Director of Advancement Services

Weill Cornell Medicine; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Weill Cornell Medicine seeks a Director of Advancement Services to lead revenue processing, gift administration, and data governance across the Office of External Affairs. You will oversee CRM integrity, reporting, and process enhancements while partnering with Finance, ITS, and fundraising leadership.

With 10+ years in advancement services and 5+ years of staff management, you will guide strategy, drive performance, and ensure IRS/CASE/FASB compliance in a complex academic medical setting.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in advancement services or development operations.
• At least 5 years of people management experience.
• Strong knowledge of CRM systems and data governance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end revenue processing and gift administration.
• Lead staff, hire/train, and refine business processes.
• Collaborate with Finance, ITS, and CRM teams on integrations.
• Ensure regulatory reporting and compliance with IRS/CASE/FASB.

Skills

Fundraising knowledge

CRM management

Data analysis

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in related field

Tools

CRM software (Blackbaud, Salesforce)

Job description

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*As required under NYC Human Rights Law Int 1208-2018 - Salary range for this role when Hired for NYC Offices

Position Summary

Director of Advancement Services is a strategic and operational leader responsible for managing the revenue processing/gift administration team within the Operations Division of the Office of External Affairs (Development) and serves as a key partner in all areas of institutional advancement. This role is pivotal in ensuring the integrity of EA/Development Office policies, procedures, and CRM system, and leveraging these resources to drive strategic fundraising priorities and data-informed decision making. The Director will play a key role in long range and short-term planning in areas including database management and integrity, gift processing, demo/bio management, reporting and data analysis, and system and business process enhancement.

Job Responsibilities

• Member of EA Ops leadership team; provides info/guidance to fundraising leadership on progress, industry trends, legislation, etc. Collaborates regularly with other Advancement directors. Serves as resource to various internal/external constituencies.
• Oversees end-to-end cycle of revenue processing from gift acceptance through booking, transfer, receipting, reconciliation, reporting. Leads strategic and tactical planning for unit. Hires, trains, manages staff; develops/refines business processes.
• Interacts regularly with donors, advisors, fiduciaries, Finance, Budget, faculty, mission deans, gift officers, and colleagues at NYP and CU-Ithaca regarding gift transactions, restrictions, delivery of assets to the institution.
• Manages WCM compliance with IRS rules, regulatory reporting (DOE, charitable registrations, etc.) and industry best practices (CASE, FASB, etc.) for gift acceptance, processing, receipting, reporting. Develops/enforces relevant policies/procedures.
• Ensures complex contributions such as non-federal grants, non-marketable assets are handled accurately and compliantly. Collaborates with OGC on gift agreements and complex philanthropic transactions, and with Trusts Office on estate administration.
• Provides strategic leadership in partnering with Finance Dept to create stronger synergies and more effective processes. Collaborates with ITS and CRM/technology leadership on software integrations, implementations, and serves as SME on CEMI project teams.
• Communicates regularly with Finance, dept business officers, and other administrators, providing counsel on matters including gift handling, fund creation and management, revenue classification, gift acceptance, accounting policies and procedures, etc.
• Designs processes to optimize workflows; devises technological solutions such as custom reports and dashboards to monitor performance and quality control. Partners with tech staff to produce BI reports and visualizations for internal/external audiences.
• Partners closely with Prospect Management and Donor Relations staff in use, refinement, and enhancement of moves management protocols and analyses, demo/bio standards, donor stewardship initiatives, and end-user CRM training.
• Maintains professional affiliations and participates in professional associations (AASP, AFP, AHP, etc.) to expand knowledge and remain current on issues affecting non-profit gift administration for higher ed/healthcare.

Education

Experience

• At least 10 years of experience working in advancement services/development operations in higher education, academic medicine, or similarly complex or large organization (including at least 5 years of experience managing staff).
• Comfort with complexity, ambiguity, and working in a fast-paced environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Deep understanding and knowledge of best practices in fundraising and advancement services.
• Expertise in the management of information systems/CRMs, relational databases, and reporting/analysis/project management. Strong knowledge of fundraising CRMs (Blackbaud, Salesforce, etc.)
• Exceptional skills in written and oral communication, critical thinking, data analysis, problem solving, detail orientation, and quality assurance.
• Ability to deal effectively with a broad range of customers including donors, VIPs, senior administrators, legal counsel, mission deans, IT and Finance professionals, and frontline fundraisers.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations (IRS, NYPMIFA, GDPR, etc.) and reporting standards (CASE, FASB, GAAP, etc.) applicable to advancement services.

Licenses and Certifications

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

• Availability to work outside of normal business hours, as needed (especially during calendar and fiscal year-end).
• This is a hybrid position; minimum 2-3 days per week on-site required.

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