Senior Manager for Advancement Operations

About the Clark

The Clark is a leading cultural institution and actively seeks employees who are energized and motivated by its dual mission as an art museum and a center for research and higher education, dedicated to advancing and extending the public understanding of art. The Clark’s mission and its geographical location define three essential aspects of its character and identity: the quality of its art, the beauty of its pastoral setting, and the depth of its commitment to the generation of ideas. Clark employees enjoy the opportunity to live and work in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, a place of rich natural beauty, a dynamic environment defined by its deep cultural resources, and a region that is growing as both a center of innovation and a major tourist destination. Position Summary
The Senior Manager for Advancement Operations leads the day-to-day operations of functions within the Advancement Department, including the membership program, prospect data and research, and annual giving initiatives. This role is responsible for overseeing approximately $2 million in contributed revenue annually and serves as the internal project lead for donor records systems, gift processing, and other operational initiatives, helping to ensure departmental efficiency and donor engagement at all levels. The Senior Manager for Advancement Operations supervises a team of four.

Major Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

Membership Program and Annual Giving Initiatives

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive membership program, including acquisition, renewal, upgrades, stewardship, and benefit fulfillment for members at the $65–$100,000 level.
• Lead the strategic planning and content development for member and Clark Society events, ensuring alignment with advancement goals, stewardship strategies, and benefit fulfillment.
• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of annual giving initiatives, such as the annual appeal (messaging, schedule, communication channels, etc.).
• Supervises the Development Officer for Membership and the Membership Assistant.

Advancement Operations Oversight

• Oversee day-to-day operational systems and ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality execution of operational workflows, including gift processing, acknowledgments, and contributed revenue reports.
• Provide strategic oversight for donor records initiatives, partnering with the Advancement Data Systems Manager on system improvements and staff training.
• Provide guidance and oversight to the Development Associate for Prospect Research to ensure prospect data is accurately tracked, updated, and accessible for strategic use in donor visits, events, and campaign planning.
• Foster collaboration between the Development Associate for Prospect Research and the Advancement Data Systems Manager to support data integrity, reporting, and donor engagement strategies.
• Liaise with IT, Communications, and Finance to ensure seamless data flow and accurate reconciliation of fundraising revenue.
• Supervises the Advancement Data Systems Manager and the Development Associate for Prospect Research.
  

Leadership and Administration

• Review reports and presentations for senior leadership and the Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees.
• Represent the Advancement Department in cross-functional meetings and lead internal communications on operational matters.
• Create and oversee the budget for annual giving and membership programs, including forecasting and expense tracking.
• Establish best practices in donor records usage and stewardship procedures and manage training materials.
• Lead and support team participation in Advancement events and public programs, as needed; help shape donor engagement strategy through data and observation.
• Coordinate with Communications on donor messaging and annual giving/membership campaign promotions.

Hiring Salary Range: $89,000-$99,350/year

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Minimum seven years of professional experience in fundraising, advancement services, annual giving, and/or nonprofit development, including experience supervising staff and managing donor records systems.
• Proven project management, staff supervision, and operational leadership experience.
• Experience in annual giving strategy and implementation with demonstrated results.
• Advanced understanding of donor database systems and their role in supporting fundraising operations.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and team leadership skills.
• Experience with budgeting, report creation, and performance tracking in advancement contexts.
• Proficiency with donor records, point-of-sale, and event registration systems.
• Strong customer service and constituent engagement skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a small, mission-driven team in a museum environment.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment with accuracy and discretion.
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Physical Demands: This position requires sitting at a desk/workstation and using a computer for prolonged periods of time.

• Work Environment: Work will be performed in an office environment and museum spaces. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Overnight travel will be necessary.

Employment at the Clark is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant.

The Clark is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) . We strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds.

The Clark provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or transgender status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The Clark considers equivalent combinations of experience and education for certain jobs. All candidates who believe they possess equivalent experience and education are encouraged to apply.