Research and Development Director jobs in Poughkeepsie, NY

Department: Office of Advancement
Duration of Position: Full year / Full time
Work Schedule:
Employee Type: Administrator
Posting Date: 01/04/2023
Union Representation:
Posting Number: AS320P
Pay Rate:

About Vassar College
Located in the scenic Mid-Hudson Valley, Vassar College is a highly selective, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Vassar stands upon the homelands of the Munsee Lenape.Vassar College is deeply committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and to promoting an environment of equality, inclusion, and respect for difference. The College is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, and especially welcomes applications from veterans, women, individuals with disabilities, and members of racial, ethnic, and other historically underrepresented groups.Vassar College is a smoke-free, tobacco-free campus.Note: Vassar College has a universal vaccination policy requiring a COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster, for all employees except for those exempt for medical or religious reasons.

Position Summary and Responsibilities
Vassar College has launched a historic $500 million comprehensive campaign that will deepen our investment in financial aid and student life, expand research opportunities for our world-class faculty, and provide critical support for curricular innovation, racial justice, community engagement, environmental sustainability, admissions, and career education.

The Assistant Director of Prospect Development and Research will become a member of the Prospect Development and Research (PDR) team responsible for providing research services to the Advancement Office, the President's Office, and campus partners. They will work under the supervision of the Director of Prospect Development and Research and will also work closely with a Senior Associate Director and a Research Analyst.

The PDR team welcomes candidates with experience within and beyond higher education who embrace Vassar's mission and commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The ideal candidate will be curious and have strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Position responsibilities:

• Be an effective strategic consultant and work collaboratively with gift officers and other staff to ensure the strategic use of research and to provide portfolio management assistance.
• Proactively identify potential donors and respond to requests for research on individuals and organizations.
• Lead and contribute to projects to identify and re-evaluate prospects for the donor pipeline.
• Conduct in-depth financial and biographical research on constituents by identifying and analyzing indicators such as real estate and equity holdings, compensation, family foundation assets, and philanthropic and political giving.
• Analyze and synthesize information into accurate and insightful research profiles.
• Respond to and help organize research requests and help guide the work of fundraising officers by tailoring reports and answering specific questions about wealth, affinity to the college, and giving likelihood.
• Facilitate briefing materials for the president and other high-level staff for events, dinners, and other interactions with important donors and prospects.
• Process visit reports, monitor solicitations, and offer trip planning advice.
• Keep current with prospect development best practices and industry developments through webinars, Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (Apra) membership, and other professional training.
• Regularly add to and update constituent records in the Advancement database.
• Serve on working groups as required or available.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or relevant knowledge/experience working with digital library sources and databases or conducting financial, marketing, or scholarly research
• Knowledge of fundraising principles and best practices, preferably in higher education or a non-profit environment, is desirable
• Demonstrated research experience
• Excellent report-writing skills for effective communication
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, verbally and in writing
• Attention to detail, organization, prioritization, and adherence to deadlines
• Capacity to work independently and to collaborate with Advancement team members
• Ability to safeguard and use confidential information ethically
• Familiarity with prospect research ethics and guiding principles of APRA, CASE-The Council for Advancement and Support of Education, or other philanthropy associations
• Proficiency in Google Workspace or Microsoft Suite programs; experience with LexisNexis and other research resources is a plus
• Experience with a CRM or another relational database

Special Instructions to Applicants
To complete your on-line application, you will be required to attach your resume, cover letter, and contact information for 3 professional references. All attachments must be in PDF format. Review of applications will begin immediately. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources, 845-437-5820.

For full consideration applicants should apply by:

All applicants must apply online at: https://employment.vassar.edu/postings/2998.