Development Systems & Engagement Manager - Strategic Partnerships

About the role

The Development Systems & Engagement Manager strengthens LifeWorks’ Strategic Partnerships team by ensuring the systems, data, and processes that support fundraising and community engagement are accurate, efficient, and reliable. Reporting to the Chief Mission Officer, this role manages Neon CRM, gift processing and reconciliation, reporting and dashboards, and key departmental workflows, and supervises the Volunteer & Events Coordinator. The manager works closely with Strategic Partnerships and Finance to maintain strong data integrity, provide actionable performance insights, improve processes, and support the effective execution of fundraising, volunteer, and departmental initiatives. The position requires strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, technical aptitude, people management, and project‑management skills.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain Neon CRM, ensuring accurate, consistent, and reliable donor and gift data.
• Manage CRM upgrades, user permissions, data standards, imports, documentation, and staff training on system features and best practices.
• Retrieve and import donor and gift data from workplace‑giving platforms, matching‑gift programs, and other third‑party sources.
• Oversee gift processing and accurate coding of monetary, in‑kind, matching, workplace‑giving, and special‑event contributions.
• Coordinate in‑kind gift documentation, acknowledgment, and processing in accordance with internal procedures.
• Generate and distribute timely donor acknowledgments and ensure appropriate documentation and signatures.
• Maintain accurate pledge records and coordinate pledge payment and renewal communications.
• Lead timely reconciliation with Finance and support monthly and quarterly revenue reporting.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports that track fundraising revenue, donor activity, and KPIs.
• Analyze fundraising data and provide actionable insights to support team planning, performance management, and donor strategy.
• Support prospect identification and donor strategy through research, reporting, and data analysis.
• Partner with frontline fundraisers to ensure CRM data supports effective donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Supervise the Volunteer & Events Coordinator, providing clear direction, coaching, workload management, and performance support.
• Provide operational oversight for volunteer engagement and special events, ensuring effective systems, coordination, and follow‑through.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, strengthen internal controls, and improve departmental systems and processes.
• Document key procedures and workflows to promote consistency, accountability, and effective onboarding.
• Support Strategic Partnerships projects and cross‑functional initiatives, including team planning, onboarding, and resource coordination.
• Collaborate with Finance and other internal teams to support organizational and departmental priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 3 years of data/project management or other relevant experience; nonprofit experience preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable.
• Proven success managing and optimizing CRM systems (e.g., Neon, Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or similar) to support fundraising and donor engagement is preferred.
• Strong analytical and systems‑thinking skills; able to identify patterns, streamline processes, and maintain clean, reliable data.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in data management and revenue reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to translate data into actionable insights and visualizations that drive decision‑making.
• Experience tracking and interpreting metrics and KPIs to measure team and fundraising performance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft 365 tools; comfort working with large datasets and reporting dashboards.
• Excellent project management, prioritization, and cross‑functional communication skills.
• Collaborative and proactive; able to work closely with Development, Finance, and Marketing teams to ensure alignment and data integrity.
• High integrity, initiative, and curiosity; anticipates needs and continuously seeks opportunities to improve systems and workflows.

Core Competencies and Skills

• Client Focus – Builds transformational relationships with clients and delivers mission‑centered solutions.
• Collaborates and Adapts – Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives and fulfill our mission; adapts approach and demeanor to shifting demands.
• Honors Differences – Embraces diverse perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds, fostering an inclusive culture that creates solutions for clients.
• Nimble Learning – Actively learns from successes, failures, and others’ experiences; shows willingness to pivot and try new things.
• Builds Trust – Gains confidence and trust through integrity, dependability, and authenticity.
• Action Oriented – Takes initiative, shows resourcefulness, and focuses energy on mission‑critical opportunities, challenges, and changes.

About LifeWorks

With more than 50 years of experience working with youth experiencing homelessness, youth aging out of foster care, young adults, and young parents, LifeWorks is committed to solving youth homelessness through housing, mental health, education, and workforce services. Our vision is a Central Texas where every young person has a place to call home, a sense of belonging, and the support to pursue a life they love. We provide a full range of support services for vulnerable youth, ensuring safe housing, healing, and opportunities to learn and work. Through innovative problem‑solving, shared accountability, and evidence‑based solutions, we are relentless in achieving real, sustainable, and measurable results for the clients we serve. A career at LifeWorks offers opportunities to grow professionally while making an immediate, lasting impact on the lives of youth and families in our community.

Pay

Competitive annual salary ranging from $78,417 to $110,731, depending on experience.

Benefits

• 24 PTO days per year (accrued).
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• Premium‑free employee medical plan with $100 per month HSA contribution (plus other affordable employee or family medical, dental, and vision options).
• Retirement savings plan with 50 % match on the first 6 % of contributions.
• Additional benefits and perks as part of the overall compensation package.

Schedule

Full‑time, exempt position.