Executive Director of Advancement Services & Donor Engagement

Yale University; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Yale Law School is seeking an Executive Director for Alumni Engagement and Development to lead strategy, operations, and eight staff across gift administration, communications, donor relations, data and analytics. You will drive fundraising impact, steward donor intent, and strengthen engagement across the Yale Law School community.

The role requires senior leadership experience in advancement, with oversight of campaigns, analytics, and multi-channel communications to support annual and endowed

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success leading staff and multidisciplinary functions in a complex organization.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership for Alumni Engagement and Development.
• Oversee donor relations, gift administration, and fundraising communications to advance Yale Law School priorities.
• Lead governance over advancement data, analytics, dashboards, forecasting, and reporting.
• Develop and implement a donor-centric strategic plan for philanthropy.
• Coordinate major fundraising initiatives and align resources with institutional priorities.

Skills

Staff leadership

Alumni communications

Donor relations

Data analytics

Strategic planning

Project management

Education

Advanced degree in higher education or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Data dashboards

CASE standards knowledge

Job description

Working at Yale means contributing to a better tomorrow. Whether you are a current resident of our New Haven-based community, eligible for opportunities through the New Haven Hiring Initiative, or a newcomer, interested in exploring all that Yale has to offer, your talents and contributions are welcome. Discover your opportunities at Yale!

Overview

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Alumni Engagement and Development, the Executive Director is a senior leader in Yale Law School’s Alumni Engagement and Development office and leads strategic initiatives and eight staff across gift administration, alumni and fundraising communications, donor relations, data and analytics. The role integrates these functions to advance fundraising, honor donor intent, demonstrate impact, and strengthen engagement.

Principal Responsibilities

Leadership and Administration

• Provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership.
• Recruit, onboard, supervise, and develop eight staff, building collaboration, accountability, initiative, and a culture of excellence.
• Advise the Associate Dean on organization, staffing, resources, risk, policy, technology, and coordination. Lead the operational, communications, donor relations, gift administration, and analytical support for strategic fundraising initiatives. Assess funding needs and recommend priorities to the Associate Dean and Yale Law School’s Dean, who make final decisions.

Gift Administration

• Oversee accurate, timely, donor-centered administration of gifts, pledges, agreements, funds, acknowledgments, and complex transactions.
• Ensure compliance with donor intent, University policy, law, and professional standards. Advise on gift acceptance, restrictions, recognition, and stewardship.

Advancement Communications

• Own alumni and fundraising communications: proposals, cases for support, giving opportunities, impact stories, leadership correspondence, event collateral, stewardship, and digital content. Annual fund appeals are managed separately by the Yale Law School Fund team. YLS Office of Public Affairs manages the Yale Law Report, monthly alumni e-newsletter, and school social channels.
• Lead editorial and audience strategy, production, digital platforms, and reusable content and visual assets aligned with Law School priorities, voice, and brand.

Donor Relations and Stewardship

• Lead acknowledgments, recognition, giving societies, stewardship planning, donor events, and current use and endowment fund reporting.
• Maintain records of donor intent, stewardship purposes, reporting, and recognition commitments. Partner on individualized strategies and resolve sensitive matters with judgment and discretion.

Data Analytics and Technology

• Lead the governance, security, integrity, and use of advancement data and technology.
• Oversee dashboards, forecasting, pipeline analysis, segmentation, integrations, automation, and emerging technology. Expand self-service reporting, documentation, and training to improve access and reduce manual work.

Strategic Initiatives

• In addition to leading the four core functions, the Executive Director will play a central role in advancing major fundraising initiatives and helping the office determine where philanthropic investment can have the greatest impact.
• Evenings: Occasionally
• Weekends: Occasionally

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Demonstrated success leading staff and multidisciplinary functions in a complex organization.

2. Deep experience in alumni communications and donor relations, including segmentation, multichannel content, stewardship, recognition, impact reporting, and sensitive donor matters. Broad knowledge of gift administration, data, analytics, and fundraising operations.

3. Exceptional judgment and analytical, project-management, and communication skills. Able to manage priorities, maintain confidentiality, lead change, and build partnerships.

4. Ability and willingness to travel, and work some weekends and evenings as needed. Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Substantial alumni or advancement communications and donor relations responsibility.

2. Advanced degree, higher education or campaign experience, and knowledge of CASE standards, gift rules, donor privacy, systems, reporting, and technology.

Principal Responsibilities

• 1. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Development, the Director is responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive, donor-centric strategic plan for the Individual Giving Program and annual work-plans that develop and foster sustainable philanthropic support from individuals in support of YLS’ annual operating budget, endowment and facilities.
• 2. He/she will be responsible for establishing meaningful and measurable goals for success for the Individual Giving Program, monitoring and reporting on progress towards those goals, and meeting annual revenue and activities targets.
• 3. The Director will hire, train, supervise and evaluate staff members assigned to the Phil