Senior Director, Advancement Operations

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago (CCAC) was founded in 1917 as the charitable arm of the Catholic Church in Chicago, designed to foster collaboration at the broadest level across all communities. Over the past century, they have grown to be one of the largest human service providers in the Chicago metropolitan region, serving nearly 270,000+ individuals annually across Lake and Cook counties. CCAC accompanies anyone in need, regardless of their faith, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Impact Areas

• Meet Immediate Needs: Programs providing a first point of connection for over 217,000 individuals, including those facing hunger, families on the edge of homelessness, people facing unexpected financial emergencies, and those who need help but don’t know where to turn.
• Strengthen Mothers & Families: Wraparound support for more than 60,000 caregivers and children every year, including young mothers and their babies, families with children ages 0-5, individual parents charting a path to stability, families fleeing unsafe homes, and survivors of suicide loss.
• Build Communities for Seniors, Veterans, and Immigrants: Supports promoting independent living while fostering connection, serving more than 42,000 people, including seniors building lives of dignity, veterans building lives of healing, and immigrant families seeking a new start.

About the Role

The Senior Director of Advancement Operations will serve as a strategic partner to the Vice President of Advancement Operations, overseeing core development operations to strengthen efficiency, accuracy, and strategic alignment across the advancement function. They will lead teams responsible for gift processing, donor relations, data management, and management reporting to ensure seamless execution and high standards of excellence. The role involves driving process improvements, leveraging technology, and ensuring data integrity to sustain and expand CCAC's purpose-driven work. The Senior Director will collaborate closely with the giving and finance teams to optimize the donor experience, enhance fundraising outcomes, and support enterprise-wide stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Organizational Alignment:
  • Oversee daily operations of advancement processes, including data management, gift processing, donor relations, and reporting.
  • Establish clear goals, operating plans, and process standards to ensure efficiency, data accuracy, and transparency across all development functions.
  • Maintain oversight of revenue tracking and ensure timely reconciliation with the finance system.
  • Implement business process controls to protect data integrity and ensure reliable financial reporting.
• Development Operations and Enhanced Stewardship:
  • Advance CCAC's fundraising infrastructure by crafting compelling donor communications programs while integrating emerging technologies and best practices.
  • Use analytics and benchmarking to measure outcomes, identify opportunities for improvement, and inform strategic decisions.
  • Drive continuous improvement to enhance donor relations strategy, strengthen operational performance, and support donor relationship growth and engagement.
• Cross-functional Collaboration and Giving Team Support:
  • Partner closely with the Giving team to support front-line fundraising strategy and execution, creating seamless relationship management across donor groups.
  • Collaborate with the Finance team to reconcile revenue data and ensure consistency between Raiser's Edge and financial accounting systems.
  • Build trusted relationships across teams, aligning stakeholders around shared goals and initiatives spanning multiple CCAC departments.
• External Relationships:
  • Collaborate with vendors, consultants, and technology providers to ensure CCAC's advancement systems meet evolving organizational and donor needs.
  • Represent advancement operations in cross-departmental and external partner meetings, ensuring alignment and stewardship excellence across all donor touchpoints.
• Team Leadership:
  • Lead and develop the Donor Relations, Data Management, and Gift Processing teams, providing clear direction, accountability, and professional support.
  • Set measurable goals, use data-driven feedback to assess performance, and ensure teams operate collaboratively to deliver excellence.
  • Model solution-oriented thinking, strategic execution, and alignment with CCAC's purpose in all areas of advancement operations.
• People Development:
  • Develop staff capability through ongoing training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
  • Cultivate a culture of continuous learning, feedback, and improvement to strengthen team engagement, retention, and impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Finance, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 5-10 years of progressive experience in development operations, advancement services, fundraising analytics, or related areas.
• Experience in a large, multi-program social service organization.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex operational processes within a nonprofit, higher education, or mission-driven environment.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
• Excellent writing skills as well as verbal communication, translating stories, programs, and impact in a compelling way.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building capabilities across departments and with senior leadership.
• Understanding of donor relations and stewardship best practices.
• Demonstrated experience aligning advancement operations with organizational strategy and revenue goals.
• Experience with financial reporting, budgeting, and reconciliation between advancement and finance systems.
• Advanced proficiency with fundraising CRMs (preferably Raiser's Edge) and data reporting tools.
• Strong analytical, systems-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results under tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with faith-based organizational structures and values.
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential preferred but not required.

Our Values

• Courageous Compassion: Welcome and serve all with an open heart, empathic listening, and a commitment to radical hospitality.
• Solidarity: Embrace shared humanity by celebrating and giving voice to our differences and choosing the path of collaboration and inclusion.
• Faith-filled Hope and Joy: Uplift each other in times of darkness and celebrate together in times of light, leaning in with humility, humor, and hope.

Pay

Compensation includes a salary of $120,000-$145,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Schedule

This is a full-time, hybrid position (3 days in office). Catholic Charities offices are located at 721 North LaSalle Street in Chicago.

Benefits

• BlueCross/Blue Shield EPO/PPO Health Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Employer-Paid Life, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• PTO, Sick Time, and 15 Paid Holidays
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Professional Development Opportunities and Service Awards
• Additional Voluntary Benefits