Manager of Advancement Services and Research
Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA
About Shady Hill School:
Since 1915, Shady Hill, a school of approximately 530 students (PreK – Grade 8) and 90+ faculty, has been a leader in progressive education. Shady Hill is a deeply mission-driven school. We seek to develop independent, joyful and curious learners who respect their own accomplishments and those of others. We strive to be a community whose values are strong and whose teachers are unafraid to engage students in important questions. The school’s program allows children to explore their worlds and test their powers. As a school with a historical and contemporary commitment to social justice, we believe that an inclusive and equitable community is an educational and moral imperative that empowers us all. Therefore, we seek to hire individuals who demonstrate a mindset and skill set that prioritizes cultural competence, equity, and justice in their practice with students and in their work with colleagues.
About the position:
The Manager or Director of Advancement Services and Research is responsible for the management of the Shady Hill Advancement Office database and is integral to the Advancement team. This team member maximizes the effectiveness of Raiser’s Edge database via leveraging of data for fundraising initiatives and constituent relations. This person reports to the Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations. This is an in-person, full-time, exempt (salaried), 12 month position. The successful candidate’s depth of experience will determine whether they are hired at the Manager or Director level.
Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities:
- Create and execute a strategic technical vision encompassing the ways in which data can support the operations of the Advancement Office
- Administer the Raiser’s Edge database, including:
- Establish and maintain processes to ensure overall data integrity
- Implement structure of attributes, code tables, business rules, and other functions
- Handle data imports, global changes and data hygiene efforts
- Enter all gifts properly
- Generate prompt, accurate gift acknowledgement letters
- Oversee Head of School’s monthly batch of handwritten thank-you notes
- Work closely with Advancement, Admissions, Communications and Finance to ensure timely data flow and reconciliation
- Follow protocols and procedures to protect the integrity of the data in the database; update written protocols as needed
- Serve as lead for all reports related to giving and act as primary liaison with the Business Office to ensure financial reconciliation, including monthly reporting and the annual audit
- Provide Finance Office with information, as requested, for gift reconciliation purposes
- Ensure accurate data flow between Raiser’s Edge and SHS Portal databases
- Contact Blackbaud with Raiser’s Edge systems questions, when necessary
- Extract and report accurate, timely and relevant data from Raiser’s Edge, including queries, exports, and reports in support of the Advancement team’s cultivation, fundraising, stewardship and alumni/parent relations efforts, such as solicitations, event invitations, the annual Report on Philanthropy, campaign reporting, end-of-month reports, Shady Hill School magazine mailing, pledge reminders, financial surveys, etc.
- Provide in-house research on donor prospects, as well as coordinating with outside research vendors, screening services, etc. Upload research results and wealth ratings into Raiser’s Edge as needed.
- Oversee the use of GiveCampus tools, and serve as point person for Advancement’s contract with GiveCampus
- Maintain annual INDEX benchmarking survey related to Advancement
- Confer with staff and work collaboratively on how to best use data effectively to accomplish the mission of the department; evaluate specific programmatic data needs; advise on integration with Raiser’s Edge; and follow projects to completion.
- Provide technical training for staff on the usage of the Raiser’s Edge database
- Help staff major events for which the Advancement Department is responsible
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft office suite and Google suite; knowledge of GiveCampus not required but a plus
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Strong analytical skills
- Ability to successfully manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- Punctuality and dependability
- Ability to work in a diverse and multicultural setting effectively and professionally
- Comfortable working with a wide range of constituencies
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- 5 years of database management experience
- Expert experience with Raiser’s Edge
How to Apply:
Shady Hill has engaged DovetailED to lead the search for Manager or Director of Advancement Services and Research. Interested candidates should review the opportunity statement and submit a cover letter, resume and list of references as a consolidated PDF to Alison Moore, Senior Recruiter at DovetailED Talent Sourcing, at alison@dovetailedsourcing.com.
Shady Hill offers competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance plans, a school-matched retirement plan and paid time off. Employees must be authorized to work in the United States. Shady Hill is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For a description of the school, refer to: www.shs.org.
COVID19 Protocols: All Shady Hill employees are required to provide proof of vaccination and to observe campus COVID protocols. All health and safety protocols are subject to change based on state, local and CDC guidelines and at the discretion of the Health and Safety Team.