Lead Analyst, Advancement Data

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago Advancement Technology team seeks a Lead Analyst, Advancement Data to translate business needs into technical requirements and support the CRM, data warehouse, and connected platforms. The role collaborates with stakeholders and technology partners to deliver reliable, well-documented solutions.

You will design data models, pipelines, governance, and provide technical leadership across projects, mentoring teammates and guiding standards to improve data reliability and

Responsibilities

• Designs and maintains the logical and physical data models across the CRM, data warehouse, and connected systems.

Job description

DepartmentADV Data Management

About the DepartmentThe University of Chicago Advancement team cultivates lifelong connections with more than 220,000 alumni, current students, parents, and friends worldwide, building community through intellectual, professional, and other meaningful experiences on campus, around the world and online. Advancement empowers every division, school, department, and institute to thrive, generating support for esteemed faculty, pioneering researchers, visionary practitioners, and ambitious students.

During the Chicago Minds campaign, Advancement seeks to raise over $1 billion annually. This unprecedented philanthropic effort is designed to stretch the boundaries of what is possible, fueling bold discovery and amplifying the University's global impact.

Our work is rooted in the belief that meaningful connection and lasting experiences inspire ambassadorship and enduring commitment. We champion a culture of innovation and excellence, inviting every member of our community to participate in a future defined by creativity, intellectual rigor, and shared purpose. Through collaborative partnerships, strategic stewardship, and investment in talent, Advancement is reimagining alumni and donor engagement while ensuring UChicago remains a catalyst of impact for generations to come.

The Advancement Technology team delivers the data, systems, tools, and technology strategy that power UChicago Advancement's ambitious fundraising and engagement goals. Taking an enterprise approach to data and systems, the team develops and supports systems and tools that are consistent, scalable, and adaptable. In close collaboration with stakeholders across Advancement and the broader University, Advancement Technology translates program strategies into innovative, integrated solutions that enable, enhance, and accelerate fundraising and engagement outcomes. The team is committed to continuous innovation, centralized governance, and building partnerships that ensure technology investments are secure, future facing, and optimized for Advancement goals.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Advancement Data, the position collaborates with the Senior Director, Data Strategy and Marketing Technology, Advancement stakeholders, and technology partners to assess system impacts and develop reliable, well-documented solutions. The Lead Analyst, Advancement Data, serves as a senior technical and analytical resource, combining data architecture and business analysis to support Advancement data systems. The incumbent translates business needs into technical requirements, supports data modeling and integration, documents system architecture, and provides technical leadership on projects across the CRM, data warehouse, and connected platforms.

This role works independently across multiple systems and provides technical guidance and mentorship to team members. This position uses best practices and knowledge to develop new and existing systems. Solves problems and anticipates evolving business requirements to identify, design, and implement appropriate process improvements, systems alternatives, and/or enhancements to current systems.

Responsibilities

• Designs and maintains the logical and physical data models that define how Advancement data is structured across the CRM, data warehouse, and connected systems; identifies gaps and conflicts in the current architecture and recommends a path to resolve them.
• Serves as the business analyst for Advancement Data. Coordinates with stakeholders to identify and understand business needs; translates those needs into data and system requirements; and performs impact analysis to guide the maintenance and enhancement of Advancement applications.
• Designs and implements scalable data pipelines, integration frameworks, and management procedures that enable reliable data flow between Advancement data systems, including the CRM and data warehouse, and other upstream and downstream platforms.
• Serves as a primary technical point of assessment for complex or unexpected data and system issues across Advancement applications. Investigates issues to determine root cause, business and system impact, urgency, dependencies, and appropriate resolution path; recommends prioritization and solutions and coordinates with relevant technical and functional teams as needed.
• Improves enterprise data workflows through performance enhancements, automation, and other system and process improvements.
• Leads documentation of business decisions, system processes, and governance related to data management and integration workflows, system architecture, metadata, and operational procedures.
• Develops and recommends standards and practices for requirements gathering and documentation and provides guidance to team members in applying them consistently.
• Provides technical leadership for Advancement data team projects, including solution design, technical analysis and review, issue resolution, and guidance on how technic