Senior Director of Operations and Campaign Management

The Taft School (Taft), one of the nation’s premier college-preparatory boarding and day schools, seeks a strategic and collaborative advancement professional to serve as senior director of operations and campaign management (senior director). This is a compelling opportunity for a skilled leader to oversee the critical areas of advancement services, donor engagement and stewardship, and constituent relations and special events. The senior director will expertly devise cohesive strategies to elevate these functions as the advancement enterprise raises sights under the new leadership of Kathleen Cleary, who began her tenure as chief advancement officer (CAO) in September 2025 and comes to Taft following a decade of leadership experience at Phillips Academy. The senior director will also play a critical role in devising, implementing, and overseeing campaign strategies as Taft prepares to embark on a historic comprehensive campaign that will further the School’s mission, values, and culture: its insistence on excellence, passion for community and belonging, commitment to improvement and to service, and pride in school spirit.

The Taft School was founded in 1890 by Horace D. Taft who believed that character, above all else, determines success in life. Nearly 135 years later, Taft students, or Tafties as they are colloquially known, continue to live out the School’s motto of “Not to be served, but to serve” both in and out of the classroom. Taft’s appeal is strong, as evidenced by its 1,650 annual applications and 16 percent acceptance rate. The campus attracts a mix of boarding and day students and prioritizes enrolling diverse classes: 42 percent of students identify as students of color; 19 percent are international students, hailing from 54 different countries; and 35 percent of the student body receives financial aid. The School’s tradition of alumni giving is notable, with 34 percent of alumni donating annually, ensuring its ability to sustain excellence for the coming generations. Additionally, more than 90 percent of Taft’s current parents contribute annually to the Parents’ Fund.

Reporting to the CAO, the senior director will serve as a leader within the advancement enterprise and strategically guide the key areas of advancement services, including prospect development and donor records, reporting, and analysis; donor engagement and stewardship; constituent relations, including alumni and parent relations; and advancement-related events. As Taft continues to invest in the growth and sophistication of its advancement enterprise, the senior director is presented with the opportunity to build out these key functions and make significant hires to the team. The senior director will oversee a team of 10 to 12 professionals.

This individual will also importantly serve as one of the key architects and drivers of Taft’s impending comprehensive campaign. In consultation with the CAO, the senior director will provide vision for and serve as a high-level strategist in developing priorities, plans, and tactics to coalesce a complex advancement enterprise through end-to-end campaign planning and execution. As a catalyst for synergy, the senior director will be relied upon to motivate, deploy, and mobilize advancement staff and resources to leverage the strength of Taft’s existing advancement programs and infrastructure during a time of evolution and growth. With a strong service orientation and broad institutional perspective, the senior director will forge trusted and solutions-oriented relationships with advancement colleagues and, by extension, Taft’s leaders, top benefactors, and esteemed volunteers to create awareness, inspire confidence, and generate support for campaign priorities.

Critical to success will be a collaborative and strategic approach to building trust among a growing advancement enterprise, as well as a results- and systems-oriented approach to contribute to a culture that is dedicated to excellence. With a collegial and accessible leadership style, the senior director will foster a team culture that prioritizes providing the highest level of service to colleagues and supports comprehensive success of Taft’s frontline fundraising efforts. This individual will be a critical partner across the School and within the department to analyze, engage, and elevate advancement efforts by contributing to creative and entrepreneurial engagement strategies; implementing industry best practices; and applying data-informed decision-making to achieve ambitious annual and long-range fundraising and engagement benchmarks. Importantly, the incoming senior director must possess a deep appreciation for the mission, history, and values of Taft, along with an authentic and enthusiastic spirit to serve as an external representative of the School.

Jack Gorman is leading this search with Nicole Poe, Maureen Bogdan, and Ryan Cheung. 

The Taft School is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. It is the policy of The Taft School to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to age, gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, actual or perceived disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran’s status, genetic predisposition, or any other class protected by law.