Director, Prospect Identification and Research - JR20005-3800

at University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

• Develop and manage a best-in-class prospect identification and research team dedicated to delivering insights that improve fundraising outcomes.
  
• Serve as ARD's leading expert on the nature, structure, and trajectory of wealth within the organization's prospect base. Make use of this knowledge through well-developed partnerships across ARD.
  
• Lead the team in growing and maintaining knowledge of global industries and wealth sectors. Develop mechanisms to deliver this knowledge to the organization in useful and actionable ways.
  
• Using Salesforce and associated technologies, implement a flexible and reliable system to identify potential wealth in UChicago's prospect pool. Socialize this system to maximize its use in ARD.
  
• Design the application of analytics, modeling, and artificial intelligence to prospect research purposes, staying abreast of industry-leading practices in this space and collaborating with the Analytics and Technology Solutions team to develop a roadmap for applying relevant tools in ARD.
  
• Develop ARD's prospect research liaison program, creating relationships with fundraising teams that lead to deep collaboration, the establishment and pursuit of shared objectives, and mutual understanding of priorities and opportunities in the prospect pool.
  
• Maximize the use of Salesforce for prospect research purposes. Evolve ARD's use of Salesforce and associated technologies to employ innovative and adaptable prospecting methods that address UChicago's fundraising priorities. Work to make the prospect research process more efficient using technology.
  
• Establish and implement metrics to evaluate the prospect identification and research team's contribution to overall fundraising outcomes. Inform ARD's data acquisition strategy to maximize the benefit of the prospect identification and research effort to ARD.
  
• Monitor prospect activities and interests across all media and disseminate to senior leadership and gift officers through useful and actionable means.
  
• Create and execute strategies to grow the size and value of the qualified prospect pool University-wide through the thoughtful collection, management, analysis of information for the identification, cultivation and solicitation of prospective donors.
  
• Oversee creation of appropriate strategic briefings and other research materials for the University President and other key University and volunteer leadership in their roles as fundraisers.
  
• Seek opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions and with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
  
• Manages employees by establishing annual performance goals, allocating resources, assessing annual performance, and determining individual merit, incentive and/or promotional increases.
  
• Sets annual and long-term activity goals and short-term operating plans for development research programs.
  
• Performs other related work as needed.
  

• Bachelor's degree.
  
• Advanced degree.
  
• Coursework in project management, business, finance, economics, analytics, library and information science, or non-profit management.
  

• Minimum seven years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar professional work experience.
  
• Experience leading a project team or managing staff.
  
• Experience developing and monitoring budgets.
  
• Experience in development or competitive research.
  

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including the University's donor relationship management system, Salesforce, Tableau, Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Project.
  

• Build, lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse team, and to encourage growth and change in both people and programs. A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and the ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
  
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, to speak, and to write effectively.
  
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
  
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
  
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
  
• Self-motivation and the ability to take initiative.
  
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
  

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
  
• Standard office environment.
  
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
  
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
  
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.
  

• Resume/CV (required)
  
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)