Managing Director of Advancement and Grant Services (Immediate Opening) - IDEA Public Schools

Managing Director of Advancement and Grant Services

Role Mission:

The Managing Director of Advancement and Grant Services is an important collaborative leadership role who will envision, build, spearhead, and oversee two critical departments within the Advancement division: Grants (Public, Private and Corporate), and Prospect Research and Management (PRM). Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, this role will drive efficient operations, innovative PRM strategies, and the successful execution of the entire grant process, from writing to post-award responsibilities, in support of IDEA’s mission, educational objectives, and future expansion. This leader will play a pivotal role in securing, managing, and diversifying funding sources while closely partnering with the Vice President of Treasury and Grants to ensure compliance with funder requirements and implementing strong funder life-cycle support and development systems.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, excellent communicator, and strong project manager with a proven ability to adapt to changing priorities in the fundraising landscape. They will bring a robust background in strategic grant and prospect research management. They possess strong leadership skills to manage and inspire their team, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability. They are responsible for cultivating and stewarding relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. This role demands a visionary who can translate complex strategic priorities into clear, actionable plans that propel the organization forward.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

•        The Managing Director of Advancement and Grant Services will directly manage four staff members: Two Directors of Institutional Giving, Director of Public Competitive Grants, and Development Manager.

•        With anticipated divisional restructuring and organizational growth, the role may oversee an increasing/different number of national or regional team members and will have input into developing the most efficient and productive Advancement Services team.

Location:

This is a full-time remote position based in Texas with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.

Travel Expectations:    

•        While this is a remote position, there will be in-person meetings across various regions. Travel to meet with prospects and donors will also be an expectation in this role. Candidates must be willing to travel up to 25% during the busiest times of the year.

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities

Essential Duties:

• STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP: Develop, envision, and lead comprehensive grants management and prospect research strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and providing strategic counsel to the VP of Advancement on funding trends, donor engagement, and operational best practices.
• GRANT MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE: Provide strategic oversight and improvement of grant management and compliance, ensuring effective systems, timely execution, and alignment with organizational priorities to secure and manage diverse funding streams that support programmatic and expansion goals.
• PROSPECT RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT: Lead the development and execution of comprehensive prospect research and management strategies, ensuring a robust pipeline of prospective donors, systematic donor engagement, and data-driven insights to support fundraising priorities and maximize donor relationships.
• PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT: Drive project management and process improvement, driving the execution of cross-functional initiatives, enhancing workflows and efficiencies, and ensuring alignment with organizational policies and goals
• TEAM LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT: Lead and cultivate high-performing Grants and Prospect Research & Management (PRM) teams by fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning, while providing mentorship and promoting an inclusive, values-driven environment.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

•          Strategy and Leadership:

• Build, in partnership with the VP of Advancement, and oversee all grants and prospect research management, ensuring alignment with IDEA’s goals and priorities
• Envision and execute a comprehensive strategy to optimize advancement services and maximize funding opportunities
• Provide thought leadership to identify and implement the best practices in grants management and prospect research
• Serve as a senior advisor to the Vice President of Advancement on funding trends, donor behavior and engagement, and operational efficiencies
• Grant Management and Compliance:
• Guide the Grants team in applying for, securing, and managing highly complex fund agreements and grants in the public, private, and corporate sectors
• In partnership with the Vice President of Treasury and Grants, develop systems and build accountability to ensure timely and accurate submission of proposals and compliance reports
• Oversee the grant writing process, including researching funding opportunities, preparing grant proposals, and managing reporting requirements
• Create and maintain robust systems and processes for tracking, reporting, and evaluating grants
• Leverage best-practice systems to effectively partner with internal teams (e.g., Finance and Compliance, General Counsel, etc.)
• Grow the number of mission-aligned grant programs to fund the organization’s programmatic and expansion needs
• Build and maintain an updated repository of funding needs/areas that focus on campus and national needs

•          Prospect Research and Management:

• Oversee the identification, qualification, documentation, and management of a diverse pipeline of prospective donors
• Develop and implement a systematic approach to prospect research, donor segmentation, and moves management
• Collaborate with the Advancement team’s frontline fundraisers to match prospects with funding priorities and engagement strategies
• Develop systems to provide timely portfolio reviews and updates for major gift officers
• Use a system-level approach to create a seamless donor lifecycle process, from identification through stewardship
• Utilize data-driven insights to inform fundraising strategies and decision-making
• Project Management and Procedure Improvement:
• Drive the planning, implementation, and evaluation of large-scale, cross-functional projects
• Develop workflows, timelines, and metrics to ensure on-time delivery and measurable outcomes
• Build collaborative partnerships across departments and with external stakeholders
• Lead efforts to improve internal procedures and processes related to the grant lifecycle, prospect management, and compliance
• Identify opportunities for efficiency gains while aligning with increased policy and protocols from the organization

•          Team Leadership and Development:

• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning within the Grants and PRM departments
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and professional development opportunities for direct reports
• Promote an inclusive, team-oriented environment that aligns with IDEA’s core values

What You’ll Bring – Knowledge & Skills

• Make Strategic Decisions: This leader is involved in high-level, strategic decision-making across multiple teams. They analyze complex data sets, predict trends, and make decisions that align with the organization’s strategic goals. They also guide others on their teams to develop strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
• Manage Work and Teams: This leader is responsible for the overall performance and cohesion of their team. They build operating mechanisms, establish strategic plans, and implement project management systems that ensure that their team operates smoothly and achieves its targets.
• Grow Self and Others: This leader is involved in planning and implementing development strategies across multiple teams or departments. They ensure alignment between individual growth and organizational goals, and they develop programs that address the needs of diverse groups within the organization.
• Build a Culture of Trust: This Leader strategically promotes trust and psychological safety across broader groups, implementing policies and practices that support these values and modeling them in every leadership action.
• Communicate Deliberately: This leader is responsible for communicating complex ideas and strategies across multiple teams or departments. They develop and deliver messages that align with organizational goals, ensuring that their communication strategies enhance team alignment and strategic execution.

Additional Skills:

•          Strong record of results in fundraising and development

•          Proven expertise in spearheading organizational transformation

•          Expansive mindset that uses proactive and innovative approaches to problem-solving, with a focus on continuous learning, and the ability to see opportunities in challenges

•          Exceptional strategic thinking abilities, including setting vision, anticipating challenges, planning projects, and designing systems to maximize effectiveness and efficiency

•          Strong collaborative skills with a history of building effective partnerships across departments and organizations

•          Expertise in efficient and effective project management methodologies

•          Exceptional adaptability to meet ever-changing funder requirements

•          Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated success in creating compelling proposals and reports

•          Ability to navigate complex challenges and size opportunities to advance the organization’s mission

•          Adaptability to respond to changes in the surrounding environment, such as economic shifts, political dynamics, and new regulatory landscapes

•          Proactive approach to seeking information and clarity to enable sound judgment and decision-making for the organization

Required experience: 

•          Bachelor’s degree required

•          At least 10 years of professional experience

•          Minimum of 7+ years of professional experience in advancement, with a focus on grants management and/or prospect research

•          7+ years of experience applying for and managing highly complex fund agreements and grants

•          5+ years of management experience

•          Proven track record of handling a diverse portfolio of funding sources, including government grants, private foundations, and corporate partnerships

•          Experience in strategic planning, large-scale and cross-functional project management, and organizational change management in a high-pressure environment

Preferred experience:

•          Advanced degree in education, non-profit management, business or fund development is a plus

•          Experience working in the education or nonprofit sector is highly desirable

Physical Requirements:

•          This is a mostly sedentary position.

•          The ability to move in construction sites for events and tours.

•          The ability to help set up for events (e.g., fundraising, organization-wide, team events, etc.).

What We Offer:

 Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $119,000 and $142,800 commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

 * IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Learn more about IDEA
At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values