Lead Advancement Organizational Design Engagements: Advise clients on how to structure, staff, and evolve their advancement functions — including org design assessments, role clarity and accountability frameworks, and operating model recommendations for development, alumni relations, and advancement services teams.
Drive Business Process Improvement: Lead current-state assessments and future-state redesigns across core advancement workflows including gift processing, prospect management, donor relations, stewardship, and campaign operations — with a focus on operational effectiveness and alignment to institutional strategy.
Shape Advancement Strategy: Collaborate with VP- and AVP-level advancement leaders to define operational vision, prioritize improvement initiatives, and build roadmaps that connect organizational capability to fundraising and engagement goals.
Facilitate Stakeholder Alignment: Lead workshops, working sessions, and executive briefings to surface priorities, navigate competing perspectives, and build the internal consensus needed to drive meaningful organizational change.
Advise on Technology Fit and Process Enablement: Help clients evaluate how their advancement platforms — such as Salesforce Education Cloud / NPSP, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT, or Ellucian Colleague Advancement — can better support redesigned processes and organizational structures, without leading from a technology-first perspective.
Collaborate Across Practices: Partner with Attain’s change management, training, ERP, and technology teams to deliver integrated solutions that address the full scope of institutional transformation.
Contribute to Practice Development: Support methodology development, thought leadership, proposal efforts, and internal capability building within the higher education advancement practice.
Lead and/or support business development efforts
Lead and/or support proposal development and solution design in support of new and expanded client work

Requirements

6–10 years of experience in higher education advancement, with meaningful exposure to organizational design, operational strategy, or process improvement — whether from within an advancement shop, a consulting role, or both.
Strong understanding of how advancement organizations are structured and operated, including the interplay between central advancement, unit-based development, alumni relations, and advancement services functions.
Demonstrated ability to lead organizational assessments, facilitate strategic planning, and develop actionable recommendations for advancement leadership.
Familiarity with major advancement platforms (e.g., Salesforce Education Cloud / NPSP, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT, Ellucian Colleague Advancement) at a functional level sufficient to advise on process-system alignment.
Strong facilitation, communication, and executive presence; able to credibly engage with VPs, AVPs, and other senior advancement leaders.
Consulting experience or demonstrated comfort operating in a client-facing advisory capacity strongly preferred.
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or certifications (e.g., CFRE, PMP, Prosci) a plus.

Benefits

Competitive health, dental, and vision coverage, HSA and FSA accounts, life and disability insurance, fertility and family planning benefits, and employee assistance and discount programs
11 paid federal holidays and flexible unlimited time off (UTO)
Generous 401(k) matching with immediate vesting
Flexible career paths – our career tracks provide advancement, mobility, and flexibility as you continue to grow with us
A healthy environment where we value unique experiences, and care about everything that makes you, you.

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

organizational designoperational strategyprocess improvementstrategic planningbusiness process improvementadvancement assessmentsstakeholder alignmentproposal developmentsolution designroadmap development

Soft Skills

facilitationcommunicationexecutive presenceclient-facing advisorycollaborationleadershiporganizational change managementconsensus buildingthought leadershipmethodology development

Certifications

Bachelor’s degreeadvanced degreeCFREPMPProsci