UW-Eau Claire Foundation: Chief Operating Officer

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POSITION: A full-time, professional academic staff position is available in the Foundation beginning in the summer of 2026. The working title for this assignment is Chief Operating Officer with an official title of Advancement Services Director. This is a renewable appointment. The salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) provides strategic and operational leadership for core functions that enable fundraising success, donor stewardship, and organizational effectiveness. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the COO ensures alignment between strategy and execution across the Foundation.

The COO oversees prospect research and management, data and database administration, and fundraising reporting and analytics, while also providing strategic oversight of affiliated enterprise functions, including Blugold Real Estate.

Serving as a trusted advisor to the President, the COO translates vision into action through data-informed decision-making, operational excellence, and the development of systems, talent, and processes that support sustainable growth and donor confidence.

Job Duties:

Leadership & Strategy

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President and executive leadership team on operational, financial, and enterprise-wide initiatives.

• Act as a primary liaison to the President, ensuring alignment of priorities, communication, and execution across functions.

• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams across research, data, and analytics.

• Establish and monitor performance metrics aligned with strategic goals.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Real Estate & Affiliated Entities

• Provide strategic and operational oversight of affiliated entities, including Blugold Real Estate.

• Serve as the Foundation’s primary liaison to Blugold Real Estate and related boards.

• Oversee real estate activities, including property management, development initiatives, partnerships, and investments.

• Partner with external vendors, legal counsel, and university leadership to ensure strong governance, compliance, and performance.

• Monitor financial performance, risk, and long-term sustainability of real estate assets.

• Evaluate and support execution of real estate opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.

Prospect Research & Management

• Oversee prospect research, portfolio management, and donor pipeline development.

• Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of donor and prospect activity to support fundraising strategy.

Database & Information Systems

• Provide strategic oversight of the Foundation’s CRM/database (e.g., Raiser’s Edge), ensuring data integrity, security, and accessibility.

• Establish and enforce data governance policies and compliance standards.

• Partner with IT and internal stakeholders to implement technology solutions that enhance efficiency and engagement.

Fundraising Reporting & Analytics

• Lead development of reports and dashboards to monitor fundraising performance and donor trends.

• Deliver actionable insights to inform leadership, development staff, and university partners.

• Oversee quarterly and annual reporting of development activity against goals.

• Coordinate reporting to the Foundation Board, auditors, and institutional stakeholders.

Operational Excellence

• Develop and manage departmental budgets and resource allocation.

• Establish and maintain operational policies, procedures, and internal controls.

• Identify opportunities for efficiency, scalability, and continuous improvement.

• Support strategic planning, campaign readiness, and organizational alignment.

Position Impact

The COO plays a critical role in ensuring the Foundation operates with excellence, transparency, and strategic alignment. By integrating data, operations, stewardship, and affiliated enterprise functions—including real estate—the COO strengthens fundraising effectiveness, enhances donor trust, and advances the mission of both the Foundation and the university it serves.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information on university business-relations issues, opportunities, and activities, and representing the interests of the unit

• Directs strategic planning initiatives and establishes unit objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources and alignment with the strategic plan

• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

• Develops and monitors unit budget and approves unit expenditures

• Delivers directed program messaging to internal and external audiences

• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships

Department:

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation

Required Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience leading and developing multi-functional teams.
• Proven ability to execute strategy across an organization.

• Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or similar).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across diverse stakeholders.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and commitment to the Foundation’s mission.

How to Apply:

Applications are submitted electronically. Please follow instructions found on the following UW-Eau Claire Website: http://wisconsin.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UW_Comprehensives. You must create an account and login before you can apply. Please be sure you have included the following in PDF format:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three references.

Contact Information:

Interim Foundation President, Cheryl Jensen: [email protected]

Special Notes:

INSTITUTIONAL OVERVIEW 

UW-Eau Claire, an institution of approximately 9,000 students and 1,200 faculty and staff, is consistently recognized as a top comprehensive university in the Midwest and is widely known as a leader in faculty-undergraduate research and study abroad. We strive for excellence in liberal education and select graduate and professional programs through commitment to teaching and learning and dedication to our core values of diversity, sustainability, leadership, and innovation. To learn more about UWEC, visit  https://www.uwec.edu/human-resources/employment-opportunities/ . 

The City of Eau Claire, situated at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, is at the center of a metropolitan area of approximately 100,000 people located 90 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The area features beautiful parks and trails, strong public schools, a vibrant arts scene and local food culture, and abundant recreational opportunities. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

The university reserves the right to contact additional references with notice given to the candidates at an appropriate time in the process. Employment will require a background check. Employment will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding past conduct related to sexual violence and sexual harassment. 

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7). 

The UW-Eau Claire Police Department is dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment for learning and working. Although crime at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is limited, the University Police want students, faculty and staff to be aware of crime on campus and the area surrounding the campus. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose annual information about campus crime. Visit Campus Security and Fire Report. Also visit our Campus Security Authority(CSA) policy. 

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.