Company Description
Farmingdale State College is a recognized leader in applied learning. With over 10,000 students, FSC is the State University of New York's largest college of applied science and technology, with 96% of graduates working in New York State and 75% working on Long Island. Farmingdale prepares emerging leaders in the growing technology, engineering, business and health care fields.
Farmingdale State College is committed to inclusivity and excellence as part of our mission and culture. The College has received the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. We seek candidates of all backgrounds who embrace these values and the broader mission of public higher education.
The College is increasingly focused on expanding student engagement. In addition to the highly successful NCAA Division III athletic program, Esports, and an extensive array of student clubs and organizations give FSC a strong culture of civic responsibility.
Job Description
Farmingdale State College (FSC), a campus of the State University of New York (SUNY), invites applications for the Senior Director of Advancement Operations within the Division of Institutional Advancement.
Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Senior Director is a key member of the Advancement leadership team, providing strategic direction and operational oversight for advancement services, including database management, gift processing, prospect research, reporting, analytics, financial reconciliation, and compliance. This position plays a critical role in supporting fundraising success, alumni engagement, and philanthropic growth.
The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with expertise in advancement operations, finance and accounting, data management, technology systems, and team development within a higher education or a similarly complex organization.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Administration
- Provide strategic leadership for Advancement Operations and serve as a key advisor to the Vice President on technology, data strategy, and process improvement in support of fundraising, alumni engagement, and institutional priorities.
- Manage the Office of Advancement budget and support Foundation financial administration in partnership with the Director of Finance.
- Lead operational planning, resource allocation, vendor relationships, and departmental initiatives while representing advancement operations in institutional planning, committees, and leadership discussions.
Advancement Systems, Data & Analytics
- Oversee the stewardship of the Advancement CRM and related technology platforms, ensuring data integrity, security, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
- Lead data governance, reporting, analytics, and technology enhancements to support fundraising strategy, campaign performance, and executive decision-making.
- Ensure compliance with applicable data privacy, regulatory, and SUNY requirements.
Gift Administration & Financial Oversight
- Direct all gift processing, stewardship, fund management, and reconciliation activities to ensure accuracy, compliance, and exceptional donor service.
- Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to gift administration, financial reporting, and advancement operations.
- Serve as the primary liaison with Finance and Business Affairs on accounting, audits, reporting, budget management, and fiscal compliance.
Prospect Research & Fundraising Support
- Lead prospect research, analytics, and prospect management efforts to support major gift fundraising and campaign initiatives.
- Oversee prospect identification, portfolio management, moves management, and fundraising analytics.
- Provide research, briefings, and strategic intelligence to advancement staff and institutional leadership.
Reporting, Compliance & Policy Management
- Develop reports, dashboards, and analyses for institutional leaders, the Foundation Board, and external reporting requirements.
- Maintain advancement policies, procedures, and documentation related to data governance, gift acceptance, and operational standards.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, SUNY policies, IRS requirements, CASE standards, and donor stewardship best practices.
Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Advancement Services team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, customer service, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee hiring, onboarding, performance management, and professional development for staff.
Occasional evening and weekend availability may be required for donor events, campaign activities, and college functions.
This title is in Appendix C of the SUNY Policies of the Board of Trustees and, as a consequence, incumbents serving in this title are not eligible for permanent appointment (tenure), but instead receive renewable term appointments.
Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in advancement services, development operations, fundraising operations, or a similar function within higher education or a similarly complex organization.
- Experience supervising or leading a team in an advancement services or related environment.
- Demonstrated expertise in advancement operations, including donor database management, gift administration, reporting, analytics, data governance, and CRM platforms such as Raiser's Edge, Raiser's Edge NXT, or comparable systems.
- Experience overseeing financial processes, budget management, reconciliations, and fund accounting within higher education or similarly complex organization.
- Knowledge of applicable regulations and standards related to advancement services, donor stewardship, data privacy, and gift administration.
- Strong strategic planning, analytical, organizational, problem-solving, communication, and relationship-management skills, with the ability to present effectively and collaborate across departments.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree.
- Experience working in a SUNY or similar public higher education environment.
- Experience with CRM implementations, upgrades, or technology initiatives.
- Experience managing endowments, planned giving, or foundation operations.
- Familiarity with AI-enabled tools and fundraising analytics technologies.
- CPA designation, CPA candidacy, or significant accounting experience in a higher education, nonprofit, or foundation setting.
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