Executive Director of Advancement

Description

• Position Title: Executive Director of AdvancementDept & Number: 210 - Development & Engagement
• Full-time/Part-time: Full-time, Senior Management
• FTE: 1.0
• Classification: Exempt
• Target Start Date: To be determined based on candidate availability
• Reports to: President
• Pay Range: $160K - $220K
• Supervises: Director of Marketing and Communications, Director of Admissions, all philanthropy officers, the community engagement manager, and the advancement operations manager.

About Presentation High School

Presentation High School is an independent Catholic college preparatory school for young women. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a close-knit professional community. We seek talented and innovative professionals who have a commitment to excellence and passion for our mission.

Position Summary

Presentation High School, an inclusive Catholic, college preparatory community for young women in San Jose, California, seeks a mission-driven, strategic, and experienced Executive Director of Development to join its Executive Leadership Team.

Reporting directly to the President and working in close partnership with the Principal, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Admissions, the Executive Director of Development serves as the school’s chief relationship builder and philanthropic leader. This individual will foster a culture of belonging, inclusion, and partnership rooted in Presentation’s mission and Catholic tradition. By engaging students, alumnae, families, and donors in meaningful ways, the Executive Director will strengthen relationships, inspire generosity, and help advance the school’s long-term vision.

The successful candidate will bring significant expertise in development, admissions, communications, and community engagement, along with a deep alignment to the mission of Catholic education for young women. They will be an effective and inspiring people manager, skilled at bringing out the best in a talented team, setting clear goals, and ensuring the school’s strategic priorities are achieved through collaboration, accountability, and shared purpose. While ideal candidates will be prepared to lead all three areas – development and community engagement, marketing, and admissions  – Presentation is also open to considering exceptional candidates who bring deep expertise in two of these areas.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Management

• Represent the development and engagement, marketing, and admissions functions of the school in the Executive Leadership Team’s school-wide strategy, planning, and budgeting efforts.
• Collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team to ensure that the school's mission and value of community inclusion are integrated into all aspects of school strategy, planning, and advancement efforts.
• Represent the advancement functions to the faculty/staff and community. Provide reporting and presentations about all aspects of advancement to constituents as needed and represent the advancement team at public events when needed.
• Lead the Advancement Leadership Team to ensure that advancement team members are aligned with the school’s mission, informed of the school’s overall vision and strategy, and clear about the team’s role in supporting the mission and achieving these goals. Act as an effective people manager, bringing out the best in staff by setting clear expectations, coaching toward excellence, and ensuring accountability for results that support institutional goals.
• Attend all Board meetings as the representative of the school’s advancement functions. Provide informed and accurate reporting and insights, and respond with fluency to questions and suggestions from the Board in a timely and accurate manner.
• Attend internal and external community events as a representative and advocate to promote the messaging and news of the school, focusing on nurturing existing relationships and building new relationships with prospective donors, prospective families, and community partners.
• Participate in financial and operational matters in collaboration with the CFOO, including campus management and budget planning.

Integrated Advancement Strategy and Management

• Ensure the preparation and implementation of a Board-approved annual, strategic advancement plan and budget, which includes fundraising, community engagement, alumnae relations, and marketing/communications.
• Serve as the liaison and lead coordinator of the activities of the Advancement Committee of the Board of Directors in partnership with the committee chair.

Development & Engagement

• Lead the development and engagement team in implementing all aspects of fundraising, including capital campaigns, endowment growth, annual giving, major and planned gifts, stewardship, and alumnae and parent relations.
• Work closely with the President and leadership team to align fundraising efforts with the school’s long-term strategic goals and mission.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, belonging, and philanthropic partnership reflecting radical hospitality within the school community.
• Along with the President, serve as a primary fundraiser, identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donor prospects, with the ability to secure six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Manage and coach the development team to ensure they have clear goals and KPIs, and the necessary motivation, skills, and resources to achieve or exceed them. Act as an effective people manager who brings out the best in staff, ensures accountability, and develops talent for long-term success.
• Manage the development department budget and ensure effective use of resources.
• Ensure timely and accurate fundraising reporting, adherence to policies, and collaboration with the finance department to reconcile funding reports in a timely manner.

Marketing & Communications

• Oversee the Director of Marketing and Communications to ensure consistent and effective internal and external communications that promote the school’s mission, vision, and programs.
• Coordinate all public relations and marketing efforts to maintain and elevate the school’s visibility in the community.
• Work with the marketing team to develop a comprehensive annual plan that ensures strategic, engaging communications for all constituents regarding the institutional mission, vision, strategic plan, and programs.
• Serve as an effective people manager, supporting the marketing and communications team with clear expectations, coaching, and accountability to ensure excellence in outcomes.

Admissions & Enrollment Management

• Oversee the Director of Admissions in implementing all aspects of recruitment, admissions, and enrollment management.
• Ensure admissions goals align with the school’s long-term strategic vision, financial sustainability, and mission to serve a diverse student body.
• Partner with the Director of Admissions to develop strategies that strengthen mission-aligned enrollment, advance the “all-girls advantage,” and deliver an exceptional experience for prospective families.
• Support high-quality admissions programming—including Open House, shadow visits, admitted student events, feeder school outreach, and orientations—ensuring they reflect radical hospitality and showcase Presentation’s distinctiveness.
• Review and support reporting on admissions and enrollment trends to the President, senior leadership, and Board of Directors.
• Collaborate with the Principal, CFO, and other leaders to ensure financial aid and enrollment strategies are aligned with both access and sustainability goals.
• Act as an effective people manager, empowering the admissions team to achieve enrollment goals, grow professionally, and deliver exceptional results through accountability and collaboration.

Other Duties
This job description is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or tasks required of the employee. Additional duties or responsibilities may be assigned as needed, with or without prior notice.

The role involves managing diverse and complex tasks, often requiring creative solutions to address challenges. It also requires a high degree of collaboration across departments and stakeholders. Operating within a professional school environment, this position is an essential people manager who leads projects from inception to resolution, contributing to the overall success of the school’s mission and strategic goals.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• BA or BS degree in a relevant field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Seven to ten years of leadership experience in advancement, admissions, enrollment management, or related fields, preferably within a Catholic or independent school setting.
• Demonstrated track record of success in fundraising and/or enrollment growth, with a deep understanding of the Silicon Valley philanthropic and educational landscape.
• Proven skills in hiring, evaluating, managing, and motivating staff, with a record of building high-functioning teams.
• Familiarity with relational fundraising databases, preferably Bloomerang, and admissions systems, preferably Ravenna.
• Experience leveraging digital marketing strategies and tools to support both enrollment and development goals.
• CFRE certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong alignment with the mission, vision, and values of Presentation High School and the Catholic educational tradition, with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Extensive experience in independent schools or nonprofits, with comprehensive knowledge of philanthropy, enrollment management, and community engagement.
• High emotional intelligence (EQ) and a passion for engaging in a dynamic, mission-driven school environment.
• Comprehensive expertise in advancement, including annual giving, stewardship, major gifts, capital/endowment campaigns, alumnae relations, communications, and special events, paired with knowledge of modern admissions practices.
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring, managing, and inspiring teams, fostering collaboration, and motivating employees to achieve shared goals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to engage effectively with diverse constituencies, including senior-level leaders, Board members, faculty, staff, donors, volunteers, prospective families, and community partners, with authenticity, humility, and integrity.
• A skilled relationship-builder with the ability to form strong, authentic connections with colleagues, donors, prospective students and families, and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with CRM, admissions, and marketing systems (e.g., Bloomerang, Ravenna, digital campaign platforms) and the ability to use data to drive results.
• A self-starter with strong organizational skills; able to manage multiple projects, set priorities, and maintain high energy with a sense of urgency.
• Results-oriented, with entrepreneurial drive, analytical and negotiation skills, and the ability to inspire action and momentum in others.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with a strategic mindset and the ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described below represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, Presentation High School provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets the skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. 

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal 
• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus
• May be required to attend conference and training sessions within the Bay Area or in/or out-of-state locations
• Minimal travel
• May be required to lift up to 10 lbs 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described below represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Typical Office Environment

Mostly indoor office environment with windows

Time spent throughout campus documenting activities

Offices with equipment noise

Offices with frequent interruptions 

Compensation

Presentation High School provides pay ranges that represent its good faith estimate of what the school reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Recruitment Requirements & Timeline

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and application via the online application portal. Position is open until filled.

Eeo Statement

Presentation High School is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity and inclusion and, in this spirit, particularly welcomes applications from women, persons of color, and members of historically underrepresented groups. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or other protected category in accordance with applicable law. The school will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with a disability.