Director of Advancement Services and Operations

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Hiring Range: $93,500 - $117,321
• Benefits
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Full Time Salaried Staff
• Grade Level: 9
  
  

Please submit a cover letter and resume to be considered for this position.

Title

Director of Advancement Services and Operations

Reports To

Vice President for Advancement

The Director of Advancement Services and Operations is a member of the Advancement leadership team in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (SAIC) Office of Advancement and is responsible for developing and managing systems, engaging in sophisticated portfolio management and developing processes to ensure a highly effective and strategic Advancement operation.

This person will oversee Advancement operations including managing and extracting information from the CRM database, prospect identification, management and research, creating and implementing metrics to measure Advancement team activity, departmental budgeting, training and onboarding, and departmental policies and procedures.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in developing, implementing, and managing systems, processes, and reports to holistically support a growing and ambitious advancement program.
• In partnership with colleagues in Central Advancement Operations and Museum Philanthropy, steward SAIC’s data within the CRM through active participation in the Data Governance Committee and ensuring accurate donor records, effective gift processing and acceptance, and optimal utilization by SAIC staff.
• Provide strategic oversight of the functions of the team that develops, implements and administers relationship management and prospect research systems, training and resources to support advancement success. Promote and ensure data integrity and timeliness of reporting for strategic decision-making purposes.
• Develop and monitor financial reporting, departmental and program budgets for the Office of Advancement. Liaison role with Finance and Budget offices for fund creation, tracking and other collaborative projections and processes.
• Partner with Advancement leadership to define departmental goals and lead strategic planning and project management across all areas of Advancement.
• Develop and produce regularly scheduled comprehensive reports and analyses that demonstrate departmental activity and performance, and inform strategic decision-making. Responsible for pipeline and pipeline reviews and holding new prospect meetings.
• Train, assist and counsel Advancement staff on accessing, utilizing, and interpreting tools and information such as reports, research materials, and gift data.
• Build, sustain and encourage productive relationships internally across departments, within the SAIC community, and with colleagues and partners in Central Administration, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Gene Siskel Film Center.
• Keep up-to-date on emerging trends and technologies to meet current and future needs of Advancement operations.
• Hire, train, evaluate and proactively supervise professional and technical staff. Thoughtfully design and implement professional development plans for all staff to demonstrate growth and improvement in identified areas.
• In collaboration with Central Revenue Systems & Business Intelligence and other SAIC staff, lead the Office of Advancement's participation in migration to and implementation of a new CRM.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• 5-7 years of non-profit fundraising experience
• 3 years’ experience managing staff
• Knowledge of Advancement services best practices and commitment to appropriate compliance.
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in process analysis, and project management, as well as demonstrated ability to collaborate with others through mentoring and collaboration.
• Experience working successfully and empathetically across all levels of an institution, including leaders, faculty and staff.
• Strong communication, project management, organization, effective and persuasive presentation and problem-solving skills
• Ability to motivate and influence others including peers, direct reports, and staff members in other parts of the organization
• Proven ability to apply an ethical code and good judgment, and to handle confidential materials and situations with sensitivity and discretion