Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The University of Illinois Foundation (Foundation) is the official fundraising and private gift-receiving organization of the University of Illinois (University). It works closely with alumni and friends, faculty and staff, corporations and foundations, as well as campus development professionals to create fundraising programs and opportunities that benefit the University.

The Director of Advancement Insights & Analytics leads a high-performing team responsible for advancing the Foundation’s data and analytics strategy across the three universities. This position oversees the development of scalable reporting solutions, advanced analytics, and performance insights that inform strategic fundraising and engagement decisions. The Director ensures alignment with the Foundation’s evolving enterprise data environment and collaborates closely with teams from both Advancement Services and the Office of Advancement Technology Services to deliver trusted, actionable intelligence to leadership and the University of Illinois Advancement Community.

This role emphasizes a shift to proactive insight generation, strengthening the organization’s ability to forecast performance, optimize portfolios, and measure impact through consistent, data-driven storytelling.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Develop and execute an integrated reporting and analytics strategy that aligns with Foundation and University of Illinois fundraising priorities. Lead the evolution of Advancement Insights to a proactive, insight-driven partner by defining success metrics, shared KPIs, and reporting frameworks with leadership.
• Oversee the design, development, and delivery of standardized reports, dashboards, and data visualizations using Power BI while ensuring quality control and consistency across all analytics products. Implement and manage a structured intake and prioritization process and advance self-service analytics capabilities to empower users while maintaining governance standards.
• Build and mature the Foundation's analytics capabilities across descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. Develop models to forecast fundraising outcomes, segment donor audiences, and evaluate campaign performance while leveraging data science techniques and external partnerships to enhance prospect identification and portfolio optimization.
• Partner with other Advancement Services departments and The Office of Advancement Technology Services to ensure data quality, consistent methodologies, and alignment with enterprise data strategy. 
• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse analytics team while fostering a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and continuous improvement. Establish professional development plans focused on technical upskilling and data literacy, and model proactive communication, transparency, and service excellence in all interactions with partners.
• Embed robust validation and peer-review processes to ensure confidence in all published data while partnering with Data Governance to define and enforce data quality standards, terminology, and reporting definitions. Promote a disciplined approach to continuous improvement through post-implementation reviews and success metrics.
• Prepare and present analytic insights to executive audiences, Board committees, and university partners. Stay informed of best practices in higher-education analytics, benchmark UIF performance against peer institutions, and adapt innovations for advancement use.
  
   

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Information Systems, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in analytics, business intelligence, or applied research, including at least 5 years in a management or leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining enterprise-level analytics environments and developing interactive dashboards and reports (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for executive audiences.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience managing technical teams and coordinating across multiple functional areas.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across technical and business teams. 
• Technical ability in writing SQL code and Python scripts is required.
  
   

PREFERRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in a data-driven or management discipline (e.g., Data Science, Business Analytics, or Public Administration).
• Professional experience in higher education advancement, nonprofit fundraising, or alumni engagement.
• Familiarity with CRM and advancement data environments (e.g., Blackbaud CRM, Salesforce, Ellucian Advance).
• Experience implementing predictive or prescriptive analytics models.
• Knowledge of SQL, DAX, or similar query languages.
• Experience leading organizational change within a complex, multi-campus environment.

Application Deadline: December 7, 2025

The starting salary range for this position is projected to be $122,000 - $141,000 per year. While our job postings include salary ranges, your compensation will be based on your specific experience and qualifications—we're not limited by these posted ranges.

You'll be inspired daily in our state-of-the-art, environmentally conscious workspace - a stunning LEED-certified building featuring contemporary amenities including an on-site wellness center and café with healthy dining options. We encourage work-life balance through our hybrid schedule for many positions, combining in-office collaboration with up to 2 days of remote work flexibility. 

Your comprehensive benefits package includes medical, vision, and dental coverage, company paid life insurance, generous vacation time including 24 days annually, and more. Generous pension benefits are also included. We invest in your present and future wellbeing, providing the support you need to succeed.

Application Process: For full consideration for the role, all candidates must complete an online application and include a cover letter and resume. Candidates may create a profile through For further information regarding application procedures, contact Foundation Human Resources at [email protected].

 

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