Assistant Director of Development Research

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $60,906 and $77,047, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Exercising discretion and independent judgment, the assistant director of development research will provide extremely high-level, confidential research for executive leadership. The information provided will ultimately impact dollars the university raises for special major gifts, support to develop and promote University-wide projects, programs, scholarships and increase endowment. The incumbent will provide consultation to the senior Advancement Services staff and recommend a host of strategies for the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of executive-level prospects to secure large scale, long-term support for CWRU programs, projects, and research. The assistant director performs work that directly affects the ability of the executive team, including the president, to raise significant charitable gifts and grants for the university. The assistant director also provides consultation to the assistant vice president of advancement services in all areas regarding executive-level prospects¿ including in-depth research, ratings, evaluations, and propensity to give for regular, high level prospect strategy meetings with senior University Relations and Development staff and the president.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Perform in depth research on individuals and organizations to prepare high level prospect profiles for the president, trustees, senior vice president, and other senior level fundraisers to assist in raising major gift support for the university. Compose biographical profiles on current and potential prospects. (17.5T)
• Evaluate, organize and edit data into comprehensive, standardized profiles when appropriate. Compose biographical profiles on current and potential CWRU trustees and on potential recipients of awards; compose profiles on companies with giving potential and/or a vending relationship with CWRU. (17.5%)
• Identify, analyze and profile individuals, corporations, foundations and friends of CWRU. Identify new prospects through proactive research, data mining and other processes that will highlight future executive level and planned giving prospects. Identify potential prospects from on-line and hard-copy sources. Inform/advise appropriate development officers of potential donors. (17.5%)
• Acquire and analyze financial information. Review local, national, professional and financial resources for information and prospect activities that may inform engagement and cultivation strategies. (17.5%)
• Develop prospect identification and data strategy. Prioritize the identification of prospects at the leadership, principal and concierge level aligned with university fundraising and campaign priorities while monitoring portfolio and pipeline health. Develop sophisticated data strategies aimed at identifying leadership+ prospects with the goal of guiding the strategic identification efforts of the Prospect Research team. Use available information sources to search, identify and extract biographical and corporate data. Utilize data collection from in-house, campus-wide, corporate and foundation sources, county, state and other external sources, including on-line databases and prospect research platforms. (20%)
• Manage communication and documentation. Serve in an outward facing, leadership capacity with development officers and executive team to communicate team policies, collect additional parameters to support requests, and provide timely prospect insights to support collaboration. On behalf of the director of development research, attend executive meetings to serve as the lead of the Prospect Research team to aid in prospect strategy discussions, information inquiries and foster professional partnerships amongst divisional colleagues. In collaboration with the director of development research, develop and deliver an in-depth training plan to onboard new staff and develop existing Prospect Research staff. In collaboration with the director of development research, develop and produce an in-depth process and procedure manual, making it readily available to all staff members that will ensure standard procedures are adhered to and consistent work-product produced. Assist in the management of prospect research functions including assigning workload for the research specialists to meet established annual goals and support development officer metrics. (10%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Perform other duties as assigned. (<1%)

CONTACTS

Department: Interact extensively with school-based development officers, Associate Vice President of Development and Senior Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations and senior level Advancement Services staff regarding presidential prospects.

University: Contact with deans of the schools or college.

External: Contact with vendors on specific projects of interest on behalf of the Prospect Research office such as DonorSearch, iWave, and LexisNexis for Development Professionals.

Students: Interact and train students working in the Prospect Research Department.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

May be responsible for the training and supervision of student employees at the discretion of the Director of Development Research.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 6 to 8 years of prospect research experienceprospect research experienceprospect management experience, preferably in higher education.

Education: Bachelor¿s degree required.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Exhibit a thorough understanding of research to support fundraising initiatives, prospect management systems, data management tools, and communicate to staff on the research team.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions and interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions.
• Must have a keen understanding of finance and wealth indicators.
• Ability to interpret and evaluate results to develop sound conclusions and recommend new or revised policies.
• Ability to interact well with others for the purpose of soliciting information and prioritizing personal work assignments.
• Organizational skills and initiative are necessity.
• Ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing, with staff at all levels and with outside contacts to obtain information and explain policies and procedures regarding matters of a sensitive and confidential nature.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills and the ability to write reports, profiles, and biographical summaries.
• Highly refined and urgent sense of confidentiality and discretion as this position has access to extremely personal and financial information.
• Must be able to exercise discretion and work independently to provide guidance and mentoring to other researchers and student workers.
• Experience with on-line databases, personal computers, and information management, retrieval and reference directories.
• Experience in administrative survey techniques, statistical and research methods.
• Proficiency in computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel. Proficiency in internet information searches and database management. Familiarity with Ellucian CRM highly desirable.
• Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.
• Ability to meet consistent attendance.
• Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.
• Willingness to learn and work with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.

WORKING CONDITIONS

General office environment. Must be able to sit for extended periods of time while working at a computer.

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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