Director of Development Operations

Title: Director of Development Operations

Location: Nashville United States

Job Description:

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Position Summary:

The Director of Development Operations provides high-level operational support, driving daily team activities and leading strategic planning around goals, budgets, and performance. By managing planning and project workstreams, developing an team engagement plan, and overseeing key fundraising operations, this role serves as a vital connector across development teams and the broader division.

This dynamic role delivers strategic support with professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality, fostering a positive team culture through collaboration and strong working relationships. The Director supports the development leadership team, including the Chief Development Officer, Assistant Vice Chancellors, and unit leads across 14 schools and functional areas. Success in this position requires managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment that values flexibility, creativity, and teamwork.

About the Work Unit:

The Department of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) assists Vanderbilt University in securing the resources, both human and financial, that are required to achieve its mission and goals. The Department is responsible for the engagement, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Vanderbilt University's teaching and research programs. You can visit our website for more information: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/dar/

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Leads Development Team Operations

• Facilitates the planning of all development team meetings, retreats, and training activities in collaboration with partners on the team and from other functional areas

• Provides single-stop coordination for the development team related to the Project Management Office as they develop and execute projects and workstreams that impact the team

• Leads the ongoing maintenance and continuous refinement of the dashboards and methodologies to track and measure development officer performance in close collaboration wit the Research & Prospect Development, Information Management, and the Data and Strategic Analytics teams

• Co-Leads the oversight process and ongoing review of collaborative gift process with the Research and Prospect Development Team

• Facilitates the overall budget management process for the development team by coordinating with each budget unit and the DAR finance team; provides regular updates and tracks on budget totals throughout the year, and supports annual budget planning

• Oversees the professional development budget and approval process for the development team to ensure accessibility, equitable distribution, and strategic use of resources .

• Provides drafts and/or feedback for key planning documents including annual planning outlines, development officer credit documentation, budget memos, and training materials

Facilitates Internal Communications

• Drafts numerous ongoing communications, including a weekly dispatch newsletter with thoughtful and relevant content for the team

• Drafts meeting materials with a significant emphasis on slide deck creation

• Works flexibly to strike a balance in various communications for varying needs, including opportunities to find humor and ways to keep team culture and morale top of mind

• Ensure quality, consistency, and effectiveness of all communications, including the highest level of quality, timeliness, and accuracy in communications for projects.

Intentionally and Proactively Collaborates Far and Wide

• Regularly participates in working groups, represents the development team in meetings and discussions, and seeks information sharing opportunities wherever possible

• Partners regularly with Gift and Donor Services, CRM and IM teams to triage challenges, facilitate workflows, and execute on seasonal projects as needed-including pledge collection and other activities that affect all frontline fundraisers

• Seeks constant feedback and involvement from various parts of the organization to incorporate content into meetings, create new training opportunities, and support the overall team culture objectives related to professional development and organizational excellence

• Provides single-stop customer service to frontline fundraisers to find appropriate resources, support, and to troubleshoot issues related to metrics, CRM, policy, etc.

Provides Insight and Independently Facilitates Strategy Discussions

• Supports agenda-setting efforts for a variety of development team meetings, supports tracking and support needs related to meetings in collaboration with the Director for Administrative Services and other support roles

• Translates business needs between operational teams and frontline teams to facilitate stronger working relationships and ensure clarity between different functions

• Facilitates conversations and meetings that build trust, reinforce team culture, support transparency, and streamline working processes

• Approaches challenges with a problem solving mindset and demonstrates radical ownership over anything that comes up or affects the team writ large

Supervisory Relationships:

This position supervises an associate director position, and this position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Development Operations.

Work Environment:

This is a hybrid role based in Nashville. The expectation is for this position to be on campus 1 day per week or more depending on business needs.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree, or the equivalent, is required.

Experience and Skills:

• Five years of relevant experience, or the equivalent, is required.
• Experience in any development functions is desired, or a related sales or operational rol
• Ability to quickly grasp and foster synergies between Vanderbilt and its complex environment and the philanthropic goals of major national and regional foundations.
• Demonstrate a high level of professionalism, diplomacy, and tact in all work efforts.
• Top candidates will possess a blend of administrative expertise, project management, and interpersonal skills. Experience in research, prospect development, fundraising, communications, or stewardship is strongly desired.
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously, set priorities for the department, take initiative, and adapt to changing deadlines is required.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, synthesize, and present complex information effectively to executive level audience is required.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Excellent organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail are required.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in the handling of confidential information is required.
• Ability to use current computer technology, such as Windows, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word is required; Experience with Salesforce CRM and/or Tableau is preferred.
• Possess creative skills that facilitate success in an environment where critical thinking and teamwork are required.
• Demonstrated success in working across teams and disciplines - facilitating solutions, designing new ideas, and driving forward priorities.
• The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated, professional team player with courteous interpersonal skills and an excellent customer service attitude.