Senior Director, Advancement Operations

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University

Department:

University Advancement

Time Type:

Full time

Work Modality:

Hybrid 02 (On Campus 2 days/Week)

Union:

Job Description:

Summary:

The Senior Director of Advancement Operations plays a critical role in building and maintaining the administrative infrastructure for the advancement division. As a member of the University Advancement senior leadership team, the Senior Director will lead our three critical units of Data Quality, Gift Administration, and Reporting and Analytics while embodying and advocating for a comprehensive, division-wide commitment to data-driven decision making. The Senior Director fosters and initiates collaboration across boundaries, analyzes opportunities and evaluates risk for the division, and develops and implements complex technical solutions along with the change management that will ensure our division’s long-term success. Through her work, the Senior Director will deliver the infrastructure improvements needed to support American University’s next, even more ambitious comprehensive campaign following the successful completion of Change Can’t Wait in 2024.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Direct the advancement operations portfolio including oversight of the Data Quality, Gift Administration, and Reporting and Analytics teams.

• Provide direct oversight of the Director of Gift Administration and indirect oversight for the Gift Administration team to ensure the timely and accurate processing of philanthropic gifts, pledges, and grants; assess the current state of documentation for processes and remediate any deficiencies to ensure compliance and the continuity of operations amid staff turnover and systems change; develop systems to prevent, detect, and resolve issues with complex integrations including Engaging Networks e-CRM, VanillaSoft phone software, CapitalOne lockbox, and Workday finance module through coordination with other Advancement Operations teams and OIT.
  
  
• Provide direct oversight of the Director of Data Quality and indirect oversight for the Data Quality team to ensure that UA data is current, clean, and readily available for all UA applications and collaborations with partner offices (e.g. AU magazine, school newsletters). Develop criteria for and ensure compliance with prudent and high-yield investments in data clean-up and acquisition projects (e.g. bio/demo appends, historical data review). Review and improve two-way UA interactions with Windfall, RelSci, FoundationSearch, and other 3rd-party wealth vendors.
  
  
• Provide direct oversight of the Director of Reporting and Analytics and indirect oversight for the Reporting and Analytics team to ensure that report offerings are current, responsive, and aligned with UA goals. Assess and improve the team’s capacity to support the division’s goal to adhere to reporting best practices including self-sufficiency, high rates of adoption/utilization, and incorporation of reports and analytics into decision making processes.
  
  
• With visibility of the entire Advancement Operations cohort, strategically and prudently manage the Advancement Operations budget with a focus on short-term and long-term ROI.
  
  
• With visibility of the entire Advancement Operations cohort, advise the Associate Vice President and Vice President on the state of advancement infrastructure, campaign readiness, opportunities, and risks.
  
  

2. Hire and supervise three direct report managers of Data Quality, Gift Administration, and Reporting and Analytics teams comprising 12 total FTEs and several part-time employees:

• Conduct thorough mid-year and year-end evaluations of direct report managers and communicate expectations for managers’ own evaluations of staff that are consistent, objective, and linked to job and core competencies.
  
  
• Develop professional development plans and team-building opportunities for the advancement operations cohort that will cultivate needed skills and expand capacity for both individuals and the cohort as a whole.
  
  
• Lead annual retreat and engage direct-report managers to develop theme and deliver.
  
  

3. Conduct a comprehensive, action-oriented assessment of the advancement CRM:

• Evaluate capacity of current CRM solution and UA needs to make a recommendation to Associate Vice President and Vice President that will inform the advancement data roadmap.
  
  
• Research solutions including alternative CRMs and benchmark with both AU colleagues working in other CRMs and external resources in similar roles and with valuable experience.
  
  
• Develop implementation and remediation plans in consultation with UA and OIT colleagues.
  
  

4. Serve as the UA division’s primary liaison with OIT, Finance, and other partner offices:

• Make and delegate executive decisions and seek Associate Vice President and Vice President advice as appropriate in matters including project management, budget utilization, staff deployment, and coordination with UA colleagues.
  
  
• Lead UA division in standing meetings and ad hoc meetings and working groups with OIT and Finance colleagues including biweekly Advancement Priorities and Planning, annual pledge write-off review, and gift/grant determinations.
  
  
• Represent advancement on data governance, enterprise systems portfolio, and other AU-wide committees and working groups.
  
  

5. Serve on the university advancement senior leadership team:

• Partner with senior team colleagues to reinforce the division’s commitment to data-driven decision making, analysis, and return on investment
  
  

6. Develop and deliver high-level reports and presentations for university leadership including the President, Board of Trustees, Cabinet, and President’s Council. 7. Other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Collaborative Leadership.
  
  
• Leading and Inspiring People.
  
  
• Evaluating and Implementing Ideas.
  
  
• Championing Customer Needs.
  
  
• Building a Customer Focused Organization.
  
  
• Driving Continuous Improvement.
  
  
• Acting Strategically.
  
  
• Prioritizing and Organizing.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Three direct report managers, each the director of a team with 3-6 direct reports and budget responsibility.
  
  

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Full-Time.
  
  
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours as required.
  
  

Travel Required:

• Infrequent travel for professional development.
  
  

Salary Range:

• $113,000-$146,000 annually.
  
  

Required Education and Experience:

• Master's degree or equivalent.
  
  
• 8-10 years of relevant experience.
  
  

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master's degree.
  
  
• 10+ years of relevant experience.
  
  

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• Master's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
  
  
• 8 or more years of experience in operations including higher education advancement;
  
  
• Team management experience required;
  
  
• Excellent knowledge of the principles of project management, agile methodology, and fundraising;
  
  
• Ability to understand the objectives of the University Advancement division and American University, and to integrate goals with those objectives;
  
  
• Ability to initiate, analyze, monitor, evaluate and alter strategic plans;
  
  
• Ability to articulate the case for support for the vision/mission/goals of American University;
  
  
• Strong interest in higher education and a dedication to promoting the university's fundraising priorities through developing excellent working relationships with internal university constituencies;
  
  
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills.
  
  

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options .

Other Details

• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
  
  
• Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
  
  
• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
  
  
• American University is an E-Verify employer.
  
  

Current American University Employees

American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu .

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.