Deputy Director

Northeastern offers a rewarding working environment for students and employees. Faculty and staff are smart, dedicated people who work to create an excellent urban university experience for bright and motivated students.

About the Role

The Deputy Director provides strategic operational leadership for all Advancement Services functions in support of the Division of Institutional Advancement and the NEIU Foundation, serving as a thought partner and proactive analytical resource to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement / Executive Director of the NEIU Foundation.

Reporting directly to the Vice President, the Deputy Director oversees Foundation financial operations, donor and alumni data systems, Board relations, regulatory compliance, and the Foundation's public-facing transparency and reporting. The Deputy Director also leads change management planning for the Division's anticipated evaluation and transition to new or upgraded database platforms, and acts for the Vice President / Executive Director in their absence.

The Deputy Director directly supervises two University staff: a Business Administrative Associate and an IT / Technical Associate, and fosters a collaborative, high-performing Advancement Services team culture.

Responsibilities

• Foundation Board Relations, Financial Oversight & Compliance:
  • Serve as primary liaison to the NEIU Foundation Board of Directors and its Investment Committee; prepare and present complex financial data, investment strategy analyses, and compliance briefings for committee and full Board meetings.
  • Act as an advisory resource to the Vice President on IRS regulations, 501(c)(3) compliance, and emerging trends in higher education philanthropy. Monitor issues proactively and recommend corrective or preventive actions before they become problems.
  • Oversee the allocation and investment of Foundation assets across all asset classes, including cash, endowment accounts, property, and planned giving vehicles; work with the Foundation Treasurer to monitor Foundation financial health.
  • Administer Foundation annual reporting obligations for federal grants, including Title V; manage obligations under Charitable Remainder Trusts and Life Insurance gift vehicles.
  • Develop, document, and provide transparent reporting on Foundation policies and operational procedures to the Board; instruct Advancement staff on time-keeping compliance with government standards.
  • Oversee state-funded revenue and expense accounts for Institutional Advancement, Alumni, and Development offices.
• Data Systems, Operations & Change Management:
  • Direct the operations, administration, and policy development of Raisers Edge NXT and Financial Edge NXT platforms, ensuring full system functionality, constituent data integrity, and regular data audits.
  • Lead change management planning and execution for the Division's anticipated evaluation, selection, and potential transition to a new or upgraded database platform. Support staff readiness assessment and phased training through migration timelines and operational continuity.
  • Proactively identify functional gaps and areas for improvement in existing systems; develop queries and document business processes and workflows.
  • Supervise, hire, train, coach, and evaluate Advancement Services staff; develop goals and monitor performance through regular review cycles.
  • Provide technical advice to management on complex or controversial accounting and technology issues.
• Web Presence, Digital Systems & Third-Party Platforms:
  • Direct the development and maintenance of Institutional Advancement, NEIU Foundation, and NEIU Alumni Association web pages and online communications platforms, including online payment processing.
  • Manage import data and reconciliation of third-party fundraising platforms such as PayPal and GoFundMe Pro; oversee the Omatic import module for constituent data management in Raisers Edge.
  • Manage system contracts and provide recommendations on renewal terms.
• Foundation Transparency, Reporting & Stakeholder Communication:
  • Ensure the NEIU Foundation maintains an accurate, timely, and publicly accessible online presence that reflects its financial stewardship and philanthropic impact, including current fund disbursement data, endowment performance figures, and impact statistics that inspire donor and public confidence.
  • Respond to inquiries from University fiscal agents regarding grant disbursements, fund balances, spending timelines, and reporting requirements.
  • Prepare and publish donor-facing communications, annual impact summaries, and fund activity reports; collaborate with University Marketing and Communications to ensure digital content is accurate, professionally presented, and aligned with institutional messaging.
  • Develop training resources and educational materials to help staff, fiscal agents, and Foundation Board members understand Foundation processes, systems, and reporting obligations.
  • Identify and pursue new opportunities to advance the Foundation's digital visibility and credibility.
• Audit Readiness, Internal Controls & Process Improvement:
  • Ensure audit readiness through robust internal controls, documentation, and process improvements.