Director, Strategic Operations, Corporate and Foundation Relations

Director, Strategic Operations, Corporate and Foundation Relations

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Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. 

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

 Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.

Posting Details

 Posting Summary 

Logo 
Posting Number  | STA00167PO26
Job Family  | Program Management
Job Function  | Program Management
USC Market Title  | Program Director
Link to USC Market Title  | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/133621
Job Level  | M2 - Managerial
Business Title (Internal Title)  | Director, Strategic Operations, Corporate and Foundation Relations
Campus  | Columbia
Work County  | Richland
College/Division  | Division of Development
Department  | DEV Corporate & Fnd Relations
State Pay Range  | G12
USC Market Range  | MRK - $84,820 $108,146 $131,471
Anticipated Hiring Range  | $84,820 - commensurate with qualifications
Location of Vacancy  | Columbia, SC **On-site**
Part/Full Time  | Full Time
Hours per Week  | 37.5
Work Schedule  | Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis  | 12 months
Job Search Category  | Alumni Development

 
About USC 

About University of South Carolina  | From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement  | The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

 Benefits for FTE Positions 
The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.

 Position Description 

Advertised Job Summary  | Under limited supervision, reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Corporate and Foundation Relations, the Director of Strategic Operations provides leadership and oversight of administrative services including operational, stewardship, prospect development, and strategic initiatives that advance the University of South Carolina’s philanthropic goals. This position ensures the coordination of corporate and foundation operations, manages complex CFR planning processes, and develops innovative marketing and engagement strategies to support fundraising objectives and partnership development. The Director serves as a key liaison among internal stakeholders, external representatives, and university leadership, while driving operational excellence and implementing systems that enhance efficiency and engagement with corporate and foundation donors and prospects.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience  | Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.
Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials  |
Preferred Qualifications  |
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities  | Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and implement long-term strategies that align with organizational goals and donor expectations. Project Management: Skilled in managing complex projects, meeting deadlines, and coordinating multiple stakeholders effectively. Technical Expertise: Proficiency in CRM systems (Blackbaud CRM preferred), digital document platforms (DocuSign), and gift planning tools. Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for donor correspondence, marketing materials, and internal reporting. Collaboration and Leadership: Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, foster teamwork, and build strong relationships with internal and external partners. Analytical Skills: Strong ability to interpret data, generate reports, and provide actionable insights for leadership and fundraising teams. Adaptability: Capacity to manage evolving priorities, implement new technologies, and adjust strategies in a dynamic environment. Ethical Judgment: Commitment to maintain confidentiality, compliance, and integrity in all gift planning and donor stewardship activities.

 Job Duties 

Job Duty  | Administration and Operations Oversight: Direct and standardize enterprise-level calendar/mailbox management for the AVP and CFR leadership, aligning meetings with Senior Directors, campus partners, and Development leadership to prioritize strategic initiatives and streamline decision cycles. Lead CFR financial operations—budgets, expenses, contracts, memberships, and subscriptions—establishing internal controls and reconciliation workflows. Coordinate deposits, reimbursements, vendor payments, and endowment/donor fund transactions with Finance to ensure timely, compliant processing. Own end-to-end travel management for the AVP, Senior Directors, and fundraisers: set policy and approval pathways, optimize itineraries and vendor relationships, and ensure duty-of-care, cost effectiveness, and seamless logistics for donor and partner engagements. Oversee drafting, review, and execution of proposals, gift/grant agreements, and grant reports. Orchestrate inputs across Gift Planning, Annual Giving, Donor Relations, Communications, and Marketing to ensure quality, compliance, and consistent standards. Serve as the CFR administrative SME, anticipating fundraiser needs, codifying procedures, and leading data collection and KPI tracking for the CFR Strategic Plan. Build dashboards, run operational reviews, and drive continuous improvement to elevate fundraising productivity.
Essential Function  | Yes
Percentage of Time  | 25%Job Duty  | Donor Stewardship and Strategic Coordination: Provide high‑level administrative and strategic support across all stages of the donor engagement cycle—including lead pre‑qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship—ensuring fundraisers and the AVP have timely, accurate information and materials that enhance donor strategy and relationship development. Partner with the AVP, Senior Directors, and fundraisers to manage the administrative processes for grant applications, proposals, gift/grant agreements, and grant reports. Oversee workflows from initiation through completion to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely submission. Lead and support special projects and new initiatives that strengthen CFR’s operational capacity, such as expanded resource webpages, foundation RFP digests, stewardship calendars, and processes aligned with campus-wide holistic corporate engagement efforts. Collaborate with USC Marketing, Office of Research, Office of Economic Engagement, and other units as needed to ensure alignment and smooth execution. Manage the full CFR correspondence portfolio, including gift acknowledgements, birthday and sympathy cards, and recurring stewardship communications. Continuously evaluate and streamline systems to implement best practices and improve efficiency, accuracy, and donor experience. Work closely with the AVP, Senior Directors, and the CFR development team to coordinate the adoption, distribution, and updating of collateral materials that support fundraising, stewardship, and donor engagement activities. Assist with planning and executing CFR‑related events, maintain awareness of relevant campus events, and coordinate with colleges and units to ensure strategic involvement. Support donor‑facing engagement activities as needed to deepen relationships with corporate and foundation partners and alumni.
Essential Function  | Yes
Percentage of Time  | 20%Job Duty  | Blackbaud/Databases/Webpages: Lead and oversee accurate, timely data entry and maintenance for all corporate and foundation records in the CRM, ensuring data integrity, alignment with Advancement Services standards, and proactive management of clean, high‑quality information that supports strategic fundraising goals. Direct the creation of reports, queries, activity logs, and performance dashboards for the CFR team. Serve as the strategic partner to Advancement Services and internal units to ensure reliable data flows, optimized reporting structures, and insights that drive portfolio and pipeline decisions. Serve as the CFR team’s subject matter expert for CRM platforms, USCeRA, FoundationSearch, Visual Analyzer (Blackbaud), LiveAlumni, and Insightful. Provide training, troubleshoot issues, and lead workflow improvements that increase efficiency, transparency, and data accuracy across all fundraising operations. Utilize analytics and database tools (Visual Analyzer, LiveAlumni, Insightful) to generate travel materials, donor research, and post‑visit follow‑up tasks. Ensure fundraisers have comprehensive, data‑driven briefings that enhance donor strategy and visit effectiveness. Coordinate with marketing and communications to maintain and update CFR webpages, ensuring accurate, current, and strategically aligned content—such as staff listings, funding opportunities, intake forms, and donor impact stories—to support outreach, stewardship, and partner engagement.
Essential Function  | Yes
Percentage of Time  | 15%Job Duty  | Pipeline and Research Integration: Leads the partnership with University Development teams, including Prospect Strategy and Prospect Research, to lead the qualification and research process for corporate and foundation prospects. Deliver comprehensive, actionable research reports that strengthen fundraisers’ ability to advance prospects through the cultivation pipeline. Oversees CFR’s processes for tracking qualifications, meaningful contacts, solicitations, dollars raised, and top prospect activities within the CRM. Ensure data accuracy, consistent usage standards, and timely updates that support informed portfolio management and strategic decision‑making. Synthesize research findings, institutional intelligence, and engagement history into clear, strategic insights that enable fundraisers to tailor cultivation strategies and move prospects toward solicitation readiness. ·Works in close alignment with the Office of Research in partnership to facilitate prospecting for campus partners including but not limited to deans, faculty, and department chairs.
Essential Function  | Yes
Percentage of Time  | 20%Job Duty  | CFR Liaison: Serves as a key liaison between CFR and central development research units to ensure alignment, avoid duplication of effort, and maintain a seamless flow of information that elevates prospect strategy and pipeline health. Serves as the primary liaison for University Development teams, including but not limited to, Advancement Services (includes Gift Processing), Annual Giving, Donor Relations, Communication, and Marketing, Estate and Gift Planning, Talent and Administrative Services, and the Foundation. Creates and maintains an interactive CFR planning manual for onboarding and refresher training.
Essential Function  | Yes
Percentage of Time  | 15%Job Duty  | Performs other duties as required or assigned.
Essential Function  | No
Percentage of Time  | 5%

 Position Attributes 
Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive  | No
Hazardous weather category  | Non-Essential

 Posting Detail Information 

Number of Vacancies  | 1
Desired Start Date  | 05/18/2026
Job Open Date  | 03/19/2026
Job Close Date  | 04/13/2026
Open Until Filled  | No
Special Instructions to Applicant  | Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

We are only accepting applications submitted by April 13, 2026

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
 
 Health and Life Insurance Retirement Programs Paid Tuition Dependent Scholarships Annual Leave Sick Leave 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday) Paid Parental Leave Professional Development Opportunities
 Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
Quicklink for Posting  | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/203683
EEO Statement  | The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

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