People Strategy, Equity, and Culture

Research and Relationship Management Specialist

  • Title: Research and Relationship Management Specialist
  • Class: Academic Professional
  • Exempt Status: Exempt
  • Level: 3

Job Summary

Under the direction of the PCC Foundation Managing Director, and working collaboratively with the Development Director, the Research & Relationship Management Specialist provides strategic research information to help move prospects through the fund-raising cycle. Maintains the process for tracking prospects in the fund-raising database and provides training on the effective use of the system. Plays a critical role in analyzing development officers’ prospect portfolios and assists with prospect management strategy.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Monitors, identifies, researches, categorizes, and analyzes new and existing donors and prospects for gift cultivation and solicitation through review and strategic analysis of media, financial documents, files, databases, on-line information systems, and other sources.
  2. Partners with fundraisers to provide timely, accurate and analytical information to inform the fundraising process to promote data-driven major gift fund-raising.
  3. Prepares thorough, accurate and concisely written research reports to include biographical and financial information, potential for philanthropic support, areas of interest, and affiliations on individuals, as well as research on corporations and foundations.
  4. Regularly runs and monitors reports that reflect development officer performance and/or prospect information; identify and respond to anomalies and trends.
  5. Establishes and maintains guidelines for the creation of the department’s products such as profiles, brief bios, etc.
  6. Enters and maintains accurate prospect research data in the constituent database. Recommends acquisition of new research tools and resources and technologies in partnership with team.
  7. Facilitates the assignment of prospects to portfolios, creates portfolios for new staff and reassigns portfolios for departing staff.
  8. Assists front-line fundraising staff in prioritizing prospect portfolios and encourages the timely review and assignment of newly identified prospects through re-occurring portfolio review meetings and collaborative prospect strategies.
  9. Creates and interprets reports from the database to assist development officers with the management of constituent planning and tracking activities.
  10. Provides database training and support to Foundation staff in coordination with Database Coordinator.
  11. Recommends improvements or modifications to the prospect tracking system and reports.
  12. Assists in developing and maintaining written procedures for prospect management system.
  13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Work is generally performed in an office environment, with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Position involves sitting for extended periods of time while working at a computer terminal. Learned physical skill is required to perform keyboarding and/or ten-key functions.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Administration, Economics, Education, Library Science, Information Science, or other related field. Relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year for year basis. Two years of related experience required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Donor Bill of Rights, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) Code of Ethics;
  • Related federal, state and local regulations;
  • Word processing and relational database software;
  • Research and analysis techniques;
  • Relational databases.
Skills in:
  • Data collection, analysis, interpretation and evaluation of information;
  • Using electronic and printed reference materials;
  • Effectively and accurately communicate both in writing and verbally;
  • Working with diverse academic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and staff and other professionals;
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize projects.
Ability to:
  • Locate and interpret financial, philanthropic and biographical information from a variety of sources;
  • Effectively communicate when translating raw data  into strategic recommendations;
  • Meet College expectations regarding customer service;
  • Manage quality assurance practices in a team oriented work environment;
  • Appropriately communicate sensitive information and exercise discretion in how this information can be shared;
  • Manage and prioritize multiple deadlines with short turn-around times.

Reviewed: 12/2018

  • Established: 12/2015