Development Operations Manager

What We Do

At Leading Educators (LE), we know that excellent teaching is the most important driver of student success. The moment a student steps foot in the classroom, their ability to learn depends on how prepared their teacher is to convey complex content knowledge as engaging, student-centered lessons that help students learn deeply and apply their thinking to the real world.

That’s a big lift, and teachers often do this alone. As a national nonprofit, we partner with school systems to overcome persistent instructional challenges, foster intentional collaboration and adult learning by design, and ignite new possibilities through systemic solutions at the intersection of teaching, talent, and technology.

We work shoulder-to-shoulder with educators at every level of the education system to strengthen their instructional and leadership practices, bring a vision for excellent instruction to life with consistency, and ultimately ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Through direct support, strategic advising, innovation pilots, and best-in-class research, we help educators shape a future where every student can thrive. Learn more about our work at leadingeducators.org.

Internal and External Candidate Application Deadline: Sunday, April 12th 5pm CST

Position

The Development Operations Manager is the backbone of Leading Educators' fundraising engine—a detail-oriented operations professional who translates strategic priorities into flawless execution. In this role, you'll own the systems, data, and workflows that enable our Development team to focus on what they do best: building relationships and securing transformational investments for students.

Working closely with the Director of Development Operations, you'll manage our CRM infrastructure, maintain data integrity, conduct prospect research, and generate the insights and reports that drive strategic decision-making across the team. This is a role that demands precision, problem-solving, and a commitment to continuous improvement. You'll identify gaps in our processes, recommend solutions, and implement changes that reduce friction and increase team effectiveness—all while supporting frontline fundraisers with the tools and information they need to succeed.

Beyond systems and data, you'll be a strategic enabler of our fundraising culture. You'll maintain our shared knowledge resources, support high-impact funder events, coordinate engagement opportunities, and serve as a trusted partner to Development leadership and program teams. This role requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, manages competing priorities with grace, and takes pride in the accuracy and usability of their work.

Do you have expertise in…

• Managing CRM systems (Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or similar platforms) with strong data entry standards, reporting capabilities, and system maintenance experience?
• Conducting prospect research, including identifying, qualifying, and developing compelling profiles for potential funders?
• Generating reports and tracking data that support fundraising strategy, portfolio management, and leadership decision-making?
• Managing operational workflows in nonprofit development environments, including gift processing, pipeline management, and donor tracking?

Do you enjoy…

• Working with data and systems to create clarity, accuracy, and actionable insights for your team?
• Supporting frontline fundraisers by removing obstacles and providing them with the tools and information they need to succeed?
• Organizing and maintaining shared resources, documentation, and knowledge systems with clear structure and accessibility?
• Identifying inefficiencies and recommending process improvements that strengthen team effectiveness and organizational capacity?

If you've answered affirmatively to these questions and meet the following prerequisites, we urge you to seize this opportunity. This role calls for the following:

• 3-5 years of related experience in development operations, fundraising operations, or nonprofit operations environments
• Demonstrated experience working within a nonprofit development or fundraising team, supporting pipeline management, reporting, and donor systems
• Strong experience with CRM systems such as Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or similar platforms, including data entry standards, reporting, and system maintenance
• Proven ability to maintain high standards of data accuracy, integrity, and usability across systems
• Experience conducting prospect research, including identifying, qualifying, and developing profiles for potential funders
• Ability to translate research and data into clear, actionable insights for fundraisers and leadership
• Strong working knowledge of data tracking, pipeline reporting, and performance monitoring
• Proficiency in tools such as Salesforce, Asana or other project management systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, and Google Drive
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and systems simultaneously
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in all aspects of work
• Experience managing shared resources, documentation, or knowledge systems with clear organization, version control, and accessibility standards
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams
• Ability to work independently while maintaining alignment with leadership direction and team priorities
• Experience in the K-12 education sector or familiarity with the education nonprofit landscape preferred

Travel Requirements

• This is a remote position requires moderate travel
• National travel for org retreats, programming, job related travel, or professional development 
• Outside of the above mentioned travel, this person will work from a home office that must be located anywhere within the U.S. 

Questions? We’re here to help.

If you have questions about this role or about our hiring process at any point, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at talent@leadingeducators.org. This inbox is monitored regularly, and we aim to respond within two business days. To ensure your question receives a thoughtful and timely response, we kindly ask that you refrain from emailing individual staff members or members of our HR team directly. The best way to connect with us is always through talent@leadingeducators.org.

Why Work at Leading Educators? 

Imagine being part of an organization where your ideas and perspectives are highly valued. At Leading Educators, we believe in fostering individual strengths, encouraging personal growth, and embracing innovative ideas. If you thrive in a remote working environment, with the added excitement of travel, we're the perfect fit for you. By joining us, you become part of a powerful community of peers nationwide. Regardless of your location, you possess the power to make a significant impact on both students and teachers who rely on us daily. Join Leading Educators and play an integral part in shaping the future of education. 

Learn About Our Mission & Values:

Mission: Leading Educators partners with school systems to sustain the teaching, leadership, and conditions for every student to succeed in school and in life.

Values:

• Build on strengths: We affirm and begin with the unique and collective talents, experiences, and wisdom of ourselves and others.
• Continuously learn: We develop ourselves and others. We apply new learning and deepened self-awareness to our relationships and practices.
• Prioritize people: We build trust and reflect on the impact of different perspectives and experiences.
• Champion success for all: We re-imagine structures, habits, and mindsets to ensure every learner has access to evidence-based learning opportunities.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Hiring

We use artificial intelligence–enabled tools throughout our hiring process, from the moment a candidate applies through the offer stage, to support administrative tasks and the initial review of candidate materials. These tools help us organize, analyze, and surface relevant information efficiently, but they do not make hiring decisions. All candidate materials—including applications, resumes, assessments, and interview feedback—are reviewed and evaluated by people. All hiring decisions, including interview selection, advancement, and offers of employment, are made by humans. We use AI solely as a support tool to assist with early-stage reviews and process efficiency. We do not use AI in ways that discriminate based on protected characteristics, nor do we use ZIP codes or similar data to target or exclude protected groups. Our hiring practices are designed to be fair, consistent, and aligned with equal employment opportunity standards.

Compensation: 

• If hired for this position, the base salary range is $70,920 to $90,272 per year. Most new hires enter the range at a specific point based on their qualifications and the role level. For this position, the standard starting salary is $80,600, which is based on meeting the minimum requirement of 3-5 years of relevant experience.
• If you have more than 5 years of directly relevant experience, your starting salary may be adjusted higher within the range, up to a maximum starting salary of $84,745. This approach ensures that candidates with additional experience beyond the minimum are recognized in the initial salary offer.

Benefits: 

100% paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for individual employees. Additional premium costs are covered 60% by Leading Educators for partners and dependents on medical, dental, and vision plans. 4% matching 401k plan, Flexible Spending Accounts for medical, childcare and commuter expenses, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Benefits are valued at or above $9,000 for employees.

Time Off: 

• First three years of employment, full time staff accrue 22 days a year. 
• Five additional days are accrued after the third and sixth year of employment.
• Leading Educators also offer 16 additional paid days off for various holidays, including three floating holidays staff may use at their discretion.

Equal Opportunity Employment 

Leading Educators is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

Apply: https://leadingeducators.org/careers/opportunities

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