Senior Director, Development Information Services

Senior Director, Development Information Services

Reporting to the Executive Director, Development and Alumni Operations, the Senior Director, Development Information Services provides strategic information services for the Development and Alumni Relations division at Rice University. The Senior Director leads the Development Information Services team and oversees the campus-wide alumni/development system, OwlConnect (powered by Blackbaud CRM). The Senior Director works closely with users and project teams to develop efficient, effective, and easily accessible data and information solutions in support of Rice's expanding alumni and development programs. The Senior Director also serves as liaison with other university offices relating to appropriate management of data and assures data accuracy and integrity. The Senior Director, Development Information Services supervises the Data Services team, the OwlConnect program team, and a group of systems analysts, and has overall responsibility for data operations, alumni records management, gift processing, database management, reporting, and integrations with third party systems.

The ideal candidate is a highly collaborative leader and strategic thinker with a demonstrated track record of information systems project and team management and who is adept at leading and motivating staff to achieve goals that result in team and organizational success.

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Five or more (5+) years of progressively responsible experience related to information systems and computer information databases
• Experience supervising, training, and leading staff in systems and data management at a large or complex organization

Skills:

• Knowledge of computer system capabilities, business processes, and workflow
• Proven technical and project management skills and abilities to manage complex information systems in a multi-user environment
• Current knowledge of rapidly changing computer technology
• Extensive experience with enterprise applications and understanding of database driven applications
• Ability to design and document complex business systems
• Proven problem solving and analytical thinking and ability to approach problems logically and systematically
• Strong understanding of the software development life cycle
• Skill in conducting interviews and facilitating group meetings
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to bridge functional and technical resources by communicating effectively with individuals of varying systems expertise and business needs
• Strong listening, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and integrity
• Ability to manage a large number of project activities simultaneously

Preferences:

• Six or more (6+) years of related professional experience
• Previous development information services experience or advancement services experience in an educational/nonprofit setting
• MBA or Master's degree
• Academic emphasis in business, finance, accounting, statistics, management information systems, computer science, or another discipline requiring the study of information management
• Experience with alumni/development databases
• Experience with Blackbaud CRM
• Demonstrated success in managing projects from conception through completion
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for all aspects of the alumni/development database system (OwlConnect, powered by Blackbaud CRM), including implementation of standards to optimize the use of its features to support fundraising, donor relations, and alumni relations goals:
• Oversee technical staff and system capabilities with the goal of maximizing the usefulness of the system.
• Investigate and implement appropriate data automation opportunities in an effort to streamline or eliminate manual processes.
• Maintain an active relationship with the vendor, keeping informed about product issues and developments, attending user group meetings, and recommending changes and enhancements as appropriate.
• Collaborate with Development and Alumni Relations program officers and campus business partners to identify information needs and develop efficient, effective, and easily accessible solutions to those needs:
• Develop an understanding of alumni and development programs and take a proactive role in supporting them with information systems solutions.
• Maintain a high level and standard of service and satisfaction, providing information and user support relating to all alumni/development information systems. Provide feedback mechanisms to continually measure customer service and satisfaction in order to make improvements as appropriate.
• Partner with the Development Research and Analysis team to ensure accurate and timely delivery of data used in the division's information reporting and analytics efforts in developing indicators, benchmarks, milestones, and reports that inform and support decision-making and monitor fundraising performance and alumni engagement.
• Develop and implement user training to encourage and support user needs as appropriate.
• Manage the process of new data initiatives from conception through implementation, identified as a result of industry best practices, internal studies, management requests, or maintenance needs:
• Prioritize projects according to need and time sensitivity.
• Perform project management for all new data initiatives.
• Manage relationships with vendors providing online services and tools for Development and Alumni Relations staff, Rice alumni and donors:
• Manage the process whereby information from OwlConnect is exported for use within third party systems.
• Manage the process whereby information from third party systems is imported into OwlConnect.
• Investigate and engage new vendors in providing third party services as appropriate.
• Manage the process of review and approval with the following offices for all third-party software solutions: Information Technology Security, General Counsel, and Procurement.
• Supervise, manage, and coach a team responsible for data operations, alumni records, gift processing, database management and reporting, and data initiatives:
• Develop an annual plan and a long-range plan for the Development Information Services team, including strategies for maintenance, use, and enhancement of information systems, including new technologies that will directly benefit users and Development and Alumni Relations programs.
• Provide regular communication to Development and Alumni Relations staff and campus partners about new information services projects and services.
• Identify and create areas of expertise and growth opportunities for Development Information Services team members.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions:

• Some weekend and evening work hours are required to meet project deadlines
• Limited travel to attend conferences and/or training sessions
• Frequent contact with staff members within the Development and Alumni Relations division, as well as with business partners across campus and with the Office of Information Technology
• Occasional contact with the Controller's Office, Registrar's Office, and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness
• Occasional contact with campus administrators
• Contact as needed with outside vendors providing information services for Development and Alumni Relations staff, as well as for Rice alumni and donors
• Contact as needed with outside consultants collaborating on information services projects

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits-overview

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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.