Senior Director of Development Operations and Analytics

Position Description

Location: Portland, Oregon or Remote U.S.

Position Status: Full-Time, Regular

General Position Summary

The Senior Director of Development Operations and Analytics leads the design, implementation and maintenance of the data systems, processes and analytics in support of fundraising to help inform fundraising strategy and investments. They report to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and support department-wide initiatives through project management, strategic leadership and neutral counsel to the CDO. The Senior Director supervises the Development Operations team with the following responsibilities: supporting operational functions including special projects and cross-functional operations, development operations and donor services functions, and fundraising data management and analytics functions; liaising with the Finance departments; working with the Financial Planning & Analysis team on annual budgeting and periodic revenue and expense forecasting processes; and supporting departmental compliance with internal and external regulations for fundraising, finance, procurement, administrative and all-team processes.

About Mercy Corps Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.   Program Summary Mercy Corps' fundraising and marketing team (Development and MarComms) is composed of several dozen dynamic professionals who are passionate about Mercy Corps' mission and dedicated to supporting and collaborating with our global team that is improving the lives of 38 million people in 40+ countries.  We are gift officers, direct response fundraisers, web developers, marketers and media relations strategists. We are database managers, digital specialists, creative designers, storytellers and teachers. The Development Operations (DevOps) team provides critical support to fundraisers through gift processing, data management and analysis, and responding to donor inquiries; and to the wider marketing and communications team members with finance, procurement and compliance support. The team processes tens of thousands of gifts annually, totaling over $100M across multiple donation types including corporate and foundation grants, planned giving, and cryptocurrency.   Essential Job Responsibilities Strategy & Vision

• Drive development operations strategy to provide the infrastructure, processes, procedures and systems that optimize efficiency and productivity across Development and MarComms.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative solutions and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Represent Development Operations in the Development Team Leads group, ensuring alignment with broader team strategy.
• Liaise with Mercy Corps Europe around development operations and analytics strategy as we work to operate as one global team.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Liaise with Finance teams, ensuring clear communication, efficient and productive processes, reconcilable systems, close coordination and a common understanding.
• Coordinate with the Senior Director of Business Partnerships (on the Financial Planning & Analysis team) on the Development/MarComms budget and expense monitoring, as well as multi-year revenue and expense projections.
• Advise Development/MarComms Team Leaders and the CDO on industry trends, internal revenue and expense trends, anomalies, and opportunities for savings.
• Ensure Development/MarComms compliance with internal finance, procurement, administrative and related processes.
• Oversee compliance with Mercy Corps’ and relevant external data protection and privacy requirements, keeping abreast of this ever-changing landscape.

 

Resource Development Analytics

In partnership with the Director of Fundraising Data & Analytics (DFDA):

• Set strategy for development data, ensuring that all data is managed appropriately to enable effective fundraising and ensure that decisions are informed by clear analysis and reporting.
• Ensure reports meet the needs of various audiences, from fundraisers to executive leadership, including KPI tracking, dashboards and other analytics.
• Ensure data quality and integrity checks and processes are in place and documented
• Serve on the Development/MarComms Emergency Response Team for reporting and analytics
• Assess the existing data/report environment against new tools and technologies, including the prospect of a new agency CRM and its implications for fundraising and reporting
• Collaborate with the IT department’s Enterprise Solutions Group, ensuring that fundraising technical strategy and direction is in alignment with the larger enterprise roadmap.
• Promote the move to PowerBI reporting solutions and influence other PowerBI users to publish reports and dashboards in a coordinated, coherent, user-focused manner.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on fundraising progress against goals; prepare quarterly reports for the Joint Finance Committee on fundraising status and forecast; provide inputs into Board reports and other ad hoc report requests from leadership.

  Systems and Procedures

• Responsible for ensuring that all development operations business practices requiring compliance with government regulations, internal policies and/or adherence to professional standards are understood, documented, reviewed, communicated and enforced by relevant team member subject matter owners.
• Manage department-wide initiatives, projects and processes, supporting the CDO in providing a centralized service for cross-team coordination and issues review.

 

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Provide team members with the information, tools and resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

 

Supervisory Responsibility Directly manages the Director of Fundraising Data & Analytics, Fundraising Compliance Officer, Finance & Procurement Compliance Officer and Donor Services Manager.   Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief Development Officer (CDO)

Works Directly With: CDO and Development and MarComms Team Leaders, Development Operations team, Senior Manager of Development Operations in Europe, Finance, IT and other Mercy Corps HQ departments.

 

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Significant experience leading a data operation for a large, diversified fundraising program including a large number of donations across many different types and levels of giving.
• Six years of experience working with data in a similar environment preferred.
• Experience with a CRM conversion for a similarly-sized program highly desirable.
• At least three years of supervisory experience, with proven ability to manage teams to success.
• Demonstrated ability to create, manage and work in matrixed/cross-functional teams, strong facilitation skills and workflow analysis to improve efficiency.
• Proven leadership skills as a thoughtful collaborator and effective problem-solver.
• Experience with fundraising, sales or marketing analytics.
• Experience in assessing and addressing operational needs relating to reporting, workflow, and technology.
• Experience working with finance at senior level.

  Success Factors

The successful candidate is an innovative and collaborative leader who will advance Mercy Corps’ mission by partnering with staff across Development and MarComms, IT, Finance and Procurement to optimize fundraising and marketing impact. They are a highly motivated, curious leader with an investigative and analytical approach to data and operations. They will be an excellent communicator who is willing to ask questions and explain technical issues to non-technical staff. They will be a solutions-oriented strategist who is able to stay trained on the bigger picture while knowing enough detail to make informed decisions. They will model a high degree of discretion, and possess the ability to manage confidential and highly sensitive information.