Director of Advancement Operations

Kiosk mode

So Take the Next Steps

Director of Advancement Operations- A00279

Dobbs Ferry, NY, New York, United States

Staff Full-time

$66,538 - $86,520 annually

Add to favorites

View favorites

Position Overview

The Office of Advancement at Mercy University invites applications for a forward-thinking, strategic, and experienced leader to serve as the Director of Advancement Operations. This critical position plays a pivotal role in driving the efficiency, innovation, and impact of our advancement initiatives, supporting fundraising, alumni engagement, and stewardship efforts that empower the mission of Mercy University. We recognize that a robust advancement operation is essential for fulfilling our mission and supporting our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The Director of Advancement Operations is responsible for providing strategic vision and day-to-day oversight of all advancement services, including gift processing, database management, prospect research, reporting and analytics, and operational policy development. The successful candidate will embrace data-driven decision-making, foster collaborative relationships, and model the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement operations strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and best practices

• Supervise, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of professionals across gift processing, data management, prospect research, reporting and analytics

• Serve as a critical collaborative partner to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement and other members of the Advancement team

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation within the Advancement Operations team and across the division

• Data Management & Analytics

• Oversee the integrity, security, and optimization of the advancement database and ensure best practices in data governance

• Lead the development and implementation of reporting and analytics tools to support fundraising, stewardship, and engagement programs

• Create standardized reports for Board of Trustees meetings and for University leadership

• Use data-driven insights to identify trends, measure performance, and inform strategy for fundraising and engagement efforts

• Gift Processing & Stewardship

• Direct and ensure the accuracy, efficiency, and compliance of all gift processing, acknowledgment, and receipting functions

• Collaborate with finance and legal teams to align gift acceptance policies and procedures with organizational standards and IRS regulations

• Design and maintain systems to ensure donors receive timely and meaningful stewardship communications and recognition

• Prospect Research & Pipeline Development

• Oversee prospect research practices, ensuring the identification, qualification, and tracking of potential major donors and prospects

• Collaborate closely with fundraising teams to build and maintain robust pipelines for annual, major, and planned gifts

• Policy Development & Compliance

• Establish, document, and update policies and procedures to promote ethical, compliant, and transparent advancement operations

• Ensure the organization adheres to all relevant laws, regulations, and best practices in fundraising and data management

• Collaboration & Communication

• Serve as a key liaison to IT, Finance, Legal, and other departments, facilitating seamless integration of advancement operations across the institution

• Provide training and support to advancement staff on operational systems, tools, and policies

• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, translating complex operational concepts into actionable recommendations

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred

• At least 7 years of progressive responsibility in advancement, nonprofit, or higher education operations, with at least 3 in a supervisory or management capacity

• Demonstrated expertise in data management, prospect research, gift processing, and reporting within advancement or fundraising environments

• Proven leadership skills, with experience building, mentoring, and motivating high-performing teams

• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and project management abilities

• Strong understanding of fundraising best practices, donor stewardship, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills

• Proficiency with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems such as Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar platforms

• Desired Attributes

• Visionary thinker with a strategic mindset and a passion for operational excellence

• Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and drive cross-functional initiatives

• Flexible and adaptable, with a demonstrated ability to lead through change and ambiguity

• Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and ethical conduct

• Strong customer service orientation and a genuine interest in advancing the mission of Mercy University

• Apply Now

• First Name

• (required)

• 8f9f2d2d

• Last Name

• (required)

• 48cbadce

• Email

• (required)

• cb0e9638

• Apply

• Please wait...

• Done

• Not You?

• Thank you

• Sign Up for Job Alerts

• Job Alert

• bfb6aa10

• Finalize your job alert by selecting criteria from the dropdowns below. You can select multiple options from each dropdown by returning to the combobox and re-entering the list of options. Submit at the end to create your job alert.

• Departments

• Institutional Advancement

• Institutional Advancement

• Locations

• Dobbs Ferry, NY, New York, United States

• Dobbs Ferry, NY, New York, United States

• First Name

• (required)

• ad3114f4

• Last Name

• (required)

• 825c37cc

• Email

• (required)

• 5ef0a189

• Send

• Please wait...

• Done

• Not You?

• Thank you

Similar Jobs:

• Executive Director, Data Analytics- A00745

• Mercy University seeks a creative data analytics leader for an exciting role leading the University's efforts to sustain and grow a culture of data use to support decision making that leads to increased rates of student success.

• Accessibility Coordinator- P00134

• The Accessibility Coordinator supports the University's commitment to equitable access by coordinating disability services for students and ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable laws and regulations. The coordinator manages a caseload of students throughout the accommodations process, including intake, eligibility review, accommodation determination, and ongoing case management. The position also oversees the coordination of accommodated testing services, collaborates with faculty and campus partners to facilitate accommodations, and contributes to outreach, education, and continuous improvement initiatives that promote an inclusive learning environment.

• Student Worker – Manhattan Campus Library PF (TIER1)- CE3311

• The Academic Affairs Assistant positions will support various programs and departments within Academic Affairs. The role will offer general administrative support to the Academic departments and the libraries. The exact responsibilities will differ slightly based on the needs of the hiring department and will be communicated by the hiring manager during the interview process. This position will provide the student with a wonderful opportunity to learn about Mercy University and Higher Education in general, while honing skills that will serve them well once they graduate and start their professional journey.

• About Mercy

• Mercy University is a dynamic, independent, coeducational New York City area university that offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs in six schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

• Mercy is the region's largest private, nonprofit, Minority-Serving Institution, proud to serve a student body that is highly diverse. As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), Mercy University, has been ranked nationally among top colleges in the country for Hispanics by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and by Excelencia in Education, earning their prestigious Seal of Excelencia for intentionally serving Latino students.

• Mercy University was further recognized by HACU as a national leader in awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanics in several disciplines, including Psychology, Sociology, and Business. Westchester Magazine has also named Mercy the Best College in Westchester County in 2019, 2020, and 2022.

• Mercy is committed to offering an inclusive learning environment to help a diverse student body set a course for their future. To support its student body, Mercy has been awarded a number of federal grants which enable us to better develop and deliver education to our students.

• Mercy’s student body reflects the rich diversity of the New York metropolitan a