Job Description
About the role
The Associate, Strategic Services provides support to a portfolio of clients and within Aperio’s Strategic Services team. Strategic Services is responsible for developing and implementing Aperio’s core ‘products’ (services to nonprofit organizations), approaches (ways of delivering those services), resources (tools and templates), and standards (quality levels/controls). The Associate, Strategic Services ensures these elements are seamlessly integrated into the Client Services team’s workflows, enabling high-quality deliverables and exceptional client experiences.
As a vital member of the team, the Associate brings a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset, exceptional organizational skills, and a collaborative approach to enhancing operational efficiency and delivering high-quality results in alignment with Aperio’s vision and mission.
Client support and strategic services operations (75%)
Project management & operations
The Associate, Strategic Services serves as the project manager for a portfolio of nonprofit clients, supporting our Client Services team in driving proactive, strategic, and operational work across engagements and internal initiatives.
- Deliver high-quality, timely, and relevant support to both Client Services and the Strategic Services team, prioritizing exceptional service and innovation
- Lead day-to-day project execution by developing agendas, capturing and synthesizing notes, tracking action steps in Asana, and ensuring follow-through across stakeholders
- Support Client Services by developing and executing actionable project plans, leveraging Aperio Resources to drive efficient, high-quality delivery
- Design, implement, and refine systems to support Strategic Services operations, including tracking deliverables across the client portfolio, managing team workflows (e.g., inboxes), and supporting reporting, planning, and internal initiatives.
- Manage ‘up, down, and out’ to coordinate the activities of diverse internal and external stakeholders, ensuring timely progress on projects
- Provide direct organizational and project support to the Senior VP on special capacity-building initiatives, such as: implementing AI, client feedback surveys, product development, and development of resources for Aperio’s ‘resource library’
- Provide general operational support to management of client services, such as data collection, reporting & analysis, planning call topics/agendas, and creating resources for the team
- Support special projects, including vendor relations, communication drafting (e.g., emails, memos), and administrative tasks
- Serve as a subject-matter expert on contents of the ‘resource library’, directing team members to the most relevant resources and proactively developing strategies to address challenges
Queue management
The Associate ensures timely, quality fulfillment of all ‘shared services’—deliverables created by subject-matter experts—provided to the Client Services team to support their fulfillment of services to clients.
- Oversee and manage Asana queues for client deliverables across writing, design, data & analytics, research, and DevOps support
- Ensure deliverables are of high quality, aligned with client expectations, and delivered on time
- Prioritize, assign, and monitor deliverables across queues, to provide clear updates to stakeholders to ensure timely, high-quality completion
- Act as a liaison between requestors on the Client Services team and subject-matter experts working on deliverables (usually one of Aperio’s Expert Network members or a team member), facilitating communication and resolving questions to ensure timely, quality deliverables
- Deliver exceptional customer service to Expert Network members, ensuring they are well-supported in their partnerships with the Client Services team
Data & analytics and research services
The Associate contributes to Aperio’s data screening and segmentation work, to support the fulfillment of data & analytics and prospect research requests—either directly or in collaboration with additional subject-matter experts.
- Partner with Senior VP and subject-matter experts to develop, document, and continuously improve data & analytics and prospect research services, including automation and process enhancements
- Personally fulfill standard data screening and segmentation requests, collaborating with the Senior VP, the requesting Client Services team, and vendors
- Support Client Services team in understanding and applying insights from analyses and provide clear next steps for portfolio creation and fundraising growth strategy development
- Serve as a subject-matter expert on prospect research, maintaining working knowledge of industry standards, best practices, ethics, tools, methodologies, etc.; develop resources for Aperio’s ‘resource library’
- Coordinate fulfillment of customized prospect research, including briefings, qualification snapshots, new donor lists, and tailored research projects
- Contribute to fulfillment of customized prospect research as needed
Business development and other internal responsibilities (15%)
- Maintain a strong understanding of Aperio’s vision, services, fundraising model, and client needs to provide tailored operational support
- Contribute to Aperio’s efforts to fight racism and discrimination, especially in nonprofits, fundraising, and philanthropy
- Approach all interactions with clients, team members, and our community with curiosity, seizing each opportunity to learn about nonprofits, philanthropy, fundraising, and consulting
- Enter business development information into Aperio’s CRM, including contact information, meeting notes, and next steps related to business development relationships, as directed
- Prepare communications, emails, letters, and memoranda, as needed
- Support Client Services team with Business Development scheduling, as needed
- Present/facilitate and participate in conferences, workshops, and webinars hosted by Aperio and other industry groups
- Create articles and videos that educate, equip, and inspire nonprofit leaders and fundraisers
- Promote and engage with Aperio content across social media channels
- Perform other related duties as assigned
Qualifications
- 3+ years of work experience in project management; experience in fundraising, events and/or consulting preferred
- Demonstrated analytical capabilities, with advanced Microsoft Excel experience preferred
- Operationally minded, exceptional detail orientation, and consistent follow-through
- Strong relationship management, interpersonal, collaboration, and communication (written and oral) skills
- Ability to work well with all levels of staff, clients, management, vendors, etc.
- Ability to ‘manage up’ and ask the right questions of leadership
- Adept at designing ‘fool-proof’ systems and processes
- Proactive in identifying opportunities to streamline operations and improve processes through effective communication and teamwork
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects to successful outcomes
- Self-starter with ability to complete tasks with minimal direction and supervision
- Eagerness to learn new knowledge and skills
- Experience with CRMs preferred
- Outstanding organizational skills and ability
- Proficient in Microsoft Office PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook
- Ability to travel for assignments, as needed
Location
This role is currently a fully remote role for individuals based in the United States. East Coast or Central time zones preferred.
In the future, Aperio may have an office in major cities that our team members are welcome to use. Periodic travel and in-person meeting requirements.
To facilitate work-from-home, Aperio provides essential technology equipment and a monthly mobile phone reimbursement of $75 per month.
Compensation
Aperio is pleased to offer competitive compensation and benefits, as well as accelerated career development opportunities.
Base compensation for this role is $55,000 - $65,000. Bonus and promotion opportunities available.
Benefits include:
- Flexible scheduling
- Paid time off (PTO) starting at 4 weeks per year, which includes 10 days of sick time and 10 days of vacation time
- 10-18 holidays per year, including closure over the year-end holidays
- Summer Fridays observed between the Friday before Memorial Day and the Friday before Labor Day
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401K with company contributing a non-elective 3% of pay in each pay period
