Director of Prospect Research and Analytics

About the job

Be a Tar Heel!

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

As the largest unit on campus, the College of Arts and Sciences forms the academic core of the Carolina experience. Our mission is to create knowledge and discover innovative solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, to educate outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, and to encourage faculty, staff and students to contribute meaningfully to North Carolina, the nation, and the world.

UNC’s Arts and Sciences Foundation exists to raise philanthropic support for the highest development priorities of the College of Arts and Sciences. Under the leadership and governance of its Board of Directors, and with support from alumni and friends of the College, the Foundation works to raise and steward expendable and endowment funds that support the College’s research, creative, and teaching mission. Currently, the College benefits from over $1.5B in endowment funds, which includes over $600M in the Arts and Sciences Foundation and more than $1B in the UNC-Chapel Hill Foundation and the UNC-CH Foundation.

In the Campaign for Carolina, the Foundation team raised over $764 million, exceeding its goal of $750 million. As the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill lays the foundation for its next campaign, the Foundation anticipates an exciting period of growth in the team, resources and activity. The Foundation works collaboratively with University Development and schools and units across campus to maximize philanthropic investment for the greatest benefit to the College and University.

Position Summary

The Director of Prospect Research and Analytics provides prospect identification, donor pipeline support, campaign reporting, and data analysis for the Arts and Sciences Foundation, leveraging a variety of research and business intelligence tools to support data-driven fundraising strategies, with a particular emphasis on principal gifts. Working closely with development officers, College leadership, and Foundation partners, the position delivers actionable insights that strengthen fundraising performance and advance the College’s philanthropic priorities.

Reporting and analysis efforts are supported through the supervision of one Development Data Analyst, with responsibility for workflow prioritization, professional development, and quality control across prospect research and data analytics functions. The role exercises significant judgment, creativity, and attention to detail to ensure reports, dashboards, and data extracts communicate complex information in a clear, accurate, and meaningful manner.

In addition, the Director of Prospect Research and Analytics serves as a key resource for CRM training and user support, promoting effective system utilization, data integrity, and adherence to development operations best practices. Through research and analysis of complex issues related to donor strategy, development operations, prospect management, and data quality, the position provides recommendations and actionable insights that inform leadership decision-making and organizational priorities. The role collaborates extensively with College and Foundation leadership, as well as the broader frontline fundraising team, to ensure data needs are met and fundraising efforts are supported effectively across the organization.

Success in this role requires maintaining expertise in existing business intelligence and analytical tools while continuously developing new skills as technologies and best practices evolve. The position also leads strategic prospect research and donor pipeline development efforts, identifying, evaluating, and advancing major and principal gift prospects to support long-term fundraising success.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Master’s or Bachelor’s and 0-2 years’ experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Three to five years of related or transferable experience, including management experience. Demonstrated ability to synthesize, summarize, and assess the relative value of a high volume of information from a variety of sources to create concise and confidential research reports in a variety of formats. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse constituencies, meet deadlines, be self-motivated, work independently, show flexibility and adaptability to shifting priorities.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Experience in a complex fundraising organization situated within the higher education or non-profit sector preferred.
• Knowledge of prospect research principles, practices, and tools of trade.
• Excellent organizational skills; interpersonal, consulting and project management skills; attention to detail and accuracy; creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with UNC-Chapel Hill.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud CRM (Davie).

Office of Human Resources Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.