Executive Director, Advancement Services

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is the global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe, complex conditions. By joining our team, you’ll be part of our life-changing mission and vision. You’ll contribute to an innovative, multifaceted culture that is second to none — one that embraces collaboration, excellence, discovery and compassion. You’ll play a role in something that’s never been done before as we integrate science and clinical care to help patients achieve better, faster outcomes — as we Advance Human Ability, together.

Job Description Summary

The Executive Director, Advancement Services provides strategic leadership and oversight for the infrastructure, systems, data governance, analytics, and operational teams that enable a high-performing, donor-centered, and data-driven advancement program. This role will serve as the primary leader and part of the advancement leadership team, focused on building a scalable advancement operations that support philanthropic growth, campaign readiness, and exceptional donor experience.


The Executive Director leads a multi-functional team responsible for advancement communications and stewardship, operations and data systems, direct response programs, and events. This position sets direction, establishes priorities, and ensures effective execution through team leadership, strong performance management, and cross-functional alignment.


The Executive Director will consistently demonstrate support of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab statement of Vision, Mission and Core Values by striving for excellence, contributing to the team efforts and showing respect and compassion for patients and their families, fellow employees, and all others with whom there is contact at or in the interest of the institute.


The Executive Director will demonstrate Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Core Attributes: Communication, Accountability, Flexibility/Adaptability, Judgment/Problem Solving, Customer Service and Core Values (Hope, Compassion, Discovery, Collaboration, and Commitment to Excellence) while fulfilling job duties.

Job Description

Principal Responsibilities

• Establish and lead a comprehensive advancement services strategy that supports institutional priorities and fundraising goals.

• Provide strategic oversight and direction across advancement services functions, including donor relations and stewardship, advancement communications, operations and data systems, prospect management and research, direct response, events, gift processing, reporting and analytics, and data governance.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of advancement services professionals through effective talent management, succession planning, coaching, and performance accountability.

• Oversee direct response and events functions as direct reports, ensuring strategic alignment, effective execution, a reliable pipeline of donors, and measurable return on investment.

• Ensure that donor relations, stewardship, and advancement communications programs deliver a cohesive, high-quality, and donor-centered experience.

• Direct the development and optimization of advancement systems, including the CRM (Blackbaud), ensuring data integrity, usability, and adoption.

• Oversee gift management and processing to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements.

• Ensure strong prospect management and research practices that support pipeline development and frontline fundraising success.

• Champion the use of data and analytics to inform decision-making, measure performance, and identify opportunities for growth.

• Establish, monitor, and continuously refine key performance indicators and dashboards across advancement services functions; provide actionable insights to drive growth and performance.

• Promote operational efficiency, scalability, and continuous improvement across processes, systems, and workflows.

• Partner closely with frontline fundraising leadership to ensure advancement services functions effectively support donor strategy and engagement.

• Ensure alignment and collaborative partnerships across the enterprise, specifically the finance and information technology departments.

Reporting Relationships

Reports to: Senior Vice President, Chief Advancement Officer

Direct reports include Advancement services team members across multiple functional areas including direct response and events. The team structure may evolve as the program grows.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required