SENIOR MANAGER, PROSPECT MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH

Scripps Research • San Diego, CA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

Scripps Research is seeking a Senior Manager, Prospect Management & Research (PMR) to serve as a senior strategic partner in developing and executing prospect management and portfolio strategy for its fundraising operation. The role shapes and optimizes the pool of current and prospective donors assigned to frontline fundraisers, ensuring portfolios are strategically constructed, actively managed, and aligned with institutional priorities. It drives data-informed decisions, monitors portfolio performance, and provides senior-level guidance to strengthen pipeline development and fundraising outcomes.

Within the PMR liaison model, the Senior Manager serves as the dedicated senior PMR partner for an assigned group of frontline fundraisers, providing prospect management and research support for their portfolios. The position conducts advanced research to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospective donors whose philanthropic resources and interests align with Scripps Research opportunities. Research and wealth-screening findings inform portfolio decisions, while fundraiser activity and pipeline data guide research priorities.

The Senior Manager partners with Business Intelligence to bring portfolio and pipeline data to life in Power BI for fundraisers and leadership. This is an on-campus position requiring at least four days per week at the La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work one day per week remotely from home. The role may require some evenings and weekends for events. The expected hiring range is $92,000 to $115,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 4 years of progressive experience in prospect development, including both prospect research and prospect management.
• Extensive experience writing comprehensive donor profiles, conducting wealth screening, and analyzing complex financial indicators such as IRS information, SEC filings, and real property records.
• Proven track record advising and supporting fundraising teams through portfolio strategy and pipeline management.
• Expertise in prospect development best practices and APRA competencies.
• Proficiency with a CRM database and online prospect research tools.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal skills, a strong client-service orientation, and the ability to build relationships with fundraisers.
• Ability to prioritize and manage a high volume of complex, competing requests accurately and with attention to detail, exercise sound independent judgment, and work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Professionalism, discretion, and respect for confidentiality.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends for events.
• Ability to work on campus at least 4 days per week at the La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work remotely from home 1 day per week.

Nice To Haves

• APRA membership or professional certification.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge, Raiser’s Edge NXT, or another Blackbaud product.
• Experience with Power BI or other data visualization tools.
• Familiarity with prospect research tools such as iWave, LexisNexis, Foundation Directory, or PitchBook.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the dedicated senior PMR liaison and point of contact for assigned fundraisers’ research and prospect management requests, and oversee the request queue in Freshservice.
• Lead ongoing and biannual portfolio reviews and direct prospect assignment vetting and approval, evaluating portfolio fit, prospect viability, and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Oversee prospect assignment, standardized pipeline stage management, prospect classifications and rating levels, and moves management; ensure contact reports, proposals, and follow-ups are tracked and pipeline data reflects fundraising activity.
• Lead and coordinate prospect clearance across the institution, including with faculty, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, and leadership, to prevent duplicate or conflicting solicitations.
• Oversee data quality and QA reports and ensure research, fundraiser activity, and constituent updates are accurately and promptly recorded.
• Track and report fundraiser activity and prospect pools to identify strategic opportunities and optimize portfolios.
• Define, track, and report portfolio metrics.
• Provide strategic support for high-priority cultivation and solicitation efforts.
• Own and maintain prospect management policies, procedures, and training resources, and collaborate with other PMR liaisons and the Senior Manager of Prospect Research to promote consistent practices.
• Produce comprehensive research profiles, snapshots, briefings, and event biographies on individuals, companies, and foundations for fundraisers and senior leadership.
• Analyze complex wealth and financial indicators, including IRS information, SEC filings, and real property records; lead and review wealth screenings and ensure results are recorded in the database.
• Proactively identify, qualify, and recommend new prospects; flag high-capacity donors; and use findings to identify portfolio gaps and recommend strategic reassignments.
• Monitor news and public sources for career changes, liquidity events, and philanthropic activity, and alert fundraisers to strategic opportunities.
• Lead evaluation of research tools and vendors and develop research standards and profile templates.
• Follow ethical guidelines and protect donor confidentiality in research activities.
• Partner with Business Intelligence to design and maintain Power BI dashboards for fundraiser portfolios, prospect pools, pipeline stages, and activity, in alignment with the Executive Director of Development Information Services and fundraiser leadership.
• Serve as the lead subject matter expert for PMR dashboards by defining metrics, confirming data accuracy, and soliciting feedback from fundraisers and leadership.

Benefits

• Employer-contributed retirement plan, subject to eligibility, with no employee contribution required.
• Option to contribute to a 403(b) plan.
• Three medical plan options, including an HSA-available option.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Disability coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
• Free on-site parking.

What This Job Offers

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