Defenders of Wildlife Careers

Description

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE  

POSITION DESCRIPTION  

POSITION SUMMARY  

The Data Specialist maximizes the Development team’s effective use of data and Defenders’ CRM, Revolution Online: ROI. They drive project management on behalf of Development to identify, prioritize and execute strategic data management activities to support fundraising for the major gifts, foundations and planned giving teams. They serve as the first point of contact for Development staff with projects, queries, data uploads or challenges involving the CRM, working closely with colleagues in the Marketing department and external ROI team. They advocate, champion and steward Development’s data needs and strive to implement efficient and effective solutions in a timely manner.   

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

In close partnership with Marketing and the Development teams, the Data Specialist is responsible for reviewing and maintaining the Development department’s business rules, reporting requirements and best practices for the maintenance of discrete and aggregated donor information. In addition to conducting routine and special-project data entry, the Data Specialist will: work to ensure data integrity and quality; streamline reporting and effective data extraction; promote donor data privacy compliance; and coordinate, facilitate and execute reports needed for fundraising work.  

Database Project Facilitation (40% of time)  

• Facilitate data requests from the Development team for personal completion or by project managing through the Marketing and external ROI teams. 
• Ensure an acute level of communication with all project partners, including Development and Marketing colleagues and with the external ROI team. 

• Ensure all deadlines are met, outputs align with initial requests, and products maintain a high quality. Keep all relevant collaborators proactively updated when there are unexpected challenges or delays to completion.  
• Develop and maintain strong tracking mechanisms to ensure all projects are incorporated into channels and timelines of activity for completion. Ensure tracking mechanisms reflect current project priorities and can accommodate shifts as a result of external factors or other influences over time. 
• Provide regular – scheduled and ad hoc – updates on overall project pipeline, status of projects, challenges, and other pertinent information to the Director of Philanthropic Administration.  

Data Entry, Uploads and Reports (40% of time)  

• Conduct regular and ad hoc data exports to maximize donor prospecting activities, in collaboration with the Research Manager, Senior Director of Philanthropy and Director of Philanthropic Operations. 
• Conduct regular data uploads for all teams across the Development department on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis, including: name and address updates (including NCOA),  donor engagement and communication, annual fundraising goals, etc.    
• Conduct ad hoc data entry and/or uploads for all teams across the Development department, including: creating new donor records, deceasing donor records, adding/removing flags, uploading visit notes, importing donor screening information from external platforms, etc. 
• Conduct regular and ad hoc data exports for all teams across the Development department, including: major donor and planned giving appeal and acquisition lists, invitation lists for events, membership reports for stewardship, portfolio lists, etc. 

Database Operations and User Support (20% of time)  

• Maintain strong lines of communication with all parts of the Development department, identifying database challenges and opportunities. Recommend improvements and steward problems to resolution. 
• Maintain a current library of ROI reference and training materials; update training manuals and develop new materials as needed.  
• Train new Development staff on the use of ROI. Ensure all appropriate ROI permissions are secured for new Development staff, appropriate to their role, in collaboration with the hiring manager and the Director of Philanthropic Administration.  
• Coordinate with the Director of Philanthropic Administration to propose, develop and lead training efforts for Development staff to ensure that existing and new CRM functionalities and processes are consistently embraced across the department.  

• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of Development’s data. Support Development’s policies to guide data entry and security, and enter all Development data into ROI in a timely and precise manner.  
• Work to advance DEIJ practices into database operations and data practices.  
• Expand and maintain policy and procedure documentation for Development’s ROI business practices, including the Data Specialist’s collaboration with the Marketing team and with external ROI partners. Maintain the operational handbook for the Development Data Specialist position.  
• Serve as Subject Matter Expert on the database for the Development team. 

Perform all other related duties as assigned.  

QUALIFICATIONS  

Education: Bachelor’s (B.A./B.S.) degree or equivalent   

Experience: 4 years of relevant experience  

Prior database experience, strong communication skills, and a high level of organization and project management skills required. Ability to cultivate collegial and productive relationships while advancing various tasks in a complex environment is a must. Experience in fundraising databases and donor prospecting preferred, with previous experience with ROI highly preferred. Previous experience working in a fundraising team desirable.   

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.  

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for All Defenders  

https://defenders.org/knowledge-skills-and-abilities  

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Professional 2  

Administrative   

1. Ability to accurately maintain electronic and physical records 

1. Anticipate and meet the needs of internal and/or external stakeholders delivering excellent service  

Communication  

1. Ability to clearly and accurately communicate with internal and external stakeholders 

1. Ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, accurately and concisely 

1. Ability to convey effective messages to broad and diverse constituencies 

1. Ability and willingness to effectively represent Defenders’ interests in external environments 

1. Ability to exert influence and build consensus with internal and external stakeholders 

Critical Thinking  

1. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion  

1. Strong research and data analysis skills, including ability to gather and synthesize information from multiple sources to produce high quality work products in a consistent, efficient, accurate, and timely manner 

1. Creative problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with willingness to experiment and innovate new methods.  

1. Facilitate and promote the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies into Defenders’ work. 

Project Management  

1. Ability to work well under pressure and tight deadlines while balancing competing assignments 

1. Ability to remain flexible and adaptable to shifting priorities while remaining responsive to urgent requests 

1. Ability to take ownership of a project or process and to use problem solving skills to resolve issues 

1. Ability to manage deadlines on multiple cross-functional projects in a dynamic environment  

1. Demonstrated ability in managing competing interests on complex issues 

Conservation Knowledge  

1. Familiarity with Defenders’ legal, scientific, and/or political issues 

1. Familiarity with national and regional social, political and ecological landscapes 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Data Specialist  

1. Prior database experience required, with SQL and QTool experience preferred. 

1. Tableau customization and back-end development expertise a plus; 

1. Ability to facilitate large data projects with flawless attention to detail; 

1. Ability to advocate and champion the needs of the Development team; 

1. Self-starting project manager who knows when and how to ask for help; 

1. Creative thinker with demonstrated initiative, able to work independently;  

1. Confident decision maker with a positive attitude; 

1. Able to anticipate needs and respond quickly to colleague questions;  

1. Successful lateral (peer-to-peer / non-supervisory) manager, a team player who works collaboratively with all levels of staff; 

1. Expert communicator (written and oral) with superior customer service and customer relations skills; demonstrated ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, accurately and concisely; 

1. Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, stay organized and follow through independently to meet and exceed deadlines; excellent analytic ability and judgment; 

1. Patient but diligently persistent to move projects along and achieve goals; 

1. Demonstrated comprehension of standard development practices and techniques including the highest level of personal conduct regarding confidentiality and security of donor information; 

1. Ability to construct complex, accurate reports from the database preferred. 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

Visit www.defenders.org to apply.  

All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of their positions. The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.  

Defenders of Wildlife requires employees who engage in in-person work activities, including business travel or onsite work, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. An applicant (i) who is disabled or pregnant or who has a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination or (ii) who objects to being vaccinated on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief, observance or practice may request an exemption from this vaccination policy. This determination will be made on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with applicable law. Any medical information concerning an applicant's disability will be treated as a confidential medical record in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws.  

Defenders of Wildlife provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, sex national origin, ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family/parental status, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic in all personnel actions.  

Please be advised this position is union-eligible.