Director of Development Services

Overview

The Lycée Français de Chicago (LFC) is entering an exciting new chapter of philanthropic growth as it prepares for a comprehensive capital campaign. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), the Director of Development Operations, a new role, will serve as the CDO’s senior partner and #2. The Director will be responsible for ensuring that data, systems, and communications work in harmony across the school’s five development programs:
Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Planned Giving, Alumni Relations, and Board Engagement.

Building on the strong data and policy foundation established by LFC’s new database consultant, the Director will ensure that Raiser’s Edge NXT is used to its full strategic potential—supporting accurate reporting, effective segmentation, timely acknowledgments, and informed decision-making. In close partnership with the CDO, the Director will also help shape the Annual Fund and Development Communications strategy, manage analytics and reporting, and coordinate campaign readiness work.

This is a hands-on leadership role for an organized, collaborative professional who brings both systems discipline and strategic curiosity. The position is structured for growth with exposure to major gifts, campaign planning, and school leadership; with success, the Director is a potential future CDO.

Reports to: Chief Development Officer (CDO)

Direct Reports (initially): None; will supervise staff as the office grows according to its three-year plan

Key Partnerships: Development Associate (who does gift entry and record updating);
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer and Mar Comm team;
Head of School;
Board Development Committee;
Chief Financial Officer and Finance team.

• Oversee all aspects of Raiser’s Edge NXT to ensure accurate, timely, and careful management of donor data.
• Maintain and refine the school’s Development Data Policies & Procedures in collaboration with the database consultant and CDO.
• Partner with the Finance Office to reconcile all gifts monthly and ensure the database remains the authoritative source of truth.
• Ensure that donor communications, acknowledgments, and lists are built from Raiser’s Edge and that data syncs cleanly with other platforms.

• Provide leadership in developing and maintaining dashboards, reports, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for all five programs.
• Produce clear, accurate reports for the Head of School, Board Development Committee, and senior leadership.
• Analyze trends and outcomes to help shape fundraising strategy and resource allocation.

• Partner with the CDO to design and implement a cohesive Annual Fund strategy.
• Collaborate with the Mar Comm team to synchronize Development messaging, branding, and timing across print, digital, and in-person channels.
• Support creation of donor communications that reflect the school’s gratitude, integrity, and mission.

• Collaborate with the CDO on early campaign preparation.
• Maintain policies, including the Gift Acceptance Policy, related to gift “counting,” recognition, and pledge management in alignment with CASE/AFP standards.
• Contribute to the creation of materials, systems, and workflows that will support the office of today as well as future campaign execution.

• Serve as the day-to-day operations lead for the Development Office, ensuring smooth coordination with Finance, Mar Comm, and other departments.
• Mentor and support the Development Associate; help onboard and guide future Development hires as the office expands.
• Foster a culture of organization, accountability, and shared purpose across the Development team.

• 5–7+ years of progressive experience in fundraising operations or development roles at an independent school or comparable nonprofit.
• Strong fluency in Raiser’s Edge NXT and comfort using data to guide decisions.
• Experience implementing or managing policies and procedures; organized, detail-oriented, and calm under pressure.
• Collaborative communicator with strong…