Associate Vice President of Advancement Operations

Description: The Associate Vice President of Advancement Operations (AVP) reports to the Vice President of Advancement (VP) and serves as a member of the Advancement leadership team.
The AVP is responsible for leading administrative and financial operations, database use and management, data integrity, software use and management, and development of procedures, protocols, and processes.
This position requires a strong commitment to SFCM, unquestioned integrity, a keen sense of confidentiality, exemplary written and oral communication skills, a high level of professionalism, demonstrated skills in effectively managing challenging situations, extraordinary attention to detail, diplomacy, exceptional knowledge of the SFCM’s policies and procedures, and excellent judgment.
Duties and Responsibilities The successful candidate will bring authentic and passionate leadership and direction to a team in the Advancement department.
In tandem with the VP, they will be responsible for supervising all aspects of advancement operations, including advancement services, data entry, data management, data integrity, database management, and protocols/procedures related to data (CEM, CRM, etc.
) for the Advancement department.
Provides strategic leadership in the department’s work to create and manage effective fundraising and stewardship by administering the Raiser’s Edge NXT fundraising database system (RE NXT), ensuring optimal use, maintenance and functionality, an essential element to institutional credibility, potential income and donor relationships.
Leads, manages, and provides strategic direction to the stewardship operations for SFCM, including gift receipts and acknowledgement, communications, and stewardship events.
Supervises two full-time positions: Data and Operations Coordinator and Donor Relations and Stewardship Coordinator.
Creates clear expectations, builds a culture of competence and confidence, provides guidance, and leads and manages the team in Advancement Operations.
In tandem with the Advancement Operations team, and in consultation with other colleagues as needed, develops and maintains standard operating procedures for RE NXT; recommends improvements and streamlined processes; implements and enforces procedures, policies and training that ensure the privacy and security of electronic and physical records maintained by the division.
Develops business processes for anticipating and meeting constituents’ needs.
Ensures that all team members have a solid understanding of fundraising and stewardship programs, strategies and information systems, and are responsible for the integrity of the database and compliant with sound financial and advancement management policies (including IRS, CASE, and FASB) and practices.
Ensures that data and list requests and reporting needs for Advancement and campus partners are met with timely and accurate provision of information.
Assures integrity in all areas of gift accounting and biographical donor/prospect information.
Monitors the integrity of the information contained in the database and determines how to translate data into usable, actionable information for the formation and execution of fundraising and stewardship strategies and measures of success.
Responsible for overseeing three key “knowledge management” functions in support of the Conservatory’s fundraising goals: business requirements development and documentation, business information management and analysis, and fundraising systems support.
Uses effective communication skills to establish and communicate the business requirements and facilitates a common understanding across the whole organization in order to optimize the systems used by Advancement.
Works collaboratively with the Advancement leadership team to create and implement the annual Advancement Plan.
In tandem with the VP and other members of the Advancement management team, assists with the process to forecast, prepare, and implement divisional budget.
Provide financial and fiscal support for department budgets, technology budgets and other needed fiscal analysis ensuring compliance with the Conservatory, state, and federal laws, policies, and procedures.
Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, Donor Bill of Rights, AFP and CASE, and other industry guidelines.
Manages administrative inquiries, audits, and requests related to data in Advancement.
Ensures a seamless process for reconciliation of gifts with the Finance and Administration department.
Creates and implements a robust system for timely and accurate recording and reporting of all gifts (cash, in-kind, credit card, stocks, bequests, etc.
) and pledges that allows for timely and efficient thank you letters, information sharing with Advancement colleagues, and other internal/external constituents.
Manages Advancement benchmarks and prepares regular comparison and progress reports including managing the Voluntary Support of Education and annual updates.
Leads special projects at the request of the VP, which may include campus research, analysis, and/or planning.
Coordinate collaborative efforts campus-wide, disseminating information, coordinating efforts across the division and with constituents.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements: The successful candidate should have: A bachelor’s degree from a four-year regionally accredited institution, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least five years of progressively responsible advancement operations experience, preferably in a higher education setting.
Experience with budgets and team leadership.
Strong experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and digital fluency with Microsoft software suite, Google suite, internet applications, etc.
Experience and understanding of Federal state, institutional, and donor funds.
Knowledge of shared governance, institutional administration and collegial interaction within a collegiate environment.
A passion and talent for building and maintaining authentic relationships using superior oral, written communication, and interpersonal skills.
An ability to keep matters confidential and to demonstrate honesty, loyalty, and respect.
A strong and demonstrable skill set in efficiently planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing multiple projects and activities with various deadlines simultaneously.
The mindset of a strategic and innovative thinker who is curious, creative, and resourceful.
The ability to lead and motivate others, while working in a consultative, diverse, inclusive, and ever-changing environment.
Knowledge of principles of institutional planning and budget processes.
Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, coordinate and direct multiple projects and activities with varied deadlines.
Ability to be a strategic and innovative thinker and effective in moving projects/assignments along.
A self-starter with strong organizational abilities, integrity, and confidence.
A team player with the ability to work in a cooperative/dynamic environment (e.
g.
, with administrators, staff, faculty, and students) and external community (e.
g.
, with business leaders, donors, and volunteers).
Ability to motivate others without line authority.
Ability to track and coordinate highly detailed projects in a well-organized and efficient manner.
Works effectively in a highly consultative and diverse environment.
How to Apply We prefer to receive applications through our website.
This position will be open until filled.
About Us SFCM’s mission is to transform our students: artistically, intellectually, professionally and individually.
Through the study of music at the highest level, our students learn to seek achievement in every endeavor, to convert challenges into opportunities, to understand the nature of excellence, and to pursue their dreams with vigor and determination.
We believe that inspiring the imagination, cultivating the artist, honing the intellect, and developing the professional are the keys to launching innovative graduates who excel in any field.
SFCM is located in the heart of one of the world’s most innovative and diverse cities, and is home to a vibrant academic community of students and faculty who achieve excellence in their fields.
Equal Opportunity Employer SFCM is a fully committed equal employment opportunity institution and welcomes applications from all qualified persons, including those who consider themselves to be of a race, national origin or ancestry that is not fully represented in musical arts programs in the United States.
Personnel decisions regarding applicants for employment are made without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran, age, citizenship, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.