Executive Director of Advancement Services
University Job Title: Director 3, Development
Bargaining Unit: None - Not included in the union (Yale Union Group)
Time Type: Full time
Duration Type: Regular
Compensation Grade: Administration & Operations
Compensation Grade Profile: Leader (28)
Wage Ranges: Click here to see our Wage Ranges
Searchable Job Family: Development
Total # of hours to be worked: 37.5
Work Week: Standard (M-F equal number of hours per day)
Work Location: Central Campus
Worksite Address: 157 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510
Work Model: On-site
Position Focus: The Executive Director of Advancement Services is a senior member of the Alumni Engagement and Development (AED) team, responsible for the office’s operational infrastructure in support of fundraising success and meaningful constituent engagement. This position reports to the Associate Dean for Alumni Engagement and Development. The Executive Director manages a wide variety of administrative and executive responsibilities, working with both key internal and external stakeholders. The successful candidate will be a proven leader, mentor, and collaborative colleague who is comfortable spearheading major initiatives, managing systemic growth and change, supporting the development of others, and completing an array of day-to-day projects and tasks. The executive director will serve as a catalyst for the enhanced experience of YLS’s donors, alumni, and friends, and an increase in philanthropic revenue.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provides vision, leadership, and oversight to AED’s operations infrastructure (Data Reporting and Analytics, Gift Administration, Strategic Alumni Communications, and Stewardship) to maximize fundraising impact, growth, and constituent engagement.
- Sets goals and annual operating plans for Data Reporting and Analytics, Gift Administration, Strategic Alumni Communications, and Stewardship that align with individual and institutional giving and alumni engagement priorities.
- Supervises Gift Administration, ensuring appropriate policies and procedures for donor, gift and fund record management and appropriate policies and guidelines for gift acceptance and compliance with University and School guidelines.
- Supervises Data Reporting and Analytics, ensuring coordination and optimization of data entry and maintenance projects, maximization of Yale University’s CRM (Hopper), the AED dashboards, and optimal deployment of reporting and analytics.
- Oversees the growth, maintenance, and enhancement of AED’s technological proficiency and tools. Maximize use of technologies to streamline operational processes. Optimize development systems and ensure the ability to generate useful and timely standing and ad hoc reports.
- Supervises Stewardship, ensuring appropriate policies and procedures for stewardship of gifts and endowed funds that uphold donor intent and the highest ethical standards; maintenance and enhancement of systems that track timely and accurate documentation of stewardship and engagement efforts. Oversee the information gathering and production of stewardship reports and acknowledgement of donors.
- Enhances internal systems and processes to support an office-wide culture of philanthropy, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Works closely with the Advancement Services team to prepare operational and financial reports and analyses for internal and external distribution.
The successful candidate will be a positive, responsive, collaborative, strategic, and intellectually curious/broad thinker who has a demonstrated track record of driving meaningful donor recognition, strategic communications, gift administration, and effective data management and business analytics for informed decision-making.
Essential Duties:
- Directs the efforts of the Development office and its staff to create and promote opportunities for communicating the needs and priorities of assigned departments, schools, and divisions to potential donors; formulates and develops programs to identify and cultivate prospective donors.
- Directs development activities including: cultivation and solicitation events; proposal preparation; donor visits with staff and faculty; stewardship events; special exhibits and events, etc. that promotes and recognizes donors.
- Directs and monitors development of prospect donor lists in collaboration with the research department; develops policies and procedures related to identification of needs and priorities of specific schools or department; creates opportunities for donors to support the needs of the various schools and departments.
- Oversees and ensures schools are well-served in one or more of the following: prospect research, donor stewardship, development for major gifts, annual fund programs, and alumni relations function.
- Directs, leads, coaches, and motivates development officers throughout the University to educate fundraisers and ensure that potential donors understand the opportunities provided in special events, stewardship programs, alumni programs, fellows programs, parent giving and student fundraising programs; works with student volunteers, administrators, faculty, and staff to build awareness of these programs.
- Directs development office staff in planning special events working with student volunteers in planning type of event, timing, venue, invitation and/or promotion, activities or purpose, and anticipated results in order to maximize staff, faculty, administrator and donor experience.
- Supervises a staff of non-exempt and exempt employees.
- May perform other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
Minimum requirement of Bachelor’s Degree in related field and six years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Skills:
- Demonstrated supervision and management skills. Ability to work in a team-based environment and have ability to direct and motivate staff.
- Subject matter expertise in fundraising operations, understanding and interest in key industry issues.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and organizational skills. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to interact with a variety of personalities at all levels and resolve concerns and conflict with composure, fairness, and tact.
- The ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient, and independent decisions about strategy and process. Knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques, including database information systems, data modeling, and analysis. Familiarity with technology and other innovations that can streamline processes.
- Ability and willingness to travel, and work some weekends and evenings as needed. Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:
Proven experience in a complex, matrixed university setting working with alumni and donors. Senior level experience in stewardship, communications, data reporting and analytics. Familiarity with Yale University.
Weekend Hours Required? Occasional
Evening Hours Required? Occasional
Drug Screen: No
Health Screening: No
Background Check Requirements: All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check.
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement: The University maintains policies pertaining to COVID-19. All faculty, staff, students, and trainees are required to comply with these policies.
EEO Statement: University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.
Note: Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.
