Director of Advancement Services

Department: Office of Advancement Supervisor: Associate Vice President for Advancement

Last Updated: 3/5/2026

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement, the Director of Advancement Services provides strategic leadership and oversight for advancement systems, data management, gift administration, reporting, and compliance. The Director leads the day-to-day operations of the Advancement Services department and develops policies, procedures, and operational strategies that support the College’s fundraising, engagement, and stewardship efforts.

The Director is responsible for ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and security of constituent and gift data within the Advancement CRM and related systems, including establishing data governance standards and overseeing compliant gift processing and financial reconciliation. The Director also oversees reporting and analytics that support fundraising performance tracking, strategic decision-making, and reporting to institutional leadership and external stakeholders.

Working closely with Advancement leadership, the Director translates fundraising priorities into effective data strategies, systems, and operational processes. The Director supervises Advancement Services staff and serves as the primary liaison to Information Technology, the Data Management & Integrations office, the Finance Office, and relevant vendors on matters related to advancement technology, data governance, and system integrations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position. When duties and responsibilities change and develop, Pitzer College will review this job description and make changes of business necessity.

Leadership & Administration

• Provide strategic leadership for Advancement Services, overseeing advancement systems, data management, gift administration, and reporting.
• Partner with Advancement leadership to translate fundraising goals into data strategies and performance metrics.
• Supervise and mentor Advancement Services staff, establishing clear priorities, workflows, and performance expectations and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate and implement technology solutions that enhance advancement operations, data integration, and fundraising performance.
• Lead process improvement initiatives that streamline operations and enhance the quality and accessibility of advancement data.
• Develop a process for skills-appropriate cross training between positions within the department to ensure coverage and continuity.

Advancement Systems & Data Management

• Oversee administration and strategic use of the advancement CRM (Raiser’s Edge NXT), including configuration, integrations, training, user support, and system enhancements.
• In partnership with IT, establish and maintain data governance standards to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and security of advancement data.
• Evaluate and implement technology solutions that improve advancement operations, data integration, and fundraising effectiveness. Recommend system enhancements, upgrades, or retirement of tools as appropriate.
• Provide vision, direction, and a plan for ensuring ongoing enhancement and support of the Raiser’s Edge and other information management systems.
• Serve as the primary liaison with user groups on technical matters and act as principal liaison with IT, Data Management & Integrations, and vendors as appropriate for implementation and support.
• Work with other Pitzer departments to minimize the proliferation of additional databases that might affect Advancement’s record-keeping efforts.
• Maintain adequate levels of IT equipment and training for a smoothly operating office environment.
• Oversee inventory of all equipment, software, licenses, etc. maintained in Advancement.
• Provide and/or oversee onboarding and periodic training for all staff in group settings and individually, as required.
• Oversee projects and processes related to attaining constituent information from campus partners, determining where that information is stored within the database, and ongoing maintenance and retrieval of the data.

Gift Administration & Compliance

• Direct gift processing operations to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant recording, acknowledgment, and reporting of philanthropic contributions.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, donor intent, IRS regulations, and CASE standards related to gift administration and reporting.
• Oversee Advancement’s joint effort with the Finance Office to reconcile gift information between Raiser’s Edge and Pitzer’s financial database, Workday.
• Serve as primary liaison with the Finance Office to coordinate financial reconciliation, reporting alignment, and audit support.

Reporting & Analytics

• Develop and maintain reporting frameworks, dashboards, and analytics that support fundraising performance tracking and strategic decision-making.
• Provide data insights and reporting to advancement leadership and institutional stakeholders, including the Pitzer Board of Trustees.
• Oversee the timely development and submission of reports to external groups in compliance with CASE, FASB and IRS regulations.
• Ensure Advancement compliance with all applicable government regulations with particular attention to gift and tax regulations and privacy issues.
• Collaborate with the Prospect Management, Research, and Analytics team, to develop systems and procedures for identifying and locating lost alumni and assist in the development of key reports needed for prospect management activities.
• Oversee reporting for ongoing data integrity reports regarding constituent, event, and other records.

Committees & Work Groups

• Represent Advancement Services, the Office of Advancement, and Pitzer College on committees as appropriate.
• Lead and/or support specific Advancement workgroups as requested by Advancement leadership.
• Represent Advancement in IT support and other appropriate Pitzer-wide groups.
• Represent Advancement in the Data Management and Integrity Group.
• Represent Pitzer in consortium-wide advancement services groups and in any relevant Raiser’s Edge and other user groups.
• Provide support in other areas as required/ requested including assisting with Advancement events and interfacing with donors as necessary.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Incumbent must possess knowledge, skills, and ability to be able to successfully perform the essential functions of the position or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

• Direct experience with Raiser’s Edge NXT and knowledge of relational databases, data warehousing, multidimensional data modeling and reporting software, with a strong preference for Power BI.
• Demonstrate a proven track record of successful information management
• Demonstrate skill for communication using reporting platforms, with a preference for Power BI, but examples can also include Cognos and Excel.
• Superior logical, analytical and communication skills required. Must be able to think strategically and effectively communicate with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively within a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to work as an effective teacher, trainer, and motivator.
• Ability to create a vision for using technology to enhance the College’s Advancement operations.

Education/Experience: Bachelor’s Degree required. Direct experience overseeing a Raiser’s Edge database, direct experience writing operational reporting within Advancement (preferably using Power BI),and five years of Advancement Services experience within an institution of higher education is required.

Licenses/Certifications: None.

Supervisory Responsibility: Yes.

• Staff/Students: Supervise Assistant Director of Advancement Data Services and Assistant Director of Gift Services, with indirect oversight of Advancement Services student assistants.

Work Schedule: This is a regular, full-time, staff position. The regular hours for this position are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. These hours may vary due to needs of the College or department.

Compensation:Budgeted Salary Range $92,000-$95,000 per year

Pitzer College is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, tuition exchange program participation and more.

Work Model: Hybrid (3 days in office/2 days remote)

• Must have access to reliable and secure computer and internet connection.
• Must have access to a dedicated and suitable workstation at remote location, including desk or table and supporting, upright chair. Must ensure workstation is safe and free from hazards and ergonomically appropriate.

Physical Requirements: This is generally a sedentary position. Must be able to:

• Sit for prolonged periods of time;
• Operate a computer for prolonged periods of time;
• Communicate with others by email, in person and over the telephone;
• Read printed materials and a computer screen;
• Have the mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment;
• Assist with the set-up and teardown of event tables, signage and other materials. (Requires reaching overhead, grasping, pulling, pushing, stooping, bending, and twisting);

Instructions: Only qualified applicants please.

Application Materials: Upload the following materials to complete your application:

• Cover Letter: Indicate your reason for interest in this position, describe how your qualifications make you an ideal candidate, and explain which of Pitzer’s core values best relates to your own.
• Resume: List relevant qualifications and dates of experience.
• Professional References: References will be contacted for select applicants and advance notice will be provided. Provide the names of at least three (3) individuals who can speak to your professional qualifications. Include their business titles, contact information and an indication of how you are acquainted with them (e.g., former supervisor, coworker, etc.).