About Us:

Located in Georgetown, Texas, Southwestern University is an independent, four-year undergraduate institution offers a top-ranked integrated arts and sciences curriculum that incorporates the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences.

At Southwestern University, we are committed to fostering an environment where every individual feels respected, valued, and empowered. We believe that a thriving community is built on the strength of varying perspectives and experiences, and we strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. Our actions are guided by a commitment to fairness, openness, and the belief that our differences are what make us stronger as a whole.

Position Overview:

Southwestern University has an immediate opening for a Director of Advancement Services & Prospect Management. This position will report to the Vice President for University Relations. The Director of Advancement Services & Prospect Management Manages the recordkeeping system for the University Relations and oversees the Prospect Research team as well as the Advancement Services team. Responsibilities include database management, constituent record updates, data integrity, business process documentation, gift and pledge processing and acknowledgments, data analytics, data request fulfillment, data reporting for senior leadership and Board of Trustees, and internal programming support. Develops and executes strategies to help identify, define, grow, value, and track the prospect pool to support institutional goals. This is a full-time exempt position eligible for our comprehensive benefits program.

Essential Duties:

• Collaborate with senior University Relations leadership and Annual Giving to align stewardship, gift processing, and donor acknowledgment strategies that support annual giving society growth and major gift cultivation.
• Oversee Advancement Services and Prospect Research teams, including supervision, training, and performance management of staff and student workers.
• Manage all aspects of gift and pledge processing, receipting, and reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and integration with campaign and donor engagement strategies.
• Lead data strategy, including database management, data entry integrity, batch updates, data audits, and business process documentation to support institutional effectiveness.
• Develop and fulfill complex data requests and queries for internal partners (University Relations, President’s Office, Athletics, Fine Arts), ensuring actionable insights through high-quality reporting and analytics.
• Direct and maintain comprehensive prospect management systems, including pipeline tracking, portfolio audits, assignments, and movement aligned with giving levels and campaign goals.
• Conduct and oversee prospect research and capacity ratings to support frontline fundraisers and senior leadership with strategic donor intelligence.
• Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors to optimize Advancement technology systems and ensure efficient, integrated operations across campus databases.
• Monitor trends and apply best practices in data management, research methodology, reporting standards, and analytics to continuously improve Advancement operations.
• Manage departmental budgeting and support University Relations’ strategic planning by aligning data infrastructure with evolving campaign and engagement goals.

Additional Duties:

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Evening and weekend work during special events on campus.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of five (5) years of Advancement Services experience or equivalent experience.
• Proficient in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Strong leadership and time management skills with the ability to effectively and simultaneously manage many diverse relationships.
• The ability to control and move forward on several priorities simultaneously, without losing focus. This includes switching priorities as required, without losing momentum.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to function as a catalyst, guide, and doer.
• Must possess a high level of self-confidence, professionalism, and the ability to perform under pressure.
• Integrity and the ability to build trust through one’s own commitment to high personal and professional standards.
• Resilience and a good sense of humor.
• Possess respect for the confidential nature of the work.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including a strong work ethic.
• Willingness to adhere to the University’s core values.
• Demonstrated professional manners with all internal and external University constituencies.
• Proven ability to perform well in stressful situations.
• Ability and willingness to travel utilizing standard, commercial, and/or personal modes of transportation.
• Ability to attend work consistently and maintain a regular work schedule.
• Excellent computer skills utilizing software such as Microsoft Word and Excel, email software, and internet search engines.
• Ability to quickly learn institutionally specific computer software such as Colleague Advancement.
• Physical/Mental:
  • Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
  • Ability to reach, twist, bend, stoop, stand, kneel, handle, push/pull, and lift and carry up to ten pounds.
  • Ability to hear, see, and speak.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree
• Seven (7) years of experience in Advancement Services or other related experience.
• Knowledge of Southwestern University, its culture, and its constituencies.

Starting annual salary: $62,810. The final offer for the successful candidate will be commensurate with experience and may exceed the starting salary.

Benefits:

Southwestern University offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health and welfare insurance (medical, dental, and vision), life and AD&D insurance, long-term disability coverage, generous contributions to a 403(b) retirement account, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), various paid time-off options, undergraduate tuition assistance for you and your dependents, access to athletic facilities, free parking, and discounted meal rates, along with other benefits designed to support your well-being and work-life balance.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and the name and contact information of three (3) professional references through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/169287. Email and paper applications will not be accepted.

All offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

In compliance with immigration laws, proof of work authorization in the United States will be required when employment begins. Southwestern University is an E-Verify employer.

Southwestern University is an equal-opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at hr@southwestern.edu.

Jeanne Clery Statement: Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report— Southwestern University Annual Safety and Fire Report is available online at https://www.southwestern.edu/life-at-southwestern/safety-security/annual-security-reports/ containing mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, required statistics, and other related information for the past three calendar years. To obtain a paper copy of the report, please cal