Director, Discovery Program - Office of Advancement

Director, Discovery Program

Georgetown University comprises two unique campuses in the nation's capital. With the Hilltop Campus located in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood, and the Capitol Campus, just minutes from the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court, Georgetown University offers rigorous academic programs, a global perspective, and unparalleled opportunities to engage with Washington, D.C. Our community is a close-knit group of remarkable individuals driven by intellectual inquiry, a commitment to social justice, and a shared dedication to making a difference in the world.

The Director, Discovery Program, will play a vital role in building and helping lead a new donor engagement team and program for Georgetown University. The Discovery Program's primary objectives will be to identify, cultivate, and engage Georgetown University alumni and friends through one-on-one conversations and relationship building.

Intended outcomes will include increased engagement and giving from annual donors and the identification and engagement of potential major gift donors. The team will work with key partners and leverage sophisticated data analysis to identify their target population. While the team's primary focus will be on donor engagement, stewardship, and qualification, the team will also solicit gifts as is strategic with the goal of increasing select donors' annual giving.

When successful, this program will help build a more engaged and qualified pool of donors, volunteers, and advocates for Georgetown. It will also support a successful close to Georgetown's current $3 billion Called to Be campaign, while building a strong foundation of new major gift donors for future campaigns. This is a critical growth area for the Office of Advancement and will entail highly visible, strategic work.

The Director will support the Managing Director as they build this new team, and, once launched, the Director will lead and manage the data, prospect research, and operations for the Discovery Program. They will work closely with the Managing Director to develop all related processes, protocols, and documentation needed to make the program successful. They will also develop relationships and partner with a wide range of colleagues and teams, including senior members of the Office of Advancement. They will need to be a high performer who can manage, synthesize, and communicate complex data and analytics.

The Director will report to the Managing Director, Discovery Program, and will serve in a critical leadership role for the new Discovery Program. The Director will be the lead for data analysis and performance metrics for the team, and will ensure the team has, and is appropriately leveraging, key data insights. They will also work closely with, train, and support four Assistant Directors, who will conduct the functional work of the Discovery Program, in regards to data, recording, and reporting.

The Director will work closely with the Office of Advancement's Revenue Management team to align best practices and partner on prospective donor identification and program analysis. The Director will also work closely with many other teams and colleagues throughout the Office of Advancement, including senior colleagues from across the Office of Advancement and the University, to ensure Discovery Program insights are appropriately disseminated. The Director will occasionally represent the Managing Director in key discussions, projects, and working groups.

Alumni Engagement is a large, complex division within the Office of Advancement and is composed of 80+ professional staff organized across four critically important teams : Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, Class Programs & Reunion Campaigns, and the Discovery Program. These teams are designed to meaningfully engage alumni with Georgetown through volunteerism, giving, events, professional development, and other digital and in-person interactions.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• 5-7 years of data analysis, prospect research, operations, project management, and / or fundraising experience, ideally in a higher education, fundraising, and / or alumni engagement environment
• Advanced experience with Excel and other Microsoft applications, as well as Google Suite; knowledge of and / or experience using Salesforce preferred
• Skilled at analyzing and interpreting complex data, and translating it into clear, concise, and easily understandable summaries or concepts
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research, assimilate data, and communicate findings effectively
• Proven experience with understanding and performing semi-complex metrics and analysis, specifically translating qualitative information into a quantitative product
• A track record of high achievement and meeting or exceeding goals
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage and prioritize a wide variety of tasks simultaneously and in an organized manner to meet deadlines
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills
• Innovative and independent thinker; self-motivated and self-starter
• Demonstrated ability to effectively navigate and thrive in a complex, matrix organization
• Ability to manage interactions and build effective working relationships with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders in a professional and positive manner
• Ability to handle confidential matters on a regular basis
• Commitment to Georgetown University's core values and a strong desire to contribute to and participate in the missions of both Georgetown University and the Office of Advancement
• Willingness and availability to occasionally travel and work nights and / or weekends in support of the Office of Advancement's programs and events

This position has been designated as Hybrid. Please note that work mode designations are regularly reviewed in order to meet the evolving needs of the University. Such review may necessitate a change to a position's mode of work designation.

Pay Range : $66,783.00 - $126,720.23

Compensation is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's individual qualifications, experience, education, skills, and certifications, as well as the University's business needs and external factors.