Job Description

The Director is the lead expert, developer, and trainer for fundraising intelligence efforts within Advancement and External Affairs’ (AEA) Advancement Systems, Services and Intelligence department. The organized efforts of the Director benefit AEA as well as the schools, colleges, and units with informed, interactive reports that foster intelligent decision making and planning. They are responsible for overseeing data retrieval, manipulation, strategic analysis of data and creation of reports and data visualization to support work and inform fund raising decisions. The Director serves as the lead creative and content developer for the department and as a critical liaison to AEA’s leadership team to ensure that data resources are leveraged optimally to inform performance evaluation and fundraising strategies.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, information technology, business or closely related field. Advanced degree preferred.
At least two (2) years’ experience in data analysis, visualization, and management of large data sets.
Proven experience in a leadership role, ideally with team management responsibilities.
Understand the broader organizational goals and align team efforts to achieve those goals.
Experience with databases and large data sets (5+ years) and building reports.
Demonstrated ability to analyze, synthesize, and clearly report on a high volume of information.
Excellent customer service skills.

Skills and Knowledge

Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of developing queries and configurable joins for reporting and analysis.
Demonstrates knowledge and experience working with data visualization tools such as Power Bl, Tableau or QlikView.
Working knowledge of SQL, HTML, and CSS to create queries, reports, forms, portals and dashboards and desire to increase proficiency.
Demonstrates the ability and knowledge of how to develop and analyze results by detecting patterns, brainstorming, observing, interpreting data, and basing insights on the multiple factors and options available.
High level of enthusiasm for building innovative data solutions.
Demonstrates the capacity to motivate and engage team members, and a solid understanding of organizational dynamics.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Demonstrate flexibility to successfully manage multiple priorities, produce quality work, and meet strict deadlines.
Demonstrated knowledge of methods of statistical analysis, both descriptive and inferential.
Experience in data manipulation and transformation, including creation of useful variables and management of inconsistent or missing data.
Experience in interacting professionally with a diverse population within a variety of administrative levels.

Responsibilities

Lead and direct approaches to divisional data mining.
Demonstrate mastery of techniques and best practices. Including, but not limited to; Data mining; Cluster analysis; Machine learning; Forecasting; Data Visualization; Dashboard Development; Segmentation; and Database Querying. Collaborate to understand unit business needs, formulate, and complete end-to-end analysis that includes data gathering, ongoing scaled deliverables, and presentations.
Leverage advanced data analysis skills to synthesize information and disseminate results through well-designed, visually engaging dashboards, reports, maps, charts, graphs, and presentations.
Plan, develop and create data-driven resources for AEA teams. Includes, but is not limited to, dashboards, forecasting and predictive models, CRM-based query building blocks, CRM system tutorials, and data manipulation guides.
Develop and automate reports, iteratively build and prototype dashboards to provide insights at scale, solving for analytical needs.
Facilitate implementation of work product and ensure accuracy.
Work strategically with colleagues to design, test, create and implement new reporting and dashboard solutions.
Consistently follow standard work processes and documentation requirements.
Recommend improvements to work processes to increase efficiency while maintaining quality of work.
Continuously improve technical and leadership skills through training and development.
Train and guide AEA staff to facilitate data retrieval and querying processes, Excel-based data manipulation, and report writing/ data visualization.
Work in an advisory capacity to troubleshoot data analytics processes and ensure that deliverables adhere to industry and division standards and best practices.
Lead the development and implementation of advanced analytics including segmentation, optimization, prescriptive analytics, and machine learning algorithm & recommendation to solve business problems.
Operate as a subject matter expert on statistical analysis, test and design of experiment, analysis methodology, predictive and cluster modeling, as well as post impact analysis.
Lead and create innovative analyses and interpretations of current and potential donor data research representative of all units to meet data needs for strategy development. Including retrieval, summary and analysis of philanthropic activity, affinity, and donor potential.
Lead university-wide development staff in the identification of new prospects through data modeling, cluster analyses, and segmentation

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.

About The Syracuse Area

Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.

EEO Statement

Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.

Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans

Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.

Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community

Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.