Job Posting

The Blake School | Hopkins, MN

Position Description Summary

Title: Advancement Services Manager Date Revised: June 2022
Department: Institutional Advancement FLSA Classification: Exempt
Supervisor Title: Chief Advancement Officer Schedule: 1.0 = Full-time

Supervisee(s): n/a Benefit Class: Full-time
Position Category: Essential Personnel Position Group: Administrator

Recognized as one of the nation’s premier independent schools, The Blake School provides an excellent education in a diverse and supportive environment for over 1,300 PK-12 students on three unique campuses in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Blake engages students with a dynamic, academically challenging education in a community committed to pluralism and a common set of values. Students pursue an integrated program of academic, artistic and athletic activities, preparing for college, lifelong learning and purposeful lives as community and global citizens.

Blake believes that a diverse society enriches all individuals and communities. Diversity of race, ethnicity, national origin, geography, religion, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and marital, parental or economic status forms the fabric of our society. As a result, Blake actively seeks employees who value and contribute to the fullness of a diverse community within the context of its mission.

The ideal candidate will be inspired by Blake’s mission, values and commitment to pluralism, and be proud to join an institution which has, for 100+ years, produced thoughtful, well-prepared graduates who contribute leadership and service across professions and communities nationally and internationally.

Position Overview:
The Advancement Services Manager maintains an effective database structure and ensures the use of good data. The manager utilizes best practices for data integrity and gift processing and makes sure data outputs (e.g. queries, reports, analysis) are effective and donor-centered. The manager reports to the chief advancement officer and works collaboratively with all areas of advancement. The manager functions as a department technology leader, effective problem solver, enthusiastic systems thinker and knowledgeable steward of constituent records and data compliance.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Provide leadership of Blake’s development database to department colleagues and serve as an expert user.

• Manage an effective system for advising on and fulfilling data requests (e.g. reports, queries, lists and analysis) in support of functional activities
• Lead and ensure the accurate and ethical management of all constituent information
  • Maintain and monitor the security of data, including managing database application access and privileges as well as implementing and enforcing data security policies
  • Conduct audit processes and maintain data integrity across the database, including the development of measures to ensure integrity and timeliness
  • Model best practices in data management (e.g. imports, exports, updates) to maintain clean data
  • Develop, update, and maintain data entry policies & procedures for the database and recommend updates and improvements as needed
• Liaise with the school’s Information Support Services department to successfully utilize and manage data information to support Advancement work and to ensure consistent reporting capabilities
• Serve as the development database administrator with respect to system upgrades, imports, exports and digital subscriptions
• Provide data-oriented support and training on systems, procedures, best practices, reporting, and data analysis to maximize the use of the fundraising platforms, including new staff- and ongoing-training
• Compile giving and engagement data as needed for annual reporting to associations including NAIS and INDEX schools

Lead gift processing:

• Enter information into the database, including gifts, pledges, matching gifts and biographical information with a high level of accuracy and generate and submit daily reports
• Manage all online giving platforms, including processing recurring credit card and payroll deduction installment payments
• Generate letters of acknowledgment and annual year-end giving statements to selected donors
• Manage and maintain schedule for pledge reminders
• Partner with Business Office to reconcile gift transactions, close books at end of month and fiscal year and ensure gift handling and gift processing compliance while maintaining filing system for gift records and associated correspondence or documentation

Work closely with prospect research/prospect management colleague in support of data reporting, screening, modeling and analysis.

Collaborate with the Communications department for exchange of data related to class notes and births/deaths for magazine and publications.

Serve as lead IA representative in database user groups and other Advancement Services user groups.

Support the Chief Advancement Officer with other tasks as needed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Computer Science, Data Management, or related field
• 4+ years of charitable gift accounting and gift acknowledgment experience
• Advanced knowledge of a fundraising relationship-management software, such as Raiser’s Edge, Veracross, Ellucian CRM Advance, Salesforce or similar
• High level of customer service skills and adherence to donor-centered practices
• Outstanding proficiency with spreadsheets and databases to create and run queries, exports and reports, as well as the ability to analyze and present data
• Demonstrated ability to ensure accuracy and completeness of data tasks
• Ability to be an adaptable problem solver in a dynamic environment
• Proven ability to manage time and multiple projects, while maintaining accuracy, timeliness and organization in a fast-paced environment
• Effective written and verbal skills
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in all aspects of work

Preferred Qualifications:

• Gift entry or database management experience in an educational setting
• Knowledge of independent schools
• Value for inter-cultural competency and preference to work inclusively
• Knowledge of and experience with accounting and gift compliance

Essential Physical Requirements
Working conditions include those typically associated with office environments: prolonged sitting, prolonged computer usage, and background noise level. While performing duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and perform tasks with repeated keyboard use. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.

Disclaimer:
The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. The duties and responsibilities in this job description may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. Applicants should submit a cover letter discussing interest and qualifications and a resume.