Operations Manager, Philanthropic Engagement

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Job Description Summary

Job Description

Essential Functions:

• Facilitates alignment between Philanthropic Engagement (PE) priorities and related workstreams across University Advancement (UA) by partnering with colleagues to connect related efforts reduce duplication and maintain clarity of roles and responsibilities.
• Partners with the Associate Vice President for Philanthropic Engagement to prioritize commitments manage scheduling and prepare briefing materials in support of key meetings and decisions.
• Provides strategic operational support to PE team leaders including maintaining shared work plans developing and monitoring a team progress dashboard tracking milestones and proactively flagging risks dependencies or capacity constraints.
• Supports the Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE) leadership team by assisting with meeting preparation documenting decisions and managing follow-up actions through completion.
• Creates high-quality briefing materials presentations and decision documents for the Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement and senior DAE leaders.
• Provides periodic executive and project-based support to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement.
• Leads preparation for PE leadership unit and team meetings including agenda development material coordination synthesis of updates tracking follow-up actions and ensuring decisions are clearly captured and communicated.
• Supports strategic initiatives and special projects by coordinating work across stakeholders managing timelines and ensuring progress against defined goals.
• Coordinates and tracks milestones for key projects ensuring visibility accountability and timely escalation of issues as needed.
• Drafts edits and curates internal communications presentations and updates; maintain organized and accessible channels for information sharing and documentation.
• Supports onboarding team development activities and internal documentation that reinforce shared purpose clarity of expectations and alignment with organizational goals.
• Proactively anticipates organizational needs and design systems tools or processes that improve efficiency reduce bottlenecks and support effective decision-making.

Required Education Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Bachelors degree plus three to five years of relevant experience in project management administrative or executive support higher education or a related field.
• Exceptional organizational planning and time-management skills with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including experience drafting correspondence preparing briefing materials and creating clear concise documentation.
• High level of professionalism discretion and sound judgment particularly when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Ability to build strong trust-based relationships and work effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization.
• Proactive anticipatory and resourceful with the ability to identify needs anticipate next steps and follow through with minimal direction.
• Detail-oriented while maintaining a strategic big-picture perspective.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity evolving priorities and complex environments.
• Calm under pressure; able to make thoughtful decisions in time-sensitive situations.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize information and answer moderately complex questions proactively seeking additional context or information as needed.
• Service-oriented and relationship-centered; takes pride in providing high-quality responsive support to others.
• Warm diplomatic and collaborative with the ability to work across differing perspectives and priorities.
• Enjoys creating systems improving processes and reducing friction in organizational workflows.
• Self-starter with the ability to think independently while remaining aligned with leadership direction and team goals.
• Thrives in a mission-driven collaborative team environment.
• Demonstrates respect for the dignity perspectives and abilities of all individuals.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to learn and effectively use customer relationship management systems (Blackbaud CRM preferred) project management tools (ClickUp preferred) and event registration platforms; commitment to continuously developing technical skills as needed.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of information contained in donor records system data and leadership communications.

Preferred Education Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Understanding of protocol etiquette and professional standards appropriate for executive- and donor-facing environments.
• Previous experience in project or logistics management.
• Familiarity with project management tools and shared digital workspaces used to coordinate complex cross-functional work.
• Experience preparing clear well-structured reports presentations and executive summaries for senior leadership audiences.
• Familiarity with advancement operations campaign environments or donor engagement strategies.

Accountabilities:

• Responsible for own work.
• May supervise a student employee.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions:

Sedentary work primarily involving sitting/standing; communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists hands and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned. Remaining in a stationary position often standing or sitting for prolonged periods. No adverse environmental conditions expected; however may assist in executing events in outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind.

Additional Job Description

Time Type Requirement

Note to Applicant:

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race color religion national origin sex age sexual orientation gender identity and expression genetic information disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please contact or .