Director, Advancement Systems and Process Improvement
The University of Chicago

Department

ARD Advancement Systems and Process Improvement

About the Department

Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. ARD raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

The Analytics and Technology Solutions (ATS) team provides technology and system solutions to enable ARD to meet aggressive fundraising goals and measure, analyze and predict growth in constituency giving and participation. Using an enterprise approach to data and systems, ATS creates a data and user environment that is consistent yet agile. Collaborating with stakeholders to understand program strategies, ATS develops data, reporting, and analytics solutions that lead to actionable outcomes and actualized goals.

Job Summary

This role manages a team of professional staff responsible for maintaining, evaluating, and improving applications and systems. Evaluates new IT developments and evolving business requirements, and makes plans for the development and implementation of appropriate systems alternatives and/or enhancements to current systems.

Responsibilities

• Leads a team of professionals responsible for designing, planning, and documenting changes to departmental technology systems and related business processes.
• Studies the needs and objectives of key stakeholder groups to create plans detailing the design, modification and enhancement of systems and processes.
• Manages detailed roadmap for planned system fixes and enhancements.
• Identifies opportunities to gain value through innovations in process or system design.
• Owns governance process for evaluating and prioritizing potential changes to systems and processes.
• Develops and shapes narratives with other leaders and across key partner groups to help drive system adoption and innovation.
• Studies the needs and objectives of key stakeholder groups to inform strategy and plans.
• Works cross-functionality with partner operational teams to align goals and strategies.
• Advances a culture of data-driven decision-making, collaboration, and innovation throughout the organization.
• Evaluates vendor proposals for the purchase of hardware, software, and technical services to ensure adherence to technical specifications.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions, with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
• Manages employees by establishing annual performance goals, allocating resources, assessing annual performance, and determining individual merit, incentive and/or promotional increases.
• Evaluates vendor proposals for the purchase of hardware, software, and technical services to ensure adherence to technical specifications.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
---
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Minimum seven years of professional work experience in product management, project management, management consulting, or related roles.
• Minimum three years of experience leading a project team or managing staff.
• Minimum one year of experience developing and monitoring budgets.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proven track record in leading and mentoring teams towards achieving ambitious goals.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Strong project management skills, with an aptitude for leading end-to-end project delivery.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Work across various teams and projects simultaneously, advancing unified strategy.
• Comfortable with ambiguity.

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Self-motivated, take initiative, and think strategically.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in-office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Information Technology

Role Impact

People Manager

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

---