Director of Office of Advancement Operations and Student Engagement

Director of Office of Advancement Operations and Student Engagement (New York)

Reports to: Vice President of Advancement
Dotted Line to: Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Advancement Operations (Beirut) and Executive Director/Vice Provost for LAU New York
Supervises: Program Coordinator for Stewardship and Donor Engagement, Prospect Research Analyst, Advancement Information Systems Analyst (with team expansion anticipated as campaign grows)
Location: New York, NY

Our Mission

We in Lebanese American University Advancement harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance LAU's global leadership in research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built—and are continuing to build—an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs. Where it's not just about a job, but a career and a community.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, with a dotted line to the Assistant Vice President of Advancement Operations in Beirut, and working in collaboration with the Vice Provost and Executive Director of LAU NYC Campus, the Director of Advancement Operations and Student Engagement will lead the Office of Advancement operations - strategic donor stewardship, operational excellence for prospect research and prospect analytics for the fundraising team-- and oversee our student engagement initiatives for LAU’s North America presence.

Leading a growing team initially comprising three professionals, the Director will evaluate the quality and impact of the donor relations and stewardship program and play an instrumental role in building and strengthening relationships across LAU's global community. In this role, the Director will lead the strategy for expanding the understanding and role of donor relations and stewardship across Advancement and the university, while personally engaging with, under the supervision of the VP of Advancement, high-end donors, volunteer leadership, and supporting New York-based fundraisers with their stewardship activities.

In addition to advancing donor relations and campaign priorities, this role will build and oversee student programming and community development for LAU’s newly accredited four-year business degree program in New York, starting with an inaugural cohort of 20–25 students receiving full tuition scholarships. The Director will design a student engagement framework that evolves as enrollment grows, including student activities, career counseling, and alumni transition planning—connecting the New York campus to LAU’s heart in Beirut.

Key Responsibilities

Stewardship and Donor Engagement

Develop innovative, strategic, and actionable plans for donor experience and engagement at various gift levels and types based on priority donor behaviors, with particular attention paid to those individuals and organizations whose philanthropy has had significant impact on LAU. Reinforce targeted communications appropriate to various groups and develop strategies aimed at increasing retention and giving.

o Partner with development officers in New York and Beirut to develop and implement stewardship strategies that blend cultivation with offerings that strengthen long-term relationships with major donors. Ensure that details of stewardship frameworks and plans are communicated, accessible and documented—taking the guesswork out of what resources are available for frontline officers and reducing ad hoc requests. Simplify processes with the aim of making space for more creative and tailored donor engagement.

o Devise strategies for meaningful donor recognition via custom impact communications for individual supporters, impact pieces for broad audiences, recognition for capital project donors and other tactics that convey the impact of giving.

o Provide input on donor experience and communications for donors of the highest level, working closely with the Offices of the President and Vice President of Advancement. Help develop individualized stewardship plans for donors at the principal gift level including individualized and small group donor engagement. Be attuned to the unique and varied ways that principal gift donors advance and are connected to LAU's achievements—from financial support to advisory appointments and campaign-related volunteer leadership. Bring a holistic and coordinated approach to the donor experience that maps acknowledgements, impact reporting, and donor experiences to key milestones, relationships, and cultivation strategies.

Endowment Reporting, Gift Agreements & Presidential Correspondence

Oversee all aspects of endowment fund reporting, gift agreements, presidential acknowledgments, and related correspondence, as well as leading donor recognition strategies.

o Work closely with the Director of Advancement Communications in New York and Beirut (as needed) to develop digital platforms, tools, and workflows that encourage productive relationships with faculty members and frontline officers and orient them to impending reporting requirements and milestones. Provide insights into how the structure of transformative gift agreements may require tailored activities.

o Serve as a key partner with Advancement leaders, development officers, finance, financial assistance, and partners across LAU to ensure scholarship fund stewardship practices are best-in-class and provide donors with meaningful and individualized information regarding scholarship awards. Partner with advancement operations to ensure that technology platforms and business processes support LAU's scholarship stewardship goals.

o Confirm that all funds are used according to their purpose, working with appropriate departments, and that any errors are identified and corrected.

o Work with colleagues in advancement operations as well as with LAU leadership to ensure gift acceptance and stewardship practices follow industry best practices.

Collaborative Campaign & Event Leadership

Align stewardship strategies and approaches with those of Advancement colleagues for a robust donor experience that sparks connection with LAU and meets audiences where they are in their philanthropic journey.

o Collaborate closely with the Director of Advancement Communications, New York and Beirut (as needed), to create synergies and align strategies for shared donor experiences and philanthropy-focused marketing and communications opportunities. Serve as a strategic partner on individual and cohort engagement strategy elements, including signature campaign events, transformative gift announcements, giving societies and related events and programming, roundtable discussions, unique donor events related to named opportunities and the completion of capital projects, or significant moments for the LAU community.

o Serve as the primary events leader for the New York office, personally planning and executing signature donor cultivation and stewardship events across North America. Manage all aspects of event logistics including venue selection, catering, programming, guest management, and vendor coordination.

Team Leadership & Operations

o Evaluate the effectiveness of all donor relations activities and suggest adjustments to the program on an ongoing basis.

o Lead and mentor a growing team, initially comprising: Program Coordinator for Stewardship and Donor Engagement, Prospect Research Analyst, and Advancement Information Systems Analyst. Scale team structure and workflows as the campaign expands and stewardship needs increase.

o Provide overall leadership and direction to the team, creating a culture of trust, accountability, and transparency. Coach, mentor, and support direct reports in the successful day-to-day management of the team.

Technology & Innovation

Apply innovative technology solutions to make information and resources accessible in ways that empower Advancement colleagues in their work and enhance donor experiences.

o Work under the guidance of the Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations to ensure that stewardship frameworks and resources are available through the Raiser's Edge NXT platform and that best practices are introduced to support key data tracking, knowledge, and analysis for the New York based fundraisers as well as the members of alumni relations who are using RE.

o Coordinate closely with AVP, Advancement Operations on prospect research and analytics teams to identify, qualify, and prioritize new donor prospects for the New York based fundraisers.

o Collaborate in creating online content that supplements or enhances donor experience or recognition efforts.

o In partnership with advancement operations, develop training and best practices that provide overviews of critical stewardship programs for the onboarding of new staff members and effective partnership with existing colleagues.

Cross-Continental Collaboration

o Report to the AVP of Advancement Operations in Beirut, maintaining regular communication and alignment on priorities, strategies, and operational excellence.

o Coordinate with Beirut colleagues across advancement functions to align operations, share best practices, and ensure global consistency in donor stewardship.

o Partner with New York-based development officers to support their stewardship needs and donor engagement strategies.

Student Engagement & Campus Programming

o Build the foundation for student life at LAU NYC, including student activities, leadership development, and community-building programs.

o Develop career counseling and experiential learning opportunities for enrolled students, leveraging LAU’s global alumni network.

o Create mentorship programs connecting students with alumni and donors to foster a culture of philanthropy and engagement.

o Design scalable frameworks for student engagement that grow with enrollment and integrate with LAU Beirut’s student affairs and alumni relations.

o Ensure programming supports students’ transition into alumni status, reinforcing lifelong connection to LAU.

Requirements to Apply

o Education: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

o Experience:

o Minimum 7–10 years in advancement operations, donor relations, or related fields.

o Direct experience in student engagement, student affairs, or campus programming—preferably in a university setting.

o Proven experience in event planning, team leadership, and strategic donor engagement.

Technical Skills:

o Familiarity with CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred).

o Strong data analysis and reporting capabilities.

o Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft compelling donor and student narratives.

o Global Mindset: Ability to work across cultures and time zones in a global organization.

Desired Attributes

o Student-Centric: Passion for building student communities and supporting student success.

o Strategic Thinker: Able to design innovative engagement strategies aligned with campaign and enrollment goals.

o Relationship Builder: Skilled at fostering trust and collaboration with donors, colleagues, and students.

o Creative & Adaptive: Brings fresh ideas for donor experiences and student engagement programs.

o Leadership Presence: Inspires and mentors team members while promoting accountability and transparency.

o Tech-Savvy: Comfortable leveraging technology to streamline operations and enhance engagement.

Pay: $80,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person