Description
Job Summary: The Senior Associate Director, Prospect Management performs strategic analysis, the creation of high-level reports, and key observations on data that helps ensure Chicago Booth donors and prospects effectively move through the development cycle and serve as the Booth lead for frontline staff training. Under the direction of the Senior Director, Prospect Development, Analytics, and Campaign Strategy, the Senior Associate Director ensures the effective management of the Booth prospect pool and pipeline, serving as a partner with the fundraising teams in assessing and maintaining gift officer portfolios.
The Senior Associate Director will build and maintain high-level reports to monitor all activity of the Booth pool including fundraiser metrics reports, portfolio analysis, pipeline management, and regular audits of Booth prospect data as needed. The Senior Associate Director serves as a subject-matter expert on the prospect module of the alumni database, maintaining all prospect data including key solicitation information. They are also the Booth lead in technology projects relating to prospect data and ensure adoption and usage through training.
This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.
Responsibilities:
- Under the guidance of the Senior Director, Prospect Development, Analytics, and Campaign Strategy advances the vision for portfolio optimization and pipeline health strategies across fundraising teams.
- Manages aspects of prospect management operations, ensuring effective assignment processes, portfolio health, and timely progression of prospects through the institutional pipeline.
- Leads, mentors, and develops prospect management staff, fostering a collaborative, proactive, and results-oriented team environment.
- Drives innovation in portfolio development and pipeline strategy, including the integration of data-informed processes and behavioral insights.
- Oversees the implementation of portfolio engagement standards and ensures consistent practices for tracking prospect movement and fundraising activity.
- Designs and leads regular portfolio and proposal pipeline reviews, partnering with frontline staff and leadership to evaluate performance, identify gaps, and adjust strategy as needed.
- Ensures the team delivers actionable insights, best practices, and training that support individual fundraiser success and institutional fundraising capacity.
- Promotes the use of technology, performance metrics, and strategic reporting to optimize portfolio and pipeline performance.
- Maintains rigorous quality control processes to ensure data accuracy, policy adherence, and equity in prospect assignment and management.
- Builds strong relationships with gift officers, fundraising managers, and senior leadership to ensure alignment and shared ownership of fundraising strategy.
- Has a deep understanding of prospect research, prospect management, strategic planning and market research on donors prospects
- Develops, maintains, and updates information on new and existing major gift prospects, solving complex problems as they arise.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Minimum: requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Preferred Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree.
Experience: Background in a fundraising or non-profit environment.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Proficiency with fundraising databases and reporting tools such as Ascend/Kindsight, Business Objects, or Tableau.
- Proficiency with the Windows environment and standard MS Office suite.
Preferred Competencies
- Motivate, lead, set objectives for, and manage the performance of a team.
- Self-motivated and work well with and through others.
- Work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet short deadlines.
- Superior verbal and written communication skills and the demonstrated ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, accurately, and concisely.
- Knowledge of current trends in fundraising and alumni relations, including benchmarking and metrics.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Strong commitment to customer service.
- Scrupulous attention to matters of discretion and confidentiality.
Working Conditions
- This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.
- Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
- Work evenings and weekends on occasion.
Pay Range: $89,000.00 - $110,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes. The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook. https://mybenefits.nfp.com/UChicago/benefits-guide/
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
