Director of Development Operations

The Director of Development Operations is responsible for
leading Friends of the High Line’s development operations function
to streamline and maximize its fundraising efforts, including its
daily database operation (Raiser’s Edge). Working across the
Development team, the Director’s core responsibilities will include
systems building and CRM oversight, reporting and analytics, data
maintenance, and user assistance. The High Line seeks candidates
with demonstrated subject matter expertise who are able to advise
on best practices for development operations and interpret data for
frontline fundraisers to inform high-level department strategy and
decision-making. 

The Director of Development Operations will join our
high-performing Advancement team of 24 professionals, including
development, marketing, and communications staff. This individual
will play a critical role in supporting a department responsible
for raising over $15 million annually in philanthropic support. The
Director will also act as a key liaison with other departments and
outside vendors and consultants, including Finance and IT. While
this position has no direct reports, they will supervise four
Development Coordinators across divisions on gift processing and
database maintenance. 

Primary Responsibilities

SYSTEMS-BUILDING AND STRATEGY

• Create, document, and implement organizational best practices
  for data and database management, working in accordance with PCI
  compliance and industry best practices.
• Enhance opportunity management system to manage funder
  deadlines and improve moves management tracking.
• Implement systems to track and manage the Development team’s
  workflow and recordkeeping, using tools such as Raiser’s Edge,
  Asana, and Google Workplace.
• With the individual giving team, develop a data-driven strategy
  for individual donor acquisition and retention.
• Keep abreast of new enhancements to existing products, and new
  technologies in the market to continually improve the Development
  team’s efficiency and results.

REPORTING AND ANALYTICS

• Run routine queries, generate ad hoc lists, and fulfill data
  requests as needed. 
• Generate both internal and external lists and exports for
  events, direct response mailings and email appeals, annual reports,
  membership benefits, and other requested information.
• Create custom reports as needed using BI (Tableau, Power BI) or
  compatible report-writing software (Crystal Reports).
• Prepare list segmentations and data extractions.
• Create and maintain department dashboards to monitor key
  performance indicators and progress toward annual goals.
• Assemble, organize, analyze, and interpret statistical data to
  identify trends, patterns, and insights, including opportunities
  for growth.
• Develop standardized mechanisms for tracking donor lifecycles,
  from acknowledgement through recognition and stewardship.

DATA MAINTENANCE

• Maintain data integrity by creating and/or enforcing database
  protocols and procedures to ensure the timely and accurate entry of
  data into Raiser’s Edge.
• Maintain all aspects of donor financial recordkeeping, ensuring
  timely gift processing, reporting, and reconciliations with
  Finance.
• Maintain schedule of routine data screenings, appends, and
  overlays.
• Ensure all appeals, acquisitions, and e-appeals are accurately
  coded, tracked, and analyzed.

USER ASSISTANCE

• Provide comprehensive Blackbaud database expertise and
  support.
• Onboard new users and provide ongoing training to existing
  staff, empowering all users to utilize database systems.
• Oversee Development Coordinators on gift processing and data
  entry.
• Implement a ticketed support/request system to streamline data
  requests.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Communicate outages and offer suggestions as alerts are
  received.
• Act as the primary point-of-contact between staff, software
  support, and outside consultants as applicable.
• Work with the ChiefAdvancement Officer to oversee the
  development administration budget.
• Contribute to the organization’s success by learning new skills
  and striving to improve team results.

Requirements

Desired experience of a successful candidate may include the
following, but candidates will not be screened exclusively based on
meeting these qualifications:

Ideal Experience

• Recent bCRE certification.

• Minimum of 5-7+ years’ experience in a fundraising database
  management position at a comparable mid-to-large-sized non-profit
  organization (10M+ operating budget).
• Both qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, with the
  ability to clearly communicate information for a diverse group of
  stakeholders.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to take a
  project from assignment to completion.
• Ability to manage multiple simultaneous requests for
  information and prioritize accordingly to meet deadlines.

Preferred Experience (preferred, not
required)

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Expert-level use of Raiser’s Edge, both in database and web
  views.

• Prior experience with Omatic.
• Prior experience with API integrations.
• Competency with Tableau and/or Power BI.
• Competency with Crystal Reports.

Abilities

• Detail-oriented and demonstrated ability to quickly and
  concisely synthesize large amounts of information.
• Exceptional organizational, written, and verbal communication
  skills that include sensitivity to donor information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work with
  diverse audiences internally and externally.
• Ability to work independently and use good judgment.

This is a Full-Time, Exempt position.

Actual salaries will vary on various factors, including
but not limited to experience and performance. The annual salary
range is $100,000 – $110,000

The location for the role remains hybrid, with a requirement to
physically report to the office (located in Manhattan’s Meatpacking
District in New York City).

**If you are an individual with a disability and need
accommodation during the application process, please send an email
request to hr@thehighline.org ** Resumes sent to this email
address will not be given any special consideration.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 20 vacation days, 6 sick days, 9 paid holidays & float
  days
• Paid primary and secondary caregiver leave
• Discounts Citi Bike Membership
• Discounts with vendors on the High Line & around the
  Meatpacking neighborhood
• Free entrance to Whitney Museum
• Commuter Benefits
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Employee Assistance Program

About Friends of the High Line

The High Line is both a nonprofit organization and a public park
on the West Side of Manhattan. We’re devoted to reimagining public
spaces to create connected, healthy neighborhoods and cities
through our work with communities on and off the High Line.

Built on a historic, elevated rail line, the High Line was
always intended to be more than a park. You can walk through the
gardens, view art, experience a performance, enjoy food or
beverage, or connect with friends and neighbors while enjoying a
unique perspective of New York City.

Nearly 100% of our annual budget comes through donations. The
High Line is owned by the City of New York, and we operate under a
license agreement with NYC Parks.

EEO Statement
The High Line is guided by a series of values through which
we make decisions, including hiring. These values include
proactively creating access points for all people, regardless of
age, sex, color, creed, race, income, country of origin, religion,
sexual orientation, or gender identity.

As part of our commitment to living up to these values and
advancing equity within our organization and through our work, we
are committed to an equitable hiring process. Hence, we strongly
encourage applications from people with a broad range of lived
experiences. This description shall not be construed as a contract
of any sort for a specific period of employment.