Deputy Vice President for Data Strategy & Information Management

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for University Development (SVP), the Deputy Vice President for Data Strategy & Information Management (DVP) will provide data governance leadership to support fundraising and alumni relations efforts within Columbia University’s Office of Alumni and Development (OAD) and across the University alumni relations and development (advancement) community. This is a highly collaborative, service-oriented position working with senior leaders in OAD and with colleagues across Columbia’s campuses, schools, and units.

The DVP will develop and implement data governance strategies internal to OAD and across the University advancement community. The DVP will lead a team of approximately 30 professionals and staff responsible for high-volume data input, output, and analysis, including gift processing and gift records administration, biographic and demographic data acquisition and maintenance, alumni engagement and donor/prospect data, data analytics and business intelligence, and overall data policy. As the University transitions from a legacy client-server CRM to a new, cloud-based CRM based on a Salesforce platform, the DVP will be an important member of the leadership team ensuring smooth and accurate data migration and system implementation.

The DVP will lead Columbia’s efforts in collecting, storing, and leveraging alumni and donor data to enhance the alumni/donor experience, increase fundraising results, and improve donor acquisition and retention. In addition, the DVP will endeavor to achieve efficiencies through improvements in data organization, data quality, and business processes. In pursuit of these objectives, the DVP will collaborate with partners across the Office of Alumni and Development, as well as in the Office of General Counsel, Columbia University IT, and Columbia University Irving Medical Center on issues of data privacy, data security, and HIPAA compliance.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead, with vision and strategic direction, the Office of Alumni and Development data-handling staff and programs, exhibiting a firm and visible commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and to our Core Values of Respect, Partnership, Ownership, and Integrity.
• Manage, supervise, and develop high-performing teams through rigorous goal setting, process innovation and efficiency, quality control, and performance management, including coaching and career guidance as appropriate. Specific teams under supervision of the DVP include Gift Administration, Data Management, and Data Insights & Analytics.
• Oversee and continually improve the timely, secure, and accurate handling, recording, depositing, accounting, and reporting of all gifts and pledges in support of the University, including maintenance of gift payment flows and gift/financial data sharing between the Finance and Development offices. Work closely with institutional partners in University Finance to implement regular, accurate, and professional audit and reconciliation practices.
• Design and manage processes to ensure high levels of data quality and accuracy across all data-handling functions and departments. Ensure OAD and school partners have access to actionable insights through sophisticated data analysis, data modeling, and data mapping capabilities by defining standards and best practices for data analysis, modeling, and queries.
• Lead and oversee work of the data governance committee to ensure policies and solutions adhere to the organization’s data principles and guidelines.
• Develop and implement a robust staff training program, to ensure alumni and development staff are well-trained in data input, extraction, self-service reporting and data interpretation and translation.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of ten (10) years experience in information management or related fields are required, along with prior management experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in operations management, information management, data science or similar field
• ASQ certification, DAMA certification, or similar certification
• Experience with Salesforce CRM systems
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated experience in complex, decentralized work environments  
• Sophisticated understanding of academic institutions
• Strong manager and developer of talent
• Data strategy experience in development or higher education
• Confidence in interacting with thought-leaders and senior executives
• Proactive planner and decision maker
• Strong project management skills and capacity to deliver under time pressure
• Collaborative yet able to work independently with equal effectiveness

Other Requirements

Subject to business needs, the Office of Alumni and Development supports a hybrid work arrangement for this position. Options will be discussed during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.