Director of Advancement

Description:

About Solomon Schechter Day School

At Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago, we ignite our students’ Jewish souls, educate them to their highest potential, and empower them to use their knowledge, skills, and creativity to enrich our world.

Position Overview

The Director of Advancement is a visionary and strategic leader responsible for driving the school’s comprehensive advancement efforts—including fundraising, admissions, enrollment, marketing, communications, and community engagement.

This position leads a high-performing, collaborative team and partners closely with the Head of School to strengthen Schechter’s financial sustainability, community engagement, and brand visibility.

The overarching goals of the Advancement Team are to:

• Increase philanthropic support to meet the school’s financial goals — ensuring a strong annual operating budget and long-term financial stability through major gifts, annual giving, legacy, and endowment growth.
• Recruit and retain mission-aligned families by sharing Schechter’s value proposition, building a strong enrollment pipeline, and ensuring an exceptional experience from inquiry through graduation.
• Engage and nurture meaningful relationships with current and prospective families, alumni, and community members to foster lifelong connection and investment.
• Amplify Schechter’s story and impact through consistent, mission-driven marketing and communications that strengthen pride, visibility, and connection across the community.
• Build and sustain a strong, connected network of stakeholders who are inspired by and invested in Schechter’s mission and future.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Co-create and implement key annual advancement plans, including:
  • Development Plan – focusing on large gifts, grants, and annual giving and corporate/partner sponsorships, in collaboration with the Director of Development and Development & Events Manager
  • Recruitment & Enrollment Plan – focused on pipeline growth and conversion, in partnership with the Director of Admissions and Enrollment
  • Marketing & Communications Plan – emphasizing Schechter’s value proposition and brand identity, in partnership with the Marketing and Communications Manager
    
    
• Design and manage systems for collaboration, documentation, and accountability across all advancement domains.
• Oversee CRM systems for donor relations and prospective family engagement, ensuring data integrity and meaningful tracking.
• Establish clear SMART goals and project management timelines for all advancement initiatives and events.
• Define, track, and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) across fundraising, admissions, enrollment, communications, and engagement to measure progress and inform strategic decisions.
• Prepare and present regular reports on advancement metrics for the Head of School, Board, and relevant committees.
• Collaborate with the Head of School, Director of Development, and Board Development Committee on goal-setting, reporting, and progress metrics.
• Work in partnership with the Associate Head of School and senior leaders to translate shared vision into coordinated action, ensuring clarity, alignment, and collaboration across departments.

Community Engagement & External Relations

• Serve as a strategic partner and liaison between the Parent Organization (PO), the Development and Events Manager, and the Educational Leadership Team to maximize cross-departmental impact.
• Build and maintain authentic relationships with key stakeholders—major donors, alumni, ambassadors, and community partners in collaboration with members of the Advancement Team and Head of School.
• Co-create and oversee a family engagement calendar that strengthens community connection and showcases Schechter’s mission in action.
• Develop and execute strategies to amplify alumni voices and foster ongoing engagement through storytelling, events, and communications.
• Represent Schechter at community events, meetings, and gatherings as a visible ambassador of the school’s mission and values.

Team Leadership & Management

Supervise the following positions:

• Director of Admissions and Enrollment
• Director of Development
• Development & Events Manager
• Marketing and Communications Manager
  
  
  Key leadership expectations:
• Establish clear goals, feedback loops, and growth plans for each team member.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, accountability, and excellence.
• Encourage professional development and reflective practice across the team.
• Partner with the Head of School to align advancement goals with the school’s strategic plan.
• Cultivate a data-informed culture, ensuring that goals, strategies, and KPIs are transparent, regularly reviewed, and used to celebrate progress and refine strategy.
• Proven ability to lead with empathy and accountability, fostering a culture of collaboration, trust, and shared purpose across teams.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in advancement, development, communications, or related fields (school or nonprofit experience preferred)
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• Demonstrated success leading and motivating a team toward measurable goals
• Proven ability to set and execute strategic plans across multiple disciplines
• Experience hiring, mentoring, and retaining talented staff
• Exceptional communication, writing, and presentation skills
• Skilled project manager with excellent organizational, prioritization, and delegation abilities
• Technologically adept; experience with CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, Veracross)
• Deep commitment to building a welcoming and inclusive community
• Passionate about Jewish education and the mission of Solomon Schechter

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $120,000–$150,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • Medical and dental insurance
  • Paid vacation and sick time
  • Retirement plan
  • Generous professional development opportunities
• Supportive leadership, collaborative culture, and caring community

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.