Overview
Position Summary
Teton Science Schools (TSS) connects people, place, and nature through education. At a pivotal moment of organizational renewal and growth, TSS is building a sophisticated, modern fundraising program to support bold program ambitions and long-term financial sustainability.
The Head of Development Operations is the architect and steward of the systems, strategies, and operational excellence that power philanthropic success at TSS. This senior leader ensures that executive leadership, the board, and development staff have the tools, insights, and confidence needed to cultivate, close, and steward gifts effectively—while delivering best-in-class donor experience, compliance, and reporting.
This role blends enterprise-level advancement operations with hands-on leadership across annual fund strategy, moves management, CRM systems (Salesforce), board enablement, major gift support, and campaign infrastructure. It is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution and enjoys building scalable systems in a nimble, growth-oriented organization.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1) Development Operations Leadership (Organization-wide)
Lead development operations with rigor, accuracy, and scalability.
Oversee CRM strategy and administration (Salesforce), gift processing, data integrity, and reporting.
Establish and maintain SOPs for acknowledgments, receipting, pledges, gift restrictions, and compliance.
Translate data into actionable insights through dashboards, forecasting, and analytics to guide fundraising decisions.
2) Annual Fund & Donor Pipeline Leadership
Provide strategic leadership for the annual fund, including planning, projections, and performance analysis.
Guide moves management across the donor pipeline—from entry-level donors to major and transformational gift prospects.
Partner with leadership to grow donor acquisition, retention, and upgrades.
Oversee solicitation strategy, messaging alignment, and campaign execution in collaboration with Marketing and program leaders.
3) Campaign, Major Gift & Complex Gift Operations
Provide operational leadership for major gifts, multi-year commitments, and restricted funds.
Manage pledge schedules, reminders, and fulfillment tracking with precision and consistency.
Ensure donor intent, recognition, and stewardship commitments are accurately reflected across systems and communications.
4) Executive, Board & Volunteer Enablement
Partner closely with the Executive Director on pipeline strategy, prospect planning, and forecasting.
Prepare board and Development Committee materials, dashboards, and reports that support effective governance and fundraising action.
Equip board members and volunteer solicitors with research, briefings, and follow-through systems to increase confidence and outcomes.
5) Financial Alignment & Compliance
Collaborate closely with Finance on reconciliation, restricted fund tracking, gift recording, and audit readiness.
Maintain compl
Qualifications:
Required Experience and Skills
5–7+ years of senior-level experience in development operations, advancement services, or fundraising infrastructure.
Demonstrated success managing CRMs (Salesforce preferred), donor data, gift processing, reporting, and compliance.
Deep familiarity with annual fund strategy, board-supported fundraising, campaign infrastructure, and moves management.
Proven ability to support executive leadership and trustees with high-quality insights, analysis, and clear reportin
About Teton Science Schools
Since 1967, Teton Science Schools has connected people, place, and nature through education, engaging learners of all ages in meaningful, place-based experiences that inspire curiosity, leadership, and a deep sense of connection to the world around them.
