Senior Director of Prospect Development

Department University Advancement Solutions and Innovation

Job Title Senior Director of Prospect Development

Department University Advancement Solutions and Innovation

Worker Type Regular

Pay Type Salary

Position Salary Minimum $98,000

Position Salary Maximum $105,000

Salary will be commensurate with the level of the position, education, and experience.

Scheduled Weekly Hours 40

Benefit Eligible Yes

Screening Date

The Senior Director serves as the team lead for the prospect development team and is responsible for the overall vision, strategic direction, and proactive management of all prospect research and prospect management activities. Core responsibilities include leading the development of new and enhanced policies, procedures, and protocols for prospect development functions, building a solutions-oriented team culture dedicated to continuous improvement, ensuring Prospect Development has the managerial support and resources required for all clients to have a consistent, high-value experience with prospect development, and providing strategic intelligence, analyses, and recommendations to support data-informed decision making across the enterprise.

• Provide strategic direction and vision for the Prospect Development team, ensuring clear guidance on proactive methodologies and deliverables.
• Lead the continued development of a newly integrated and expanding team, establishing a best in class prospect management and research operation.
• Establish and refine performance metrics and KPIs to articulate the output, quality, and impact of prospect research and management activities on fundraising outcomes.
• Develop and implement comprehensive strategies, goals, and best practices that advance the effectiveness and impact of the prospect development function.
• Evaluate complex donor portfolio and research challenges, identify and propose appropriate solutions, and guide the development and execution of the team’s strategic plan.
• Communicate analytical insights and data driven conclusions with clarity to the AVP, leadership team, and the broader division.
• As the functional leader of the Prospect Development, oversee talent development, role clarity, performance expectations, and evolution of team capabilities.
• Governs team budget, leads annual evaluation of prospect development tools and subscriptions, and manages vendor relationships. Advocates to leadership for the team’s needs.

• Oversee all aspects of the prospect management system. Develop and implement comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure quality and consistency across all activities related to prospect research and management.
• In coordination with the Director of Portfolio Management and Senior Development Leadership, assess and assign donors and prospects for more than 45 gift officers. Participates in, as needed, moves management meetings and quarterly portfolio reviews with relationship managers and supporting coordinators to monitor performance metrics and ensure actions, strategies, and revenue projections are accurately maintained in the database.
• In coordination with the Director of Prospect Management, manage the assignment (and reassignment, including prospect clearance) of prospects and partners in collaboration with Executive Directors to ensure that fundraising activity is coordinated, and prospects are moved successfully through the fundraising cycle.
• Establish prospect pipeline guidelines and workflows that ensures a steady flow of new prospects while holding portfolio managers accountable to moving all assignments through the donor cycle. Collaborate pipeline strategies for principal giving prospects to better identify and strategize next steps while working in close collaboration with the Director of Portfolio Management as well as Senior Leadership.

• Implement a comprehensive program of quality prospect research (biographic, financial, and philanthropic) to support cultivation and solicitation activity by advancement staff, campus partners (such as Deans) and campaign volunteers as appropriate.
• Work with the…