Head of Development Operations

Position Summary

Teton Science Schools (TSS) connects people, place, and nature through education. At a pivotal moment of organizational renewal and growth, TSS is building a sophisticated, modern fundraising program to support bold program ambitions and long-term financial sustainability.

The Head of Development Operations is the architect and steward of the systems, strategies, and operational excellence that power philanthropic success at TSS. This senior leader ensures that executive leadership, the board, and development staff have the tools, insights, and confidence needed to cultivate, close, and steward gifts effectively while delivering best-in-class donor experience, compliance, and reporting.

This role blends enterprise-level advancement operations with hands-on leadership across annual fund strategy, moves management, CRM systems (Salesforce), board enablement, major gift support, and campaign infrastructure. It is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution and enjoys building scalable systems in a nimble, growth-oriented organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Development Operations Leadership (Organization-wide)

• Lead development operations with rigor, accuracy, and scalability.
• Oversee CRM strategy and administration (Salesforce), gift processing, data integrity, and reporting.
• Establish and maintain SOPs for acknowledgments, receipting, pledges, gift restrictions, and compliance.
• Translate data into actionable insights through dashboards, forecasting, and analytics to guide fundraising decisions.

Annual Fund & Donor Pipeline Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for the annual fund, including planning, projections, and performance analysis.
• Guide moves management across the donor pipeline, from entry-level donors to major and transformational gift prospects.
• Partner with leadership to grow donor acquisition, retention, and upgrades.
• Oversee solicitation strategy, messaging alignment, and campaign execution in collaboration with Marketing and program leaders.

Campaign, Major Gift & Complex Gift Operations

• Provide operational leadership for major gifts, multi-year commitments, and restricted funds.
• Manage pledge schedules, reminders, and fulfillment tracking with precision and consistency.
• Ensure donor intent, recognition, and stewardship commitments are accurately reflected across systems and communications.

Executive, Board & Volunteer Enablement

• Partner closely with the Executive Director on pipeline strategy, prospect planning, and forecasting.
• Prepare board and Development Committee materials, dashboards, and reports that support effective governance and fundraising action.
• Equip board members and volunteer solicitors with research, briefings, and follow-through systems to increase confidence and outcomes.

Financial Alignment & Compliance

• Collaborate closely with Finance on reconciliation, restricted fund tracking, gift recording, and audit readiness.
• Maintain compliance with IRS regulations, donor privacy standards, and ethical fundraising best practices.

Systems Improvement & Team Development

• Lead and mentor development operations staff and contractors, as applicable.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve donor experience across giving and stewardship touchpoints.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner on fundraising infrastructure as TSS grows.

Qualifications

Required Experience and Skills

• 5–7+ years of senior-level experience in development operations, advancement services, or fundraising infrastructure.
• Demonstrated success managing CRMs (Salesforce preferred), donor data, gift processing, reporting, and compliance.
• Deep familiarity with annual fund strategy, board-supported fundraising, campaign infrastructure, and moves management.
• Proven ability to support executive leadership and trustees with high-quality insights, analysis, and clear reporting.
• Strong project management, systems thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to work with discretion and professionalism.

Preferred / Ideal Profile

• Prior leadership role such as Director/VP of Development Operations, Annual Fund Director, Advancement Services leader, or equivalent.
• Brings calm, clarity, and rigor to complex fundraising environments.
• Enjoys being both strategic and hands-on, designing systems and rolling up sleeves to execute.
• Values mission, place-based education, and impact as much as operational excellence.

Why This Role Matters

Teton Science Schools offers a rare opportunity to apply enterprise-level advancement discipline in a nimble, creative organization rooted in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This role has meaningful influence over fundraising systems, strategy, and long-term philanthropic sustainability, working directly with executive leadership and board partners during a period of organizational reinvention and growth.