Associate Director of Development Operations
Acord (association For Cooperative Operations Research And Development), Seattle, Washington, us, 98113
The Evergreen School in Shoreline, WA has engaged DovetailED to lead a search for an Associate Director of Development Operations to start as soon as possible. Interested candidates should review the Opportunity Statement and submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references as a consolidated PDF to Zack Lehman, President at DovetailED Talent Sourcing, at zack@dovetailedsourcing.com.
Position Overview The Associate Director of Development Operations plays a central role in the successful execution of the School’s campaign and serves as the operational backbone of campaign activity within the Development Office. Reporting to the Director of Development, this position is responsible for managing the campaign’s prospect pipeline, coordinating volunteer and leadership engagement, and ensuring that campaign activity is executed and advanced according to established timelines.
This role is highly project‑management‑driven and requires someone who can work independently, manage up, and thrive in the nuance and complexity of an independent school environment. The Associate Director of Development Operations is accountable for translating strategy into action—ensuring that plans are executed, meetings are productive, follow‑ups occur, and progress is visible and measurable.
This position is expected to evolve into a broader development role following the completion of the campaign, with responsibilities aligned to the School’s long‑term advancement priorities. The ideal candidate is exceptionally organized, donor‑centered, detail‑oriented, and confident leading meetings, managing data, and holding themselves and others accountable to next steps.
Duties and Responsibilities
Campaign and Prospect Management
Serve as primary owner of the campaign prospect pipeline, maintaining a comprehensive, accurate, and up‑to‑date prospect matrix and moves management system.
Act as project manager for all campaign prospect activity, including scheduling donor meetings, preparing briefing materials, tracking follow‑ups, and advancing prospects through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship phases.
Maintain a clear, high‑level view of campaign progress at all times, ensuring leadership has access to accurate, real‑time information.
Proactively identify stalled prospects, missing information, or gaps in activity and prompt next steps.
Prepare regular campaign progress reports and dashboards for the Director of Development, campaign leadership, and committees.
Moves Management and Meeting Leadership
Clear agendas
Focused discussion on key prospects
Assigned ownership for next actions
Documented outcomes and deadlines
Lead and prepare for prospect check‑in and moves management meetings, ensuring:
Capture detailed and accurate meeting notes from donor meetings and internal campaign discussions.
Follow up consistently to ensure commitments are met and timelines are adhered to.
Donor Communications and Stewardship
Draft thoughtful, donor‑centered correspondence including invitations, solicitations, briefings, acknowledgments, and updates.
Tailor messaging based on donor history, interests, family context, and prior engagement with the School.
Regularly refresh correspondence to reflect current campaign priorities, progress, and project details.
Oversee the drafting and execution of gift agreements and donor recognition plans in partnership with the Director of Development.
Ensure all donor interactions reflect professionalism, care, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
Volunteer and Leadership Coordination
Support and manage campaign volunteer leadership in partnership with the Director of Development.
Coordinate calendars, meetings, materials, and communications for campaign committees and cabinet members.
Ensure volunteers are equipped with accurate information, clear messaging, and timely materials to support solicitations and outreach.
Campaign Communications and Events
Manage the campaign communications plan, including coordination of print and electronic collateral materials.
Collaborate with colleagues and external vendors on the design and production of campaign materials.
Coordinate campaign‑specific activities such as cultivation events, donor meetings, recognition gatherings, and milestone celebrations.
Take ownership of event timelines, logistics, follow‑up, and documentation.
Data Management and Reporting
Ensure all prospect and donor data is accurately and consistently recorded in the School’s donor management system.
Maintain centralized, clean, and searchable records, avoiding fragmented or duplicative tracking systems.
Monitor campaign benchmarks, pledges, and progress toward goals.
Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, data integrity, and ethical fundraising practices.
Additional Responsibilities
Collaborate with the Development Team to support key community and advancement events throughout the academic year.
Participate fully in the life of the School by attending events, meetings, and activities as appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
Equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
Bachelor’s degree preferred in a relevant field such as nonprofit management, communications, business administration, public administration, or a related area.
5+ years of professional experience in fundraising, advancement operations, nonprofit administration, project management, events, retail or hospitality management, or other complex, deadline‑driven environments.
Demonstrated experience owning workflows or projects from start to finish, including tracking details, managing timelines, and ensuring follow‑through.
Experience managing or coordinating complex schedules, meetings, or stakeholder communications, including preparing materials and capturing detailed notes.
Proven ability to prioritize competing demands, adapt to changing needs, and maintain a high‑level view of work in progress.
Experience drafting professional written communications for external audiences (customers, donors, clients, or stakeholders).
Experience working with databases, CRMs, or tracking systems and maintaining accurate, centralized records.
Experience supporting or working with senior leaders, volunteers, or clients where discretion, professionalism, and judgment were required.
Experience in an independent school, higher education, or mission‑driven nonprofit environment preferred.
Strongly Preferred Experience
Experience working within a campaign, including exposure to prospect pipelines, moves management, and campaign phases.
Frontline fundraising experience, including participating in donor cultivation, solicitation, or stewardship conversations.
Familiarity with campaign strategy and major gift fundraising models, with the ability to translate strategy into coordinated action and execution.
Experience partnering closely with senior leaders, volunteers, or campaign counsel in a fundraising or advancement setting.
Skills and Abilities
Exceptional project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, shifting timelines, and competing demands.
Strong strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, identify practical solutions, and move work forward in alignment with established campaign goals.
Proven ability to maintain accurate, detailed records and high‑level tracking systems.
Strong meeting leadership skills, including agenda setting, facilitation, documentation, and follow‑through.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail.
High level of comfort using donor databases/CRMs, spreadsheets, and reporting tools.
Ability to manage up, anticipate needs, and proactively communicate risks or delays.
Confidence, prompting others for updates and information to keep work moving forward.
Personal Attributes
Meticulous, organized, and highly accountable.
Comfortable working independently and taking ownership of outcomes.
Thrives in ambiguity and understands the nuances of independent school culture.
Discreet, trustworthy, and committed to confidentiality.
Collaborative, service‑oriented, and solution‑focused.
Calm under pressure, adaptable, and responsive to evolving priorities.
Possesses sound judgment and a strong sense of responsibility for shared success.
Working Conditions
Ability to lift up to 35 pounds in connection with job duties such as assisting with classroom setup or moving materials.
Ability to stand, sit, and move comfortably throughout classrooms and school hallways for extended periods.
Ability to climb stairs, navigate uneven surfaces, and escort students as needed between locations within and outside school buildings.
Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including inclement weather.
Evening and weekend work may be required at times.
Position Details This is a 1.0 FTE full‑time, benefits eligible position. This position follows a 12 month schedule. The salary range for this position is $90,000 to $105,000 per year.
Benefits
School‑paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
School‑paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Long‑Term Disability insurance, plus an Employee Assistance Program
403(b) Retirement Plan with a School match of up to 7% and immediate vesting
Flexible Savings Account and/or Health Savings Account
Commuter Assistance Program
Tuition Remission
Infant/toddler care (availability limitations apply)
Paid holidays and other paid leave
To Apply Interested candidates should review the Opportunity Statement and submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references as a consolidated PDF to Zack Lehman, President at DovetailED Talent Sourcing, at zack@dovetailedsourcing.com.
Legal and Accessibility Statements Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement The Evergreen School is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. We will provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Physical requirements and job duties listed in this posting are essential to the role. If you believe you need an accommodation to perform these functions, we encourage you to apply and discuss potential accommodations with our team.
If you require accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact Carleigh Brown, HR manager at cabrown@evergreenschool.org.
Notice of Nondiscrimination The Evergreen School strives to provide equal opportunity to all employees. The school's policy is not to discriminate in employment based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status or any other status protected under applicable local, state or federal law. The School is committed to administering employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoffs, terminations, training, sabbaticals, tuition assistance, and other programs, without regard to an employee's protected status.
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Position Overview The Associate Director of Development Operations plays a central role in the successful execution of the School’s campaign and serves as the operational backbone of campaign activity within the Development Office. Reporting to the Director of Development, this position is responsible for managing the campaign’s prospect pipeline, coordinating volunteer and leadership engagement, and ensuring that campaign activity is executed and advanced according to established timelines.
This role is highly project‑management‑driven and requires someone who can work independently, manage up, and thrive in the nuance and complexity of an independent school environment. The Associate Director of Development Operations is accountable for translating strategy into action—ensuring that plans are executed, meetings are productive, follow‑ups occur, and progress is visible and measurable.
This position is expected to evolve into a broader development role following the completion of the campaign, with responsibilities aligned to the School’s long‑term advancement priorities. The ideal candidate is exceptionally organized, donor‑centered, detail‑oriented, and confident leading meetings, managing data, and holding themselves and others accountable to next steps.
Duties and Responsibilities
Campaign and Prospect Management
Serve as primary owner of the campaign prospect pipeline, maintaining a comprehensive, accurate, and up‑to‑date prospect matrix and moves management system.
Act as project manager for all campaign prospect activity, including scheduling donor meetings, preparing briefing materials, tracking follow‑ups, and advancing prospects through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship phases.
Maintain a clear, high‑level view of campaign progress at all times, ensuring leadership has access to accurate, real‑time information.
Proactively identify stalled prospects, missing information, or gaps in activity and prompt next steps.
Prepare regular campaign progress reports and dashboards for the Director of Development, campaign leadership, and committees.
Moves Management and Meeting Leadership
Clear agendas
Focused discussion on key prospects
Assigned ownership for next actions
Documented outcomes and deadlines
Lead and prepare for prospect check‑in and moves management meetings, ensuring:
Capture detailed and accurate meeting notes from donor meetings and internal campaign discussions.
Follow up consistently to ensure commitments are met and timelines are adhered to.
Donor Communications and Stewardship
Draft thoughtful, donor‑centered correspondence including invitations, solicitations, briefings, acknowledgments, and updates.
Tailor messaging based on donor history, interests, family context, and prior engagement with the School.
Regularly refresh correspondence to reflect current campaign priorities, progress, and project details.
Oversee the drafting and execution of gift agreements and donor recognition plans in partnership with the Director of Development.
Ensure all donor interactions reflect professionalism, care, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
Volunteer and Leadership Coordination
Support and manage campaign volunteer leadership in partnership with the Director of Development.
Coordinate calendars, meetings, materials, and communications for campaign committees and cabinet members.
Ensure volunteers are equipped with accurate information, clear messaging, and timely materials to support solicitations and outreach.
Campaign Communications and Events
Manage the campaign communications plan, including coordination of print and electronic collateral materials.
Collaborate with colleagues and external vendors on the design and production of campaign materials.
Coordinate campaign‑specific activities such as cultivation events, donor meetings, recognition gatherings, and milestone celebrations.
Take ownership of event timelines, logistics, follow‑up, and documentation.
Data Management and Reporting
Ensure all prospect and donor data is accurately and consistently recorded in the School’s donor management system.
Maintain centralized, clean, and searchable records, avoiding fragmented or duplicative tracking systems.
Monitor campaign benchmarks, pledges, and progress toward goals.
Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, data integrity, and ethical fundraising practices.
Additional Responsibilities
Collaborate with the Development Team to support key community and advancement events throughout the academic year.
Participate fully in the life of the School by attending events, meetings, and activities as appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
Equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
Bachelor’s degree preferred in a relevant field such as nonprofit management, communications, business administration, public administration, or a related area.
5+ years of professional experience in fundraising, advancement operations, nonprofit administration, project management, events, retail or hospitality management, or other complex, deadline‑driven environments.
Demonstrated experience owning workflows or projects from start to finish, including tracking details, managing timelines, and ensuring follow‑through.
Experience managing or coordinating complex schedules, meetings, or stakeholder communications, including preparing materials and capturing detailed notes.
Proven ability to prioritize competing demands, adapt to changing needs, and maintain a high‑level view of work in progress.
Experience drafting professional written communications for external audiences (customers, donors, clients, or stakeholders).
Experience working with databases, CRMs, or tracking systems and maintaining accurate, centralized records.
Experience supporting or working with senior leaders, volunteers, or clients where discretion, professionalism, and judgment were required.
Experience in an independent school, higher education, or mission‑driven nonprofit environment preferred.
Strongly Preferred Experience
Experience working within a campaign, including exposure to prospect pipelines, moves management, and campaign phases.
Frontline fundraising experience, including participating in donor cultivation, solicitation, or stewardship conversations.
Familiarity with campaign strategy and major gift fundraising models, with the ability to translate strategy into coordinated action and execution.
Experience partnering closely with senior leaders, volunteers, or campaign counsel in a fundraising or advancement setting.
Skills and Abilities
Exceptional project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, shifting timelines, and competing demands.
Strong strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, identify practical solutions, and move work forward in alignment with established campaign goals.
Proven ability to maintain accurate, detailed records and high‑level tracking systems.
Strong meeting leadership skills, including agenda setting, facilitation, documentation, and follow‑through.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail.
High level of comfort using donor databases/CRMs, spreadsheets, and reporting tools.
Ability to manage up, anticipate needs, and proactively communicate risks or delays.
Confidence, prompting others for updates and information to keep work moving forward.
Personal Attributes
Meticulous, organized, and highly accountable.
Comfortable working independently and taking ownership of outcomes.
Thrives in ambiguity and understands the nuances of independent school culture.
Discreet, trustworthy, and committed to confidentiality.
Collaborative, service‑oriented, and solution‑focused.
Calm under pressure, adaptable, and responsive to evolving priorities.
Possesses sound judgment and a strong sense of responsibility for shared success.
Working Conditions
Ability to lift up to 35 pounds in connection with job duties such as assisting with classroom setup or moving materials.
Ability to stand, sit, and move comfortably throughout classrooms and school hallways for extended periods.
Ability to climb stairs, navigate uneven surfaces, and escort students as needed between locations within and outside school buildings.
Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including inclement weather.
Evening and weekend work may be required at times.
Position Details This is a 1.0 FTE full‑time, benefits eligible position. This position follows a 12 month schedule. The salary range for this position is $90,000 to $105,000 per year.
Benefits
School‑paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
School‑paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Long‑Term Disability insurance, plus an Employee Assistance Program
403(b) Retirement Plan with a School match of up to 7% and immediate vesting
Flexible Savings Account and/or Health Savings Account
Commuter Assistance Program
Tuition Remission
Infant/toddler care (availability limitations apply)
Paid holidays and other paid leave
To Apply Interested candidates should review the Opportunity Statement and submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references as a consolidated PDF to Zack Lehman, President at DovetailED Talent Sourcing, at zack@dovetailedsourcing.com.
Legal and Accessibility Statements Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement The Evergreen School is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. We will provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Physical requirements and job duties listed in this posting are essential to the role. If you believe you need an accommodation to perform these functions, we encourage you to apply and discuss potential accommodations with our team.
If you require accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact Carleigh Brown, HR manager at cabrown@evergreenschool.org.
Notice of Nondiscrimination The Evergreen School strives to provide equal opportunity to all employees. The school's policy is not to discriminate in employment based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status or any other status protected under applicable local, state or federal law. The School is committed to administering employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoffs, terminations, training, sabbaticals, tuition assistance, and other programs, without regard to an employee's protected status.
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