Senior Associate Vice President, Advancement Operations - JR26985-3800

at University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

• Works closely with the Vice President for ARD to set goals to build and sustain a high achieving and functioning organization. Serves as a critical thought partner to the Vice President in the conception and implementation of annual and longer-term organizational growth strategies as the University prepares for and executes its next campaign.
• Manages a team of 4 to 6 direct reports, leading innovative strategic planning, evaluation, and implementation of all functions within the Operations department, evaluating current business practices, resources, and optimizing fundraising and engagement performance across ARD.
• Partners with the Vice President to lead planning, management, and execution of key initiatives. Facilitates and provides leadership for organizational change and transition efforts to ensure identified goals are achieved.
• Leads ARD budget, expenditures, and fiscal analysis functions to ensure appropriate allocation of resources to accomplish priorities. Ensures strategic use of ARD's financial and physical resources by leading the budget planning and financial administration and forecasting processes.
• Leads ARD's talent management strategy, execution, and evaluation. Leverages internal resources and external partners to build and sustain a comprehensive, integrated program that attracts top professionals, creates learning opportunities, builds staff engagement and retention, enhances organizational communication, and enables career and leadership development.
• Builds, evolves, and scales the infrastructure needed to support meaningful identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of the donor gift pipeline and generate analysis that yields results.
• Leads, supports, and sustains innovative technology and groundbreaking analytical systems and processes to support a complex fundraising and engagement environment, developing strategies to achieve our engagement, marketing, and fundraising goals.
• Develops vision, strategy, and management of gifts administration for the university to ensure accurate and timely recording and distribution of gifts and pledges according to IRS regulations, CASE reporting standards, and associated gift acceptance policies to align with compliance, audits, risk management and reporting requirements.
• Develops strong strategic partnerships in key departments across the University to ensure alignment in application of University resources and clear communication and process execution across departments.
• Coaches, supports, and evaluates a large, diverse team of professionals. Actively encourages staff members' professional growth, development, and participation in the life of the University.
• Leads and inspires staff to meet and exceed expectations. Builds talent and fosters an environment that rewards innovative ideas and risk-taking, builds confidence, promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, and encourages effective partnerships and collaboration.
• Ensures that teamwork, collaboration, and innovation are expected, recognized, and rewarded; leads by example regarding appropriate risk-taking, cross-organizational cooperation, and clear standards of conduct and performance.
• Manages staff and budget to execute responsibilities in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner.
• Seeks 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.
• Assumes additional responsibilities consistent with the changing needs of the office.
• Performs other related work as needed.

• Outstanding organizational skills exhibiting insight, innovation, transparency, persuasiveness, and commitment to mission.
• Proven ability to work with and inspire confidence and trust from senior leaders, faculty, and staff, and to manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Proven ability to identify stakeholders and build strong, collaborative relationships with them across departments and units within a large, multi-faceted organization.
• The capacity to foster partnership and collaboration, and to lead and improve an exceptional organization.
• A collegial management style and the ability to motivate, energize, and focus leaders and staff.
• A sense of urgency and commitment to priorities, with an ability to adapt to new programs and priorities in an emerging and changing environment.
• Proven ability to build, lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse team, and to encourage change and growth in both people and programs. A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and the ability to foster a collaborative, diverse and inclusive team environment.
• Proficiency in communicating effectively and with influence.
• A strong work ethic and drive to succeed.

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum ten years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, or similar professional work experience required.
• Minimum five years successful leadership and management of advancement services or advancement operations teams in a higher education setting or similar operations and business leadership and management experience in a complex organization required.
• Minimum five years demonstrated leadership skills and proven ability to inspire and lead tangible and measurable improvement of key processes required.
• Minimum five years of successfully managing, coaching, and motivating staff required.
• Minimum three years of experience developing, and monitoring budgets required.
• Superior analytical and prioritization skills; ability to embrace challenges and thrive in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership qualities, including the ability both to delegate and to execute, thereby leading by word and example required.
• Flexibility to adapt in an emerging and changing environment required.

• 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 Phoenix, the University's donor relationship management system, and the Microsoft Windows environment.

• 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
• Cover Letter