Development Operations Manager

Development Operations Manager

Location: Rockville, MD

Full Time

Mid Level

Salary: Anticipated salary is $75,000–$80,000, commensurate with experience.

Work Type: Hybrid - The expectations for this position range from full-time in-office work to a blend of remote and in-office work, depending on the Park Trust's needs. 

About National Park Trust
National Park Trust preserves parks today and creates park stewards for tomorrow. We work closely with the National Park Service to acquire privately owned lands that expand and complete national parks. Our Youth and Family Programs help children and families experience and care for public parks, lands, and waters.

The Opportunity
National Park Trust is expanding its development team as it launches the initial phase of a $20 million campaign and works to grow sustainable private support. The Development Operations Manager will build reliable systems that enable fundraisers to understand their portfolios, honor donor intent, steward gifts, and make decisions based on accurate information. This is a hands-on manager role: the person will improve processes and analysis while also doing the detailed data and gift work that keeps them sound.

Key Responsibilities
CRM and Data Management

• Serve as the primary administrator of Neon CRM, including data standards, coding, cleanup, imports, permissions, documentation, and staff training.
• Maintain accurate donor, gift, household, institutional, and campaign records; establish practical quality checks and resolve discrepancies with colleagues.
• Create clear procedures for entering interactions, updating records, producing lists, and protecting confidential donor information.

Gift, Pledge, and Acknowledgment Administration

• Oversee and carry out timely gift entry and processing, including donations received through third-party platforms, donor designations, restrictions, and campaign commitments.
• Maintain multiyear pledge schedules, payment status, and documentation of donor intent; provide accurate balances and status information to fundraisers and leadership.
• Produce receipts and acknowledgments and manage the acknowledgment workflow. Coordinate personalized language with Donor Relations, the Executive Director, and relationship managers.
• Reconcile fundraising records with Finance and help strengthen controls, exception handling, and handoffs between Neon and the financial system.

Prospect Research and Moves Management

• Conduct and coordinate prospect research, including capacity and affinity indicators, giving history, institutional information, and screening results; prepare usable profiles and briefing inputs for fundraisers.
• Administer prospect assignments, portfolio records, stages, next steps, and contact activity in Neon; prompt staff to keep records current and make the pipeline visible.
• Support the Senior Director of Development in identifying and prioritizing prospects for qualification, including candidates emerging from annual and mid-level giving and prospects beyond the current donor file.

Reporting and Analysis

• Produce reliable revenue, pledge, pipeline, campaign, and activity reports and dashboards for development leadership and appropriate board review.
• Analyze retention, renewals, upgrades, appeal response, event engagement, and portfolio movement to inform decisions; distinguish commitments from cash received.
• Provide clean lists and data support for approved mail, email, events, stewardship, and institutional giving workflows; coordinate with Communications and Donor Relations on audience criteria.

Systems and Process Improvement

• Document repeatable development procedures and train colleagues to use them; improve workflows as staffing and campaign activity grow.
• Partner with Finance on reconciliation, with Donor Relations on acknowledgment execution, and with fundraisers on prospect activity and reporting needs.
• Assess data and system needs, set practical priorities with the Senior Director of Development, and support future onboarding of development staff.

Qualifications

• Experience administering a fundraising CRM and managing gift and pledge records, preferably in a nonprofit development office. Neon experience is helpful.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills; ability to build reports and translate findings into useful information for colleagues.
• Experience with prospect research, portfolio tracking, database hygiene, and finance reconciliation, or demonstrated ability to develop these practices.
• Sound judgment with confidential information; accuracy, persistence, and comfort doing detailed transactional work.
• Ability to document and improve processes, train colleagues, manage competing deadlines, and collaborate with Development, Finance, and Communications.
• Commitment to National Park Trust’s mission.

Special Requirements
Due to our work with kids and families:

• All staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified individuals with disabilities or for those with sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law.
• The candidate must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check.

Physical Requirements

• Some physical exertion, including outdoor recreation activities.
• Lifting items up to 25-40 lbs.
• Driver’s license and use of a car.
• Local and overnight travel will be required.

Benefits:

• 401(k) plan with a 5% company match
• Health and dental insurance with a vision program
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability insurance
• Vacation, sick leave, and observance of all federal holidays