Associate Director, Research and Prospect Management

Title: Associate Director, Research & Prospect Management

Location: New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901, United States

Department: Development

Job Description:

Reporting to the Senior Director, Prospect Research, the Associate Director, Research and Prospect Management (AD-RPM) is an integral member of Rutgers University Foundation’s fundraising process. The AD-RPM is responsible for portfolio oversight, as well as identifying, researching, and analyzing potential prospects to meet the needs of assigned unit’s development team. The AD-RPM works within the fundraising cycle to identify prospects capacity rated at the major gift level of $100,000+ and strategizes with the Development Teams to enable their Major Gift Officers to exceed their annual fundraising goals.

Essential Function

 

• Collaborate closely with assigned unit leadership, fundraisers, and support staff to delineate their portfolio requirements and optimize the utilization of research for identifying, qualifying, nurturing, closing, and stewarding donors effectively.


• Oversee and mentor a team of research and prospect management analysts, providing guidance, training, and support in conducting comprehensive research, analyzing data, and generating actionable insights to inform fundraising strategies.


• Advise fundraisers on optimizing portfolios, and generate reports encompassing financial assets, potential philanthropic backing, and more, to brief both internal and external partners ahead of constituent meetings.


• Support prospect management systems and process training for foundation staff.


• Validate and streamline the movement of potential prospects to development teams identified from both internal and external channels.


• Analyze and interpret business and financial information from fundraising information systems and external financial, news, biographic sources, social media and other sources as appropriate.


• Compile biographic, business, philanthropic, and financial data on individuals into concise, analytical reports; enter data and maintain individual records in fundraising information systems as necessary.


• Deliver relevant information and insights to unit personnel through direct meetings and conversations.


• Through meetings, conversations, conferences, listservs, industry publications and networking, continue to develop industry knowledge to keep abreast of emerging trends and best practices for prospect research and identification, and implement new approaches as appropriate.


• Attend and actively contribute to assigned unit team meetings to ensure collective success.


• Always safeguard the confidentiality of constituent information and uphold departmental policies regarding confidential information. Adhere to ethical and confidentiality guidelines of University Advancement, the University, and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA).


• Other duties as assigned.

Competency Aptitudes
Leadership

 

• Own complex projects with senior leadership support (leadership coaches and removes roadblocks)


• Set clear direction for a project


• Provide feedback, develop staff, and colleagues

Autonomy

 

• Establish and manage set guidelines/timeline for department/project/program


• Perform project analysis; devise and implement process improvements to optimize outcomes

 

Complexity

 

• Initiate projects, strategies and innovations within the organization


• Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of department/project/program


• Ability to devise strategies and execute increasingly complex projects

Strategy

 

• Manage operational components for department


• Develop and submit budgets and other collateral materials as needed to advance a University initiative

Education and/or Experience

 

Bachelor's degree and/or 4+ years of professional experience in fundraising, alumni relations, non-profit organizations, event planning, higher education, or related fields.

 

Working Conditions

 

This position requires clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort. Will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet organizational commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituent’s schedules.

 

Workplace Arrangements

 

This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.

 

Compensation and Benefits
The position is budgeted for an annual salary of $80,000. In addition to salary, Rutgers University Foundation offers: 

 

• Office-centric hybrid work schedule


• Comprehensive medical


• Comprehensive no cost dental, and no cost vision insurance for employee and dependents


• 403(b) plan with matching employer contribution


• Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days and fifteen sick days per year


• Nine holidays, as well as four floating holidays


• Significant tuition reductions


• Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression.


• $40 monthly cell phone reimbursement

Equal Employment Opportunity

 

It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants. The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and/or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination.