Director of Development-Research

Posted: 05/16/08

Primary Responsibilities

• Identify new prospects, corporations and foundations from published print sources, electronic media, and news alerts. Strategically communicate the results to appropriate research and development staff.
• Work collaboratively with development staff to understand the specific needs of the unit or constituency. This includes proactively analyzing data, trends and giving patterns to facilitate efficiency and the organization of development efforts, travel and management of prospect portfolios.
• Track top prospects/donors, corporations and foundations through the use of news alerts and effectively communicate the results to appropriate staff.
• Work with Research Assistant to ensure prospect records are updated and tracked.
• Review publications to uncover current information about higher education, philanthropy, and trends in various constituency fields. Disseminate this information to appropriate development staff.
• Work with Research Assistant to gather background and updated contact information on new prospects to ensure prospect records are updated promptly.

• Collect and analyze relevant information on corporations, foundations, and individuals.
• Interpret financial information from SEC documents, corporate press releases, real estate records, private company data and other market indicators to assess viability and potential capacity.
• Prepare short biographies and briefs as well as full profiles on corporations, foundations, and individuals.
• Respond to ready reference questions from UWF staff.
• Complete special projects as assigned.
• Communicate results to appropriate development officers.

• Attend and participate in weekly research meetings and yearly offsites.
• Attend and participate in development group meetings on a regular basis.
• Participate in organization-wide committees, task forces or other appropriate groups.

• Participate in at least one appropriate professional development conference, continuing education course, or workshop per year.
• Present information on prospect research function during staff training and orientation sessions.
• When applicable, share prospect research expertise with development officers and researchers at other organizations.

• Participate in the annual evaluation of current research department subscriptions to see if services should be renewed, modified, or discontinued.
• Identify and evaluate, in collaboration with the Research team, new research sources and tools to see if information and services provided are worthwhile and cost effective.
• Evaluate "free" web sources and share results with other researchers.
• Recommend research information sources and other tools for subscription renewal, new purchase, or as an addition to regularly used free web sources.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of a bachelor degree in Library Science, Journalism, Business or other related field; advanced Library Science degree strongly preferred.
• Minimum of one year’s experience in information or prospect research.
• Experience using a variety of on-line sources such as LEXIS-NEXIS, the Internet, and business databases such as Dun & Bradstreet or Hoovers.
• Ability to prioritize and work with a high degree of independence, manage several projects simultaneously, set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work well as part of a team. High degree of customer service skills.
• Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills, including ability to express all appropriate information clearly and concisely, whether written or verbal.
• Understanding of basic financial principles and an unwavering attention and commitment to matters of discretion and confidentiality.