"Director of Analytics and Strategic Planning"

Job Description

The Director of Analytics and Strategic Planning will create and implement a new comprehensive data and analytics infrastructure to guide all decision making within Alumni Relations and Resource Development. They lead the design and execution of departmental data analysis and reporting strategies, delivering actionable insights and timely metrics that drive progress toward expanding fundraising results, pipeline development, and alumni engagement. The Director establishes and refines guidelines for tracking prospect engagement, staff activity, fundraising outcomes, and alumni involvement, ensuring consistent standards across teams. They also develop and implement collaborative approaches to proactively seek out, identify, update, and manage alumni and donor data, utilizing diverse sources and innovative methods to enhance data integrity and support ongoing organizational success.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Oversees alumni and donor data management systems in coordination with Harvard University guidance, ensuring data integrity, policy compliance, and effective business processes.
• Serves as primary point of contact for system development, support, and enhancement related to strategic alumni engagement, principal and major gifts fundraising, annual fund fundraising and ARRD forecasting.
• Creates and leads a strategy to analyze and report on key metrics, providing timely data and insights to departmental teams in support of measurable goals. Develops local standards for prospect activity tracking, staff metrics, fundraising and engagement results, communications, and similar projects.
• Develops and implements a cross-team strategy to secure, update, maintain alumni and donor data. Researches/onboards tools that aid staff and constituents in efficient data maintenance processes across a variety of sources and methods.
• Responds to and delegates ad hoc data and reporting requests as needed, supporting staff with timely information to inform decision-making. Sets clear processes and timeline expectations for staff.
• Explores, integrates, and support adoption of new tools or technologies that advance alumni and donor engagement or facilitate internal collaboration. Oversees the testing, onboarding, and maintenance strategies for new processes and tools.
• Prepares and maintains a suite of reports, dashboards, and related resources for use by staff to monitor and improve outcomes.
• Coordinates data entry, gift management, and reporting cycles in collaboration with internal teams and university partners.
• Ensures data integrity and security for sensitive alumni and donor information.
• Represents the office on university-wide data, reporting, and IT working groups and foster alignment with institutional priorities.
• Performs other responsibilities upon request, as needed, with or without accommodation.
• The above covers the most significant responsibilities of this position. It does not, however, exclude other duties, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the level of the position.

Working Conditions:

Primary work takes place in a hybrid office environment. Some tasks may require being on campus or in other off-site locations for a period of time and some lifting of boxes or light equipment is required. Sitting or standing for periods of time. Some repetitive motion.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years related experience in actionable data analytics, acquisition, and maintenance required.
• Demonstrated understanding of data analysis and presentation along with the ability to translate end user requirements into technical specifications.
• Experience working in a complex fundraising operation.
• Strong knowledge of MS office, Excel, and analytics tools required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Comfort with advanced fundraising technology and ability to learn new programs quickly.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to ensure compliance across many constituents required.
• Strong oral and written presentation skills required.
• Knowledge of the Advance system and advanced knowledge of QlikView report writing strongly preferred.
• The ability to problem solve and work in fast-paced environment.
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to foster productive working relationships with a range of internal and external constituents.