticipate needs and design proactive PMR services.
• Supervise, coach, mentor, and develop PMR team members; support onboarding, training, professional development, performance management, and succession planning.
• Delegate work appropriately while maintaining accountability for outcomes and fostering a high-performing, values-driven culture.
• Conduct and oversee prospect identification, qualification, research, and analysis for campaign and high-capacity prospects, including capacity, inclination, and affinity.
• Review prospect profiles and briefings for senior leadership and high-priority prospects, delegating work when appropriate.
• Lead annual and ongoing portfolio reviews with Development, monitor portfolio health and activity, and recommend prospect assignments and reassignments.
• Partner with Development Officers on portfolio strategy, prospect prioritization, and goal setting; train and advise Development staff on PMR practices, research interpretation, tools, and reports.
• Maintain PMR governance, research standards, policies, and operational structures in partnership with the Senior Director and Development Operations Team.
• Improve PMR workflows, systems integrations, and quality assurance frameworks; partner with Advancement Systems and Analytics on data infrastructure, self-serve reporting, and analytics.
• Oversee PMR standard operating procedures, Prospect Management Guidelines, training resources, and related data governance documentation.
• Promote timely and accurate recording of prospect interactions and contact reports in the CRM, and monitor adherence to Prospect Management Guidelines.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director to produce and present strategic reporting and analysis for Alumni Foundation leadership.
• Define, track, and report PMR performance metrics and service levels, including portfolio and pipeline health measures.
• Develop and maintain prospect analytics, including capacity and affinity scoring, engagement scoring, segmentation, and pipeline and portfolio analyses, in coordination with Reporting and Analytics and external vendors.
• Identify and address structural, process, and data challenges affecting fundraising effectiveness; prioritize competing needs across programs and stakeholders.
• Contribute to PMR staffing design, resource planning, and budget considerations.
• Manage external research and analytics vendor relationships, ensuring quality, value, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Pursue and support professional development that keeps the PMR team current with industry trends, tools, and best practices; help make PMR excellence scalable and sustainable.
• Uphold data confidentiality, security, and ethics in accordance with Alumni Foundation policy and the APRA Statement of Ethics.
• Contribute to a professional, proactive, positive, collaborative, and performance-centric work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance, with 90–100% employer-paid employee-only coverage.
• Dental insurance, with 90–100% employer-paid employee-only coverage.
• Vision insurance, with 90–100% employer-paid employee-only coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 7% employer contribution after the one-year anniversary.
• Up to five weeks of paid time off.
• 11 paid holidays.
• Tuition assistance.
• Full employment benefits.

What This Job Offers

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