Description

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and the institution’s leadership have launched a campaign to support this vision. The Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Futurewill secure funds for all Smithsonian museums and centers as the institution reimagines its mission to find solutions for collective challenges in a rapidly changing world. The campaign will provide a foundation for critical research to ensure people and nature thrive together, build unparalleled education programs with families and partners, collect the world’s most precious objects, document the present while reflecting on the past, and reimagine the visitor experience both in-person and online. We are bringing the Smithsonian off the National Mall and across the country through dynamic programming and affiliate partnerships, creating access for all.  

The Office of Advancement (OA) oversees and guides the fundraising efforts of the entire Smithsonian and is home to the central development organization for the Institution. In addition to raising significant support for a variety of Smithsonian initiatives, the OA provides support services to advancement offices across the Institution. The office engages with staff throughout the Smithsonian in accomplishing their goals. 

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

The Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Advancement seeks an experienced candidate to fill the role of Associate Director of Advancement Services. The Associate Director serves as the Smithsonian’s Gift Registrar and directs the office that oversees gift processing for the entire Institution. This department ensures all gifts received by the Institution are accurately documented, recorded and allocated in the official Smithsonian donor management system. S/he guides and advises on policy associated with gift accounting, processing and reconciliation. The incumbent has a high level of interface with unit staff including advancement staff, administrative officers, and Office of Finance and Accounting staff regarding gift designations, policy implementation, application of accounting principles, and adherence to Smithsonian regulations, IRS code, CASE and NACUBO guidelines. This position supervises four staff members. 

Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise

A minimum of five years of experience managing a gift registration operation, a passion for learning and exploration, and the desire to join a dynamic and growing operation should be demonstrated in your application. The candidate should have strong organizational, leadership, collaboration, and communication skills as well as the ability to manage a high-performing team in a complex higher education institution or a large cultural/environmental organization. Successful candidates will have expert knowledge of IRS, CASE and NACUBO standards as these relate to gift recording. Knowledge of relational databases for gift recording such as Raiser’s Edge, Ellucian Advance, Banner recommended. The institution is migrating to Salesforce within the next 18 months, therefore expertise in gift management within Education Cloud/Non-Profit Cloud/NPSP is preferred and experience in financial operations and procedures is necessary. A bachelor’s degree is required.

Applicants who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.  

Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Application Instructions 

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter using this LINK by January 23, 2026. Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week. Relocation expenses are not paid. This is an in-person with 5 days a week expected in the office. 

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. 

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’sAccommodation Procedures. 

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review the Smithsonian’s EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo.