Director of Prospect Management & Research at Montana State… · Bozeman

Director of Prospect Management & Research

Location: Bozeman, Montana

• Administrator: Senior Director of Advancement Data & Research
• Education Required: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• Preferred Experience: Progressively responsible experience in advancement systems, prospect management, and/or research; supervisory experience and higher education fundraising experience preferred
  
• Overtime Status: Exempt, not eligible for overtime
• FTE & Benefits: 1.0 FTE, eligible for full employment benefits
• Location: In-office in Bozeman, MT; hybrid opportunities may be available based on performance
• Preferred Start Date: December 1, 2026

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Prospect Management & Research (“Director, PMR”) at the Montana State University Alumni Foundation (“Alumni Foundation”) is responsible for the health, effectiveness, and strategic direction of the PMR function within the Advancement Services department. Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement Data & Research (“Senior Director”), the Director provides leadership and oversight of people, processes, and structures, balancing competing organizational priorities, developing skill sets within the PMR team, and serving as a thought partner to the Senior Director. This role combines PMR team leadership with hands-on prospect management, research, and analysis, partnering with the Senior Director and Development leadership to ensure that PMR drives sustainable fundraising impact for Montana State University. A substantial portion of this role is devoted to hands-on prospect management and research, with the mix of direct work and leadership responsibilities flexing in response to team capacity and campaign priorities.

SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & VISION

• Develop and execute PMR priorities and strategy in partnership with the Senior Director, in alignment with Alumni Foundation fundraising goals, the strategic plan, and campaign initiatives.
• Lead PMR’s support of the Alumni Foundation’s comprehensive campaign, including campaign prospect identification, gift-range and pipeline analysis, and prospect qualification and review strategy.
• Support the Senior Director in representing PMR at senior leadership tables, including with the Vice Presidents, President & CEO, and Board of Governors as appropriate.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Senior Director, Development leadership, and other organizational teams on prospect strategy and pipeline health.
• Anticipate Development and campaign needs and design proactive PMR programs, structures, and services to meet them.

PEOPLE LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

• Directly supervise and develop PMR team members, fostering a high-performing, values-driven culture.
• Build a pipeline of internal talent through coaching, mentorship, performance management, and succession planning.
• Lead onboarding, training, and professional development programming for the PMR team.
• Effectively delegate work to enable team members to grow in their roles while maintaining accountability for outcomes.

HANDS-ON PROSPECT MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH

• Using available tools, conduct and oversee prospect identification, qualification, and research for campaign and high-capacity prospects, including analysis of capacity, inclination, and affinity.
• Review prospect profiles and briefings for senior leadership and high-priority prospects, delegating to team members as appropriate.
• Lead annual and ongoing portfolio review processes with Development, monitor portfolio health and activity, and recommend prospect assignments and reassignments.
• Partner with Development Officers on portfolio strategy, prospect prioritization, and goal setting.
• Train and advise Development Officers and other Development staff on prospect management practices, research interpretation, and use of PMR tools and reports.

PMR GOVERNANCE, STANDARDS, & STRUCTURE

• Maintain PMR governance, research standards, policies, and operational structures, partnering with the Senior Director and Development Operations Team on portfolio standards and pipeline health.
• Lead the design and continuous improvement of PMR workflows, systems integrations, and quality assurance frameworks.
• Partner with Advancement Systems and Analytics to develop data infrastructure, self-serve reporting, and analytics capabilities that support Development Officers and organizational leadership.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of PMR standard operating procedures (SOPs), including the Prospect Management Guidelines, training resources, and PMR-related data governance documentation.
• Partner with Development leadership to promote timely, accurate recording of prospect interactions and contact reports in the CRM, and monitor adherence to the Prospect Management Guidelines.

REPORTING & ANALYSIS

• Collaborate with the Senior Director to produce and present strategic reporting and analysis for Alumni Foundation leadership.
• Define, track, and report PMR performance metrics and service levels, including portfolio and pipeline health measures.
• Develop and maintain prospect analytics, such as capacity and affinity scoring, engagement scoring, prospect segmentation, and pipeline and portfolio analyses, in coordination with Reporting and Analytics and external vendors.
• Identify and address structural, process, or data challenges that affect organizational fundraising effectiveness.
• Balance and efficiently prioritize competing priorities across PMR programs and stakeholders.

RESOURCE PLANNING & ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT

• Contribute to staffing design, resource planning, and budget considerations for the PMR function.
• Manage relationships with external research and analytics vendors, ensuring quality, value, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Pursue and support professional development opportunities that keep the PMR team current with industry trends, tools, and best practices.
• Institutionalize PMR excellence in a way that is scalable and sustainable as the Alumni Foundation grows.

COMPLIANCE & ETHICS

• Model and uphold the highest standards of data confidentiality, security, and ethics in accordance with Alumni Foundation policy and the APRA Statement of Ethics.
• Contribute to a professional, proactive, positive, highly collaborative, and performance-centric work environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

SPECIAL SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated leadership experience, including supervising, developing, and motivating a team in an advancement services context.
• Deep expertise in prospect management, research methodologies, portfolio strategy, and moves management.
• Proven ability to independently produce high-quality prospect research, analysis, and briefings while also leading and developing a team.
• Ability to translate complex analytical concepts into organizational strategy and actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Experience developing and leading PMR programs, governance frameworks, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to present and influence at senior levels.
• Progressively responsible experience with prospect research tools (e.g., LexisNexis, Kindsight/iWave, RedArc, DonorSearch, Wealth Engine) and CRM systems; Raiser’s Edge NXT or Blackbaud software experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising campaign structures, donor cultivation cycles, and gift vehicles.
• Ability to lead change, manage competing priorities, and build organizational alignment across a complex environment.

BENEFITS:

The MSU Alumni Foundation offers a comprehensive benefit package which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance (all of which are 90-100% employer-paid for employee-only coverage), 403(b) retirement plan with 7% employer contribution after 1-yr anniversary, up to 5 weeks’ paid time-off, 11 paid holidays, tuition assistance and more.

APPLICATIONS AND RECRUITMENT:

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, a resume, and three professional references online. Recruitment will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The MSU Alumni Foundation is an equal employment opportunity employer who believes that diversity, equity and inclusion allow us to better serve our students and communities and are critical to supporting the mission of Montana State University as a land-grant institution.