Job Summary

The Executive Director of Advancement Operations serves as the university’s senior operations strategist for University Advancement, providing visionary leadership and operational oversight for the systems, data, policies and infrastructure that enable effective fundraising and engagement across the institution. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of University Advancement Strategy and Campaigns, the Executive Director leads a portfolio of business functions that includes gift processing and advancement information technology. The incumbent must ensure the integrity, accuracy and strategic use of advancement data and oversee policies and governance structures required for philanthropic success.

The Executive Director establishes the operational core for comprehensive fundraising and engagement efforts, including the university's multi-year comprehensive campaign. As a strategic and hands-on leader, this position builds, strengthens and modernizes advancement operations, including CRM optimization, robust data governance frameworks, cross-system integrations and efficient and compliant gift processing practices. The Executive Director collaborates extensively across the division and campus to ensure compliance with CSU, State of California, IRS, CASE, FASB, PCI, institutional requirements and evolving industry best practices. This position supervises managers and individual contributors and builds high-performing teams, ensuring a service-oriented culture that empowers fundraisers and elevates alumni and donor experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision, planning and leadership for all advancement operations departments, ensuring alignment with university goals, fundraising priorities and campaign strategy
• Oversee the gift processing and advancement information technology teams, supervising both managers and individual contributors
• Develop a multi-year roadmap for advancement operations, including CRM optimization, data quality improvements, business intelligence expansion and process innovation
• Serve as a key advisor to the Associate Vice President for Strategy and Campaigns, the Chief Operating Officer for the Tower Foundation of San Jose State University and the Vice President of University Advancement/CEO of the Tower Foundation on operational strategy, prospect pipeline, gift administration, compliance and data governance
• Cultivate a service-oriented, partnership-driven culture across functional teams
• Closely oversee the Gift Processing team to ensure systems, processes and workflows reflect best-practice operational standards
• Oversee accurate, timely and compliant processing and receipting of all charitable contributions to the Tower Foundation
• Ensure policies and procedures follow IRS regulations, FASB/GAAP, CASE standards, CSU and auxiliary regulations, PCI compliance and audit requirements
• Develop and maintain the university’s gift acceptance, counting and agreement governance standards and policies in partnership with the Tower Foundation and campus leadership
• Ensure comprehensive audit readiness and collaborate on internal and external audits
• Oversee biographical and demographic data integrity for alumni, donors and prospects
• Direct the Advancement IT team responsible for CRM administration, systems integrations, user support, platform optimization and reporting
• Lead advancement-wide data governance standards, including stewardship of constituent data, system permissions, data lifecycle management and data quality frameworks
• Oversee CRM projects, enhancements, maintenance, and user adoption strategies
• Ensure integration and interoperability across digital engagement platforms, online giving, websites, event systems, email platforms and campus IT infrastructure
• Implement reporting and analytics solutions to support fundraisers, leadership, colleges/units and campaign operations
• Partner with campus IT and external vendors to manage system security, compliance and upgrades

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex operational teams within a higher education advancement or nonprofit environment
• Strong strategic planning, organizational design and change management skills
• Ability to build trust, lead through complexity and influence across an organization
• Commitment to service excellence, team development and cross-unit collaboration
• Expert knowledge of advancement CRMs (e.g., Salesforce, Slate, Blackbaud CRM, Ellucian, Affinaquest or similar) and related platforms
• Advanced understanding of systems integration, data governance, database administration and reporting/analytics tools
• Demonstrated success leading CRM implementation, optimization or multi-phase system rollouts
• Strong understanding of prospect research and management methodologies, portfolio analytics and fundraising intelligence
• Deep knowledge of IRS charitable regulations, CASE Reporting Standards, FASB/GAAP principles and gift acceptance/processing best practices
• Familiarity with CSU or public higher education policies and auxiliary organization requirements
• Knowledge of PCI compliance, records retention, confidentiality regulations (FERPA) and audit processes
• Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
• Ability to work effectively with fundraisers, academic leaders, IT professionals, campus administrators and foundation staff
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, change-oriented environment with competing priorities
• Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent years of experience
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience in advancement services, development operations, higher education administration or a related field
• Experience supervising professional staff and building teams
• Experience with CRM systems administration, data governance or gift administration in a complex organizational environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Experience working in the California State University system, another large public higher education system or a public university foundation environment
• Direct experience with major CRM implementations or multi-phase optimization projects
• Experience building or transforming gift processing operations or prospect management frameworks
• Experience with comprehensive campaign operations, campaign counting standards and campaign reporting systems
• Experience working in an auxiliary or foundation partnership model

Compensation

Classification: Administrator III
Anticipated Hiring: $14,167 - $15,238/month ($170,004 - $182,856 annually)
CSU Salary Range: $6,891/month - $22,119/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: December 8, 2025 through December 22, 2025. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

University Personnel
jobs@sjsu.edu
408-924-2252

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third-party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification: 

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.