Director, Research & Analytics

This role is based in the US, with the option to work remotely or be assigned to the Orbis NY office. For those who prefer to work in an office setting, our NYC office has temporary and permanent desk solutions for employees already local to NYC that can accommodate those preferences. Orbis’s current policy requires that all staff visiting or working in the NYC office must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director, Research & Analytics will lead the creation of a new Research & Analytics team within the US Development team. This role serves as a visionary champion and expert for integrating data-informed, donor-centric strategies into Orbis’s fundraising mission. This role will serve as a thought leader in the organization in market research, prospect research, and data analytics.

Responsibilities include developing, refining, and tangibly bringing to life a behavioral donor segmentation; overseeing development and delivery of primary audience research; leading long-term donor-value analyses; marketing test design and analysis; predictive modeling; and ongoing data mining. The Director is responsible for helping to improve the impact of fundraising campaigns, prospect research, analytics tools and platforms, and enabling moves management, while also looking for new, integrated ways to build and better engage our current audiences.

LOCATION

This is a US based role, offering the option of remote work or being assigned to the Orbis NY office. Our NYC office has temporary and permanent desk solutions available for local employees who prefer an office setting. Orbis’s current policy requires that all staff visiting or working in the NYC office must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

REPORTING & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The Director, Research & Analytics reports to the CDO, collaborates closely with the Directors of Mass Audiences, Development Operations, and Integrated Channel Marketing, as well as the Communications Department and Global Programs. The Director will directly or indirectly supervise a team of approximately 3 team members, including Associate Director, Analytics and Associate Director, Prospect Research; & Research Manager. This role will also manage market research vendor relationships.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS / KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Market Research (40%)

• Oversees all Market Research initiatives, including active hands-on implementation of Market Research projects.
• Oversee donor & market research projects, both quantitative and qualitative, to drive insights and deeper understanding of Orbis’s current and potential donor base.
• Model donor engagement across various channels, including fundraising, events, email engagement, volunteering, and collaborate with audience leads and channel strategists to increase insight and improve donor engagement.
• Create and lead the implementation of audience segmentation strategies for effective donor acquisition.
• Provide strategic leadership for market research projects, utilizing internal staff and external consultants and agencies to answer Orbis’s most critical fundraising strategy questions and expand its fundraising effectiveness over time.

Prospect Research (20%)

• Oversee the identification of key prospect individuals, foundations, and corporations to evaluate potential or existing donors’ personal backgrounds, giving histories, wealth indicators, and philanthropic motivations to evaluate a prospect’s ability to give and affinity toward Orbis.
• Lead the prospecting strategies for Major Gifts, Mid-Level, Planned Gifts, Corporate, and Foundations. Consult with audience leads regarding fundraising strategies, key challenges, and decision-making to inform research and insights work.
• Optimize the prospect research process utilized to meet industry best practices.
• Oversee critical prospect research and analytical support needs for high value audience growth. Oversee exploratory research efforts for innovation (pilots).
• Evaluate, acquire, and integrate new datasets to support prospecting and file analysis.
• Monitor external environment including direct/indirect competition and key prospect research trends.
• Analyze and connect data from multiple internal and external sources, including Orbis’s internal donor file, wealth profiling data and other sources to gain insights that support Audience lead campaigns for donor acquisition, growth, and stewardship.

Data Analytics & Governance (30%)

• Ensure the organization is using best practices for knowledge building and creating a data-driven decision-making culture.
• Consult with audience managers and channel teams, internalizing their business models and unique needs and approaches. Provide leadership to the Analytics team in their work making recommendations according to relevant analytics methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, and other research methodologies in line with short- and long-term goals.
• Oversee the data analytics team’s work in the areas of strategic selection and implementation of data infrastructure and tools for reporting and analytics on fundraising data across channels.
• Collaborate with the Director, Development Operations to ensure tools used for research and analytics are best-in-class and that staff are trained on technology and process.
• Oversee the establishment of a fundraising data governance program. Articulate and ensure adoption of best practices for data governance, data hygiene, and reporting standards.
• Lead the implementation of a Development Department wide testing program.

Leadership & People Management (10%)

• Share industry expertise with the Development team and encourage data-driven innovation across giving programs and audiences.
• Build and manager a highly skilled and motivated research and analytics team.
• Mentor staff in their skills and professional goals to prioritize learning and individual growth, promoting staff retention and job satisfaction.
• Ensure all staff are trained on all research and analytics platforms and that skills are up to date according to industry standard practices.
• Foster strong relationships across teams within Development and across the organization.
• Collaborate effectively with other data and research professionals within Orbis.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Required

• Minimum 10-year experience in consumer research in a nonprofit/ for-profit organization
• Proven track record of results and aptitude for analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing data.

Preferred

• Knowledge of and interest in emerging concepts and practices in the fields of strategic philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, public private partnerships, and impact investing,
• Familiar with industry guidelines and standards from the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA), prospect research toolkits and best practices, and ethics around prospect research.
• Experience leveraging data warehousing, business intelligence, ETL, and analytics tools

Familiarity with CRM platforms

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Required

• Strategic fundraising mindset with a service-oriented approach.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills and comfort working in a high-energy, fast-paced and collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated history of effectively and promptly sharing relevant information in a clear, timely and concise manner
• Ability to work independently; move projects from conceptual stages to launch; and handle multiple and often competing deadlines.
• Ability to adjust priorities to address changing situations and conditions
• Outstanding, proven time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to deal calmly with pressure and deadlines and to communicate with diplomacy.
• Deep, demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Orbis is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

As a global organization, we welcome qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and marginalized communities who are underrepresented in the international NGO sector who reflect the five Orbis values of Accountability, Commitment, Innovation, Integrity, and Equity.