Executive Director for Prospect Development and Advancement Intelligence

State University of New York at Buffalo; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University at Buffalo's Division of University Advancement seeks an innovative leader to serve as Executive Director for Prospect Development and Advancement Intelligence. You will lead a comprehensive program spanning prospect research, portfolio strategy, analytics, and data governance, turning complex data into actionable insights that guide fundraising priorities and donor engagement.

Reporting to the AVP for Advancement Operations, you will build a high-performing team, collaborate

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years in prospect research or related field.
• Expertise in prospect development, analytics, portfolio strategy, and fundraising metrics.
• Experience partnering with fundraising leaders to drive strategy and performance.
• Experience with predictive analytics, BI tools, and CRM data.
• Experience developing dashboard reporting for executive-level analysis.
• Knowledge of Salesforce, Tableau, Power BI, or similar BI tools.
• Knowledge of AI-enabled research and tools.
• Ability to translate complex data into actionable recommendations.
• Strong project management and communication skills.
• Commitment to ethics, confidentiality, and data governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for prospect research, analytics, and portfolio strategy.
• Lead university-wide prospect and portfolio strategy and moves management.
• Partner with leaders and fundraisers to set goals and improve performance.
• Oversee analytics, dashboards, and predictive modeling.
• Ensure high-quality research, profiles, and due diligence.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Prospect research

Prospect management

Analytics

Data governance

CRM analytics tools

Dashboard reporting

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Tableau

Power BI

CRM analytics platforms

Job description

Executive Director for Prospect Development and Advancement Intelligence

Position Title Executive Director for Prospect Development and Advancement Intelligence

Turn data and intelligence into strategies that advance philanthropy at UB.

The Division of University Advancement seeks an innovative, strategic leader to serve as Executive Director for Prospect Development and Advancement Intelligence. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement Operations, the Executive Director will lead UB’s comprehensive prospect development and business intelligence program, helping the university strengthen donor engagement, optimize fundraiser portfolios, develop a robust philanthropic pipeline, and achieve its long-term fundraising priorities.

As a trusted partner to advancement leadership, the Executive Director will lead a cross-functional team responsible for prospect research, prospect management, portfolio strategy, analytics, pipeline development, and constituent records. The successful candidate will transform complex data into actionable intelligence while fostering innovation, collaboration, service excellence, and data-informed decision-making throughout the division.

What We’re Looking For

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for a high-performing team responsible for prospect research, analytics, prospect management, portfolio strategy, data intelligence, and constituent records.
• Lead university-wide prospect and portfolio strategy, establishing effective approaches to prospect identification, qualification, assignment, moves management, pipeline development, and portfolio optimization.
• Partner with advancement leaders and frontline fundraisers to establish fundraising goals, assess portfolio health, strengthen prospect movement, and improve fundraiser effectiveness.
• Advance the use of analytics and emerging technology by overseeing predictive modeling, donor segmentation, dashboards, performance reporting, artificial intelligence, and other tools that turn data into actionable insights.
• Guide prospect intelligence and philanthropic due diligence, ensuring the delivery of high-quality research, prospect profiles, briefing materials, wealth assessments, and capacity and affinity analyses.
• Champion data quality, governance, confidentiality, and ethical practice in collaboration with Application Services, Constituent Records, and other advancement partners.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and subject-matter expert, translating complex information and fundraising trends into clear recommendations that support institutional priorities and long-term philanthropic growth.

A forward-thinking, collaborative leader who can connect prospect intelligence, analytics, technology, and fundraising strategy to produce meaningful results. The ideal candidate brings progressively responsible experience in prospect development, advancement analytics, fundraising strategy, advancement operations, or a related field, along with demonstrated supervisory and management experience.

Successful candidates will be skilled at managing high-performing teams, navigating complex information, communicating with organizational leaders, and developing trusted partnerships across a sophisticated advancement organization. Experience with predictive analytics, business intelligence tools, CRM data, dashboards, and platforms such as Salesforce, Tableau, or Power BI is especially relevant. A bachelor’s degree and at least 7 years of progressively responsible related experience are required.

Why UB Advancement

Join a mission-driven team advancing student success, groundbreaking research, and meaningful philanthropic impact at one of the nation’s leading public universities. Building on the momentum of the historic $1 billion Boldly Buffalo campaign, University Advancement is helping shape UB’s next chapter and supporting its ambition to become one of the nation’s top 25 public research universities.

If you’re seeking purposeful work, strong professional growth, and the opportunity to shape fundraising strategy through data, technology, and collaboration, you’ll find it here. Join a forward-thinking team connecting insight with action and philanthropic potential with transformative outcomes.

#AdvancingUB starts here.

• Our benefits , where we prioritize your well-being and success.

About the University at Buffalo

The University at Buffalo (UB) #ubuffalo is one of America’s leading public research universities and a flagship of the State University of New York system, recognized for our excellence and our impact. UB is a premier, research-intensive public university dedicated to academic excellence. Our research, creative activity and people positively impact the world. Like the city we call home, UB is distinguished by a culture of resilient optimism, resourceful thinking and pragmatic dreaming that enables us to reach others every day. Visit our website to learn more about the University at Buffalo .

The University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in prospect research, prospect development, advancement analytics, fundraising strategy, advancement operations, or a related field, including supervisory and management experience.
• • Expertise in prospect research, prospect management, portfolio strategy, pipeline development, and fundraising analytics.
• • Experience partnering with fundraising leadership and frontline fundraisers to drive prospect strategy, portfolio optimization, and fundraising performance
• • Experience utilizing predictive analytics, business intelligence tools, CRM data, and fundraising performance metrics to drive strategic decision‑making.
• • Experience developing and implementing dashboard reporting and executive‑level fundraising performance analysis.
• • Experience with Salesforce, Tableau, Power BI, CRM analytics platforms, or comparable business intelligence tools.
• • Knowledge of AI‑enabled research, analytics, and prospect identification tools.
• • Proven ability to analyze and synthesize complex data and translate findings into actionable strategies and recommendations for organizational leaders.
• • Strong project management, organizational, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives simultaneously.
• • Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• • Demonstrated commitment to ethical standards, confidentiality, and data governance best practices.

Driving Requirements

Driving Requirements This position will never drive a university owned vehicle.

Salary Range

Salary Range $110,000 - $120,000

Job Type

Job Type Full-Time

Campus

Campus South Campus

UB is an EOE and welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Arrangements will be made if an applicant has a disability in order to provide access to the application, interview and selection process upon request. Reasonable accommodation requests must be made in a timely manner by email at [e-mail] or by phone [phone].