Project Manager, Strategic Development Planning

Department

ADV Development

About the Department

The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

Advancement’s Development team provides strategic leadership for fundraising and engagement efforts across the University of Chicago, aligning institutional priorities with philanthropic opportunities. The Office oversees a broad portfolio of development programs and works in close partnership with University leadership, including the President, Provost, Deans, and other academic leaders to advance major and principal gift strategy, donor engagement, and campaign execution. The team collaborates across University Advancement to strengthen a culture of philanthropy, enhance coordination among units, and deepen relationships with the University’s alumni and friends. Through a strategic approach, Advancement’s Development team supports long-term institutional goals while enabling impactful, mission-driven giving.

Job Summary

The Project Manager, Strategic Development Planning, supports the Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and Chief Development Officer (CDO) by providing strategic planning, project management, and analytical support for Development priorities, with a particular focus on supporting the prioritization and execution of the CDO’s highest impact priorities. This position uses best practices and knowledge of non-technical (not information technology or construction related) projects from conception to completion. Assembles teams and develops detailed work plans, schedules, project estimates, resource plans, and status reports while being the point of contact for those projects.

As the Advancement division enters a period of increased complexity and scale associated with a comprehensive campaign, this role is designed to provide dedicated capacity for development-related planning, coordination, and execution across development teams. The role works closely with the CDO and Advancement teams to translate strategic direction into actionable plans, track progress across initiatives, and support disciplined execution of top priorities. The role requires exceptional judgment, discretion, and the ability to operate with credibility across multiple stakeholders across Advancement and the broader University.

Responsibilities

• Partners with the Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and Chief Development Officer (CDO), to support planning, priorities, and decision-making.
• Develops and maintains integrated project plans, charters, and status reports to promote transparency and shared accountability.
• Translates strategic priorities into actionable initiatives, structured workplans, timelines, and measurable milestones across development teams.
• Tracks progress against established goals, proactively identifying risks, gaps, and interdependencies requiring alignment or escalation.
• Coordinates cross-functional workstreams, stakeholders, and deliverables to support timely execution of major initiatives.
• Supports development-related planning, coordination, and execution, including roadmap development and milestone tracking.
• Provides organizational structure, analytical support, and meeting facilitation to sustain momentum and clarity during a period of increased development complexity and scale.
• Supports the CDO in moves management, including creating briefing developments, synthesizing input from stakeholders, and tracking CDO activity to inform priorities, such as trip planning and identifying key donor meetings and engagements.
• Develops concise strategic briefings, synthesis materials, and presentations to support informed decision-making, working with appropriate Advancement teams to ensure organizational alignment. 
• Supports alignment of the CDO’s time, attention, and focus with highest-impact initiatives, including development strategy, fundraising priorities, and external partnerships.
• Drafts, refines, and supports development of strategic narratives, communications, and planning materials. Provides strong preparation to the CDO for presentations and external meetings.
• Represents the CDO in selected meetings to advance priority initiatives and ensure alignment.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars and seminars; and building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Works somewhat indep