Senior Director of Advancement Services

Job Description:

Berklee College of Music is seeking a strategic and collaborative Senior Director of Advancement Services to lead our advancement data, systems, reporting, and analytics functions. This senior leadership role ensures that Institutional Advancement (IA) operates with accurate, secure, and actionable data to drive philanthropic impact, alumni engagement, and student success. The Senior Director will oversee Raiser’s Edge NXT and related systems, guiding the advancement services team in delivering exceptional support for fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives.
 

Berklee fosters a culture of creativity, innovation, and student-centered excellence. This position will collaborate across IA and campus-wide colleagues—including Technology Resources, Finance, Career Services, Alumni Affairs, Berklee Online, and Berklee Valencia—to strengthen decision-making, enhance data-driven strategies, and support mission-driven outcomes for our community.
 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Data Governance

• Develop and implement a vision for advancement services aligned with IA’s mission and campaign priorities.
• Establish data governance frameworks, policies, and documentation consistent with CASE Global Reporting Standards and AASP best practices.
• Lead change management for new systems, business processes, and data standards.
• Maintain a multi-year Advancement Systems & Data Technology Roadmap in collaboration with IA leadership and Technology Resources.
   

CRM & Systems Management

• Oversee administration and optimization of Raiser’s Edge NXT and related databases.
• Manage system upgrades, enhancements, data migrations, and platform implementations.
• Ensure seamless integrations with student, alumni, and financial systems.
• Collaborate with Berklee Online, Berklee Valencia, and Career Services to maintain unified reporting and data flow.
   

Analytics, Forecasting & Reporting

• Develop dashboards, reports, and analytics to inform fundraising performance, campaign progress, and donor engagement.
• Conduct forecasting and predictive analytics to model revenue potential and donor behavior.
• Benchmark IA performance against peer institutions using CASE standards.
• Deliver actionable insights to IA leadership and frontline fundraisers.
   

Prospect Research & Gift Administration

• Lead research, data enrichment, and prospect management strategies.
• Maintain policies for portfolio size, assignment protocols, and review processes.
• Ensure compliance with IRS regulations, FERPA, GDPR, PCI, and CASE Global Reporting Standards.
• Support development officers with donor intelligence and moves-management reporting.
   

Cross-Institution Collaboration & Team Leadership

• Partner with IA leadership and campus-wide stakeholders to establish KPIs, reporting frameworks, and fundraising strategy.
• Represent IA on governance bodies including the Data Governance Council and CORE Data Committee.
• Manage, mentor, and evaluate a team of six advancement services professionals.
• Oversee departmental budget and multiple cross-departmental projects.
• Foster a culture of empathetic communication, high-quality service, and continuous improvement.
   

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 8–10 years of advancement services, fundraising operations, or nonprofit data systems experience.
• Deep expertise in CRM management, analytics, reporting, and data governance.
• Strong leadership skills with success managing diverse technical teams and large-scale projects.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Empathetic communicator able to translate complex data concepts for non-technical audiences.
   

Preferred Knowledge & Experience

• Blackbaud product certification; experience with Tableau, Power BI, or Informer.
• Coding or data-querying skills (SQL, Python, or comparable).
• Knowledge of fund accounting, financial reconciliation, and gift reporting.
• Experience with AI-enabled advancement tools.
   

Technology Skills

• Advanced proficiency with Raiser’s Edge NXT, Excel, and FileMaker.
• Familiarity with fundraising, CRM, database, and financial accounting concepts.
• Knowledge of data security standards, data cleansing, and emerging digital platforms.
   

Why Berklee?

At Berklee, our employees thrive in a culture that values creativity, collaboration, and inclusion. We offer:

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
• Generous PTO and flexible work options
• Tuition benefits for employees and dependents
• A supportive, mission-driven, student-centered workplace
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
   

Berklee actively fosters an open, welcoming, and respectful environment for all employees.

Hiring Range: $140k to $167k; salary dependent on relevant experience and education.

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This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee: 

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance.  Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at [email protected] or call 617-747-2375.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*