Senior Director of Advancement Services

Chatham University seeks a collaborative, strategic, and focused professional to oversee the operations and infrastructure that facilitate and support the University’s fundraising and alumni engagement efforts.  Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the Senior Director of Advancement Services will lead an advancement services team responsible for gift processing, data management and reporting, prospect research and management, stewardship and donor relations, advancement communications, and strategic planning.  The Senior Director will play an important role in the Advancement Office’s evolution over the next several years, improving processes, enhancing reporting and analytics, and creating an integrated donor experience that enables philanthropic growth and long-term engagement.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Advancement Operations and Strategy: 

• Lead the day-to-day advancement services operations, ensuring effective systems, workflows, and processes that support Advancement unit goals. 

• Help create, refine, and execute strategic plans and objectives for the department. 

• Develop and implement best practices related to data integrity, gift processing, stewardship, donor communications, prospect research and management, and reporting. 

• Serve as a key resource and authority for Advancement staff on policies, procedures, and database management.

Data Management and Gift Processing: 

• Oversee database management, including data entry standards, record maintenance, reporting, and data hygiene. 

• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of donor, alumni, and prospect information.  Oversee all gift processing activities, including gift entry, acknowledgements, reconciliation, and reporting in close coordination with business office partners.  Establish and maintain policies and procedures that ensure timely, accurate, and confidential handling of donor information and contributions. 

• Produce regular reports, dashboards, and analytics to support fundraising strategy, campaign tracking, and leadership decision making.

Stewardship and Donor Relations: 

• Oversee acknowledgement processes, donor recognition, impact reporting, and stewardship communications. 

• Develop systems to ensure timely and meaningful engagement with donors.  Support donor recognition programs and stewardship initiatives.

Advancement Communications: 

• Oversee Advancement-related communications in partnership with University colleagues and Advancement leadership. 

• Help develop and coordinate donor and alumni communications, campaign materials, and impact messaging. 

• Ensure communications align with institutional priorities and support engagement and fundraising objectives.

Team Leadership: 

• Supervise and mentor the Advancement Services team. 

• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented, and solutions-focused culture. 

• Support professional development and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in advancement services, development operations, donor relations, prospect research, or related advancement functions.

• Demonstrated experience overseeing gift processing, data management, reporting, stewardship, and advancement operations.

• Experience with prospect research, portfolio management, and donor analytics preferred.

• Experience supervising staff and managing projects across multiple functions.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

• Experience with advancement CRM systems and reporting tools.

Preferred Characteristics:

• Strategic yet highly execution oriented.

• Collaborative and service-minded

• Comfortable balancing operational detail with broader institutional goals.

• Interested in helping strengthen and modernize advancement infrastructure in a growing and mission-driven environment.

• Committed to fostering meaningful donor and alumni relationships through strong, efficient systems and thoughtful stewardship practices.

Salary Range: 

$95,000 annually. 40-hour work week.

Exact compensation based on candidate skills and experience. 

How to Apply: 

Applications accepted only via  (direct link is

) and follow the instructions to complete the application process. To ensure full consideration, please include: 

• Cover Letter outlining your qualifications for the position 

• Curriculum Vitae or Resume 

• Contact information for three professional references 

All application materials should be uploaded at the same time at the time of application. The system will not allow applicants to make edits to their applications after submission.