Manager of Development Operations

Position Summary

The Manager of Development Operations is responsible for maintaining and developing further operational strength for the Development Department, ensuring our team can provide a high level of customer service for our donors. This position leads development operations functions for the Development Department and serves as a leader in data cleanliness and strong operational procedures for the company. Success in this position looks like timeliness and accuracy of data entry, gift acknowledgement, reconciliation, and reporting to enable the Development Department to operate as effectively as possible.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Responsibilities:

Gift Processing & Acknowledgement

• Ensure timely and accurate entry of all gifts, recurring gifts, in-kind donations, pledges, and pledge payments into database.

• Ensure timely and accurate creation of acknowledgement letters to donors.

• Manage matching gift process, including updates of websites, management of usernames and passwords, and preparation of required documents following up to ensure matching funds are received.

• Partner with Senior Manager of Donor Engagement to generate appeals, source codes, and more to accurately track donor response to solicitations.

Tax Statements

• Generate timely and accurate tax statements for donors. Partner with colleagues across Development and Marketing & PR Departments to ensure delivery.

Reporting

• Manage data requests for Development Department, including lists for event attendance, email recipients, solicitation segments, mailing lists, etc.

• Manage ad hoc data requests from Director of Development and Deputy Directors of Development.

Quality Control & Financial Reconciliation

• Act as liaison between Finance and Development Departments, implementing quality control measures that ensure donor intentions are reflected accurately in gift documentation, gift/pledge entry, and recognition.

• Respond to inquiries from Finance Department regarding gifts and pledges, to ensure regular and accurate reconciliation of contributed revenue.

• Manage preparation of contributed revenue statement for annual report.

• Data Cleanliness & Documentation

• Lead Development Department efforts for data cleanliness.

• Lead Development Department efforts to document data and operational processes and maintain shared understanding of standard operating procedures.

• Maintain constituent records. Partner with Marketing & PR Department, including Box Office, to ensure regular updates of records, including merging duplicate records and processing obituary notifications.

Other

• Partner with Deputy Director of Development, Individual Giving to streamline and modernize operational processes.

• Partner with Senior Manager of Donor Engagement to ensure clean data, excellent gift functions, timely gift reporting, and exceptional customer service.

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Participate in organizational events as requested;

• Attend all staff meetings, Development Department, and Advancement team meetings as required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Strong, technical database management skills. Familiarity with Tessitura a plus.

• An understanding of non-profit finance and related reports.

• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• An ability to build relationships with donors and prospective donors.

• Extraordinary attention to detail and a commitment to meeting deadlines.

• Openness to AI and automation.

• Openness to change, willingness to test and iterate.

• An interest in opera and the performing arts.

Compensation

• This is a full time, non-exempt position

• Compensation: $57,000-$63,000 annual salary

• Robust benefits package including health insurance, open PTO policy, 401k match, and more.

• Opera Theatre has a flexible work policy which allows for some hybrid remote work and asynchronous schedule arrangements, depending on position and other factors.

Apply:

Applicants for the position are asked to submit a resume along with a cover letter that describes their interest in the position and outlines their relevant experience and qualifications.

About Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization known for innovative productions featuring outstanding young artists. The company offers a festival opera season each spring which attracts ticket buyers from zip codes throughout the metropolitan area, as well as visitors from nearly 50 states and multiple countries. As of 2025, OTSL has presented 45 world premieres, which may be the highest percentage of new work in the repertory of any American company. In addition to the spring Festival Season, OTSL operates year-round education and community programs serving nearly 17,000 local children and adults. Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has a year-round artistic and administrative staff of approximately 45, which grows to nearly 500 during the Festival Season. Several hundred volunteer members of the Opera Theatre Guild provide support for all aspects of Opera Theatre’s work and advocate for the company throughout the greater St. Louis community. The company’s annual budget size is approximately $12 million; contributed revenue represents more than 50% of budget.

At Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, we value equity, diversity, and mutual respect. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, people with disabilities, and others who have been historically excluded to apply. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our community. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. OTSL will not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion or belief; national, social, or ethnic origin; age; sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression; physical, mental, or sensory disability; family or parental status; genetic information or characteristics; protected veteran status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. OTSL will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

If you need assistance or accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact (314) 963-4233 or

tbennett@opera-stl.org