Associate Director, Prospect Research

Job Title

Associate Director, Prospect Research

Job Summary

Associate Director, Prospect Research position, within the office of University Advancement, manages and participates in the Prospect Research team’s response to and execution of requests for prospect research from Advancement staff and leadership. This position has both strategic and personnel management responsibilities. Associate Director, Prospect Research supports advancement and fundraising efforts spanning the University, University of Utah Health, and the University’s auxiliary organizations including public media, museums, and venues. The Prospect Research team aims to provide fundraisers and leadership with timely and situation‑appropriate insight to inform and support University Advancement strategies, campaigns, and priorities for advancing prospective major donors through the donor engagement process. The process includes prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, and solicitation. Prospect Research supports this process through prospect identification, wealth screening and capacity analysis, and due diligence, provided to Advancement staff in various forms of profiles, prospect lists, and reports.

Responsibilities

Associate Director, Prospect Research must oversee the effective implementation, documentation, and consistent application of processes maximizing efficiency and strategic insight, ensuring institutional best practices are being maintained and improved. This position will assist in ongoing training of Prospect Research personnel to enhance skillsets, confidence, and judgement.

Applicants should be comfortable managing direct‑reporting team members, building consensus with stakeholders, and innovating for efficiency. Applicants should be experienced in prospect research and development, as well as project and personnel management. Given the fast pace of University Advancement, applicants should be prepared to exercise skills in prioritisation as well as flexibility. Applicants should have a strong grasp of capacity screening and validation, profile writing, and internet research utilizing a suite of online tools and donor CRMs. As prospect research regularly extends to the ethical use of limited HIPAA‑protected patient data, as well as FERPA‑protected student data, discretion and compliance are paramount.

This position reports to the Director of Prospect Research in the University Advancement office and will have regular in‑office expectations. The University Advancement office currently supports hybrid in‑office/remote schedules, but applicants seeking a fully remote schedule will not be considered.

Minimum Qualifications

Equires a Bachelor’s degree in a related area of assignment or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); plus six years of related experience. Demonstrated leadership, human relations, and effective communication skills required. This position has no responsibility for providing care to patients. Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong experience in a variety of Prospect Research tools (LexisNexis, iWave, Sales Navigator, Foundation Directory, DonorSearch, ResearchPoint)
• Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM systems
• Experience in personnel management
• Experience in project management
• Competence in locating and interpreting financial documents and filings, due diligence research, prospect screening, and profile writing
• Confidence in critical and strategic thinking, with flexibility and strong people skills
• Fluency in Microsoft 365 applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Experience using and evaluating technology applications for process enhancement

Preferences and Benefits

Perks of Working in Our Office – in addition to your competitive salary, medical/dental/vision/life plan and up to 14.2% contribution to your retirement plan, we have the following perks, including:

• Flexibility: Hybrid in‑person/remote scheduling options may be available.
• Office Culture: We have a highly collaborative office. Dress code is relaxed business/casual – we want you to be comfortable.
• Wellness in action: Take advantage of our many health and wellness programs on‑campus and virtually. This includes mental health and resiliency support, discount on outdoor recreation rentals and Eccles Student Life Center, nutrition services, and more.
• Community: Discounted and sometimes free admission to arts, cultural, museum, lectures and select sporting events on campus.
• Learning: In addition to the many free educational opportunities on campus, the University offers 50% tuition reduction for eligible employees and their families. We also offer many professional development opportunities.

Other benefits and services include:

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Supplemental Retirement Savings Plans (403(b), Roth 403(b), 457(b))
• WellU Employee Wellness Program
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Hyatt Legal Plans
• UESP 529 College Savings Plan
• Auto/Home Insurance
• Family and Medical Leave Act

Retirement Plan Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post‑retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io or University Human Resource Management at View phone number on click.appcast.io if you have questions regarding the post‑retirement rules.

Required Background Checks

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

We are unable to provide H1b sponsorship or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy‑related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page. Online reports may be submitted at This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security‑related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.