Director of Data Services
DickersonBakker
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: United States
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Job Level
About the role
- Own fundraising data end-to-end, from client data intake through reporting, attribution, and analysis.
- Define, document, and enforce data standards, intake requirements, QC protocols, naming conventions, and reporting definitions.
- Establish clear governance that reduces ambiguity, prevents rework, and increases confidence in reported results.
- Serve as the authoritative voice on data integrity and feasibility for DickersonBakker leadership.
- Identify and remediate legacy risks, inconsistencies, and undocumented dependencies across existing data workflows.
- Remain highly hands-on in day-to-day technical work, including SQL development, data modeling, ETL oversight, and Power BI datasets, especially during the first phase of the role.
- Audit existing queries, reports, attribution logic, and production workflows to identify gaps, inefficiencies, and failure points.
- Partner with Account Directors, Production, and Creative to ensure data requirements are clearly defined and accurately executed for campaigns.
- Oversee segmentation logic, appeal and ask strategies, attribution methodologies, and results processing for direct response programs.
- Ensure repeatable, trusted reporting supports QBRs, annual planning, and strategic decision-making.
- Advance attribution and forecasting capabilities, so insights are credible enough to influence fundraising strategy.
- Standardize reporting outputs used across clients while allowing for necessary customization.
- Own Power BI standards and datasets, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and usability.
- Support approximately 20 percent internal reporting needs while maintaining primary accountability to client fundraising data.
- Directly manage and develop one Data Service Manager, with responsibility to scale the function over time.
- Own relationships with external data contractors and vendors, ensuring work meets DickersonBakker standards.
- Reduce reliance on individual operators by building durable systems, documentation, and cross-training.
- Foster a culture of accountability, precision, and continuous improvement within the data function.
- Operate as a behind-the-scenes strategic partner to Account Directors, SVPs, and Operations leadership.
- Participate selectively in client onboarding conversations to ensure proper data collection and feasibility alignment.
- Provide clear guidance and guardrails to internal teams, including the authority to say no when data or reporting requests introduce risk or inconsistency.
Requirements
- 8+ years of experience working with fundraising or direct response marketing data.
- 5+ years of progressively senior responsibility in data, analytics, or data operations roles.
- Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing external vendors or contractors.
- Agency experience strongly preferred; startup or high-growth environment experience a plus.
- Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) or equivalent professional experience.
- Deep prior experience in direct response fundraising data, including donor files, segmentation, ask strategies, attribution, and results analysis.
- Advanced proficiency in T-SQL with a strong track record of building and optimizing complex queries and workflows.
- Strong working knowledge of ETL processes, data quality controls, and reporting pipelines.
- Demonstrated experience with Power BI or comparable BI tools, including dataset modeling and governance.
- Proven ability to lead people while remaining a highly capable technical executor.
- Comfort auditing, challenging, and rebuilding existing systems rather than maintaining the status quo.
- Exceptional attention to detail and low tolerance for ambiguity in data definitions or outputs.
- Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Flexible working hours
- Paid time off
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
SQLT-SQLdata modelingETLdata quality controlsreporting pipelinesdata analysisattribution methodologiessegmentationresults processing
Soft skills
leadershipteam managementcommunicationattention to detailaccountabilitystrategic thinkingproblem-solvingcontinuous improvementcollaborationadaptability