Chief Advancement Officer

About the role

Position: Chief Advancement Officer Organization: Frankel Jewish Academy Location: West Bloomfield, MI

About the Organization: Frankel Jewish Academy is a rigorous college preparatory high school dedicated to academic excellence and Jewish literacy. We inspire students to think critically, creatively, and compassionately, dedicating themselves to Jewish tradition, peoplehood, and the State of Israel, and to become lifelong learners and leaders.

Overview: Join a vibrant, mission-driven school community! Frankel Jewish Academy (FJA) seeks a visionary, strategic, and highly collaborative Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to serve as an executive leader of our institutional advancement and a member of our Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Head of School. The CAO will break away from episodic, transactional messaging and fundraising to architect and drive a unified, high-performing "Advancement Engine" — an intertwined short- and long-term strategy that blends enrollment/admissions, development, and marketing into one cohesive vision. The CAO will provide high-level strategic management to the advancement department, directly supervising three Directors (Admissions/Recruitment, Development, and Marketing/Communications) to ensure total alignment across all school growth initiatives.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
• Experience: Minimum 7 years senior development and advancement leadership experience, ideally within an independent school or Jewish communal setting
• Campaign Provenance: Significant personal involvement and documented success in capital campaigns, major gift programs, and direct solicitations from high-net-worth individuals and foundations
• Strategic Acumen: Well-versed in high-level strategic planning, operational data analysis, and long-term pipeline development
• Systems Literacy: Proficient with advancement software, operational tools, and donor database ecosystems
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with a proven record of motivating and mentoring staff
• Key Responsibilities:
• FJA Professionals:
• Are invested in and dedicated to our mission and the school community's continued growth and success
• Create an inclusive, open-minded school community and learning environment for our students
• Embrace cross-curricular learning opportunities to create meaningful educational experiences inside and outside the classroom
• Are passionate, dynamic, and nurturing mentors
• Seek opportunities for innovation and growth
• Value responsive and collaborative professional relationships
• Encourage students to challenge themselves to think critically about the world around them
• Foster authentic connections with students through support, consistency, professionalism, and understanding
• Inspire students to approach the world with awe and wonder
• You'll have opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and to shape the advancement strategy of a leading independent school.
• Ideal Prospective Candidates
• Strategic and relationship-driven leader with a strong advancement background, including experience building and scaling a Development program from the ground up
• Minimum of 7 years of advancement experience, preferably in an independent school setting
• Proven success in major gift fundraising, donor cultivation, and capital campaigns
• Excellent communicator with exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
• Effective team manager with a track record of mentoring, motivating, and supporting staff
• Proficient with advancement software, database programs, and operational tools
• Familiarity with the Detroit Jewish community is a plus, though not required
• Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Executive Leadership & Strategic Integration
• Architect of the "Advancement Engine": Lead the integration of marketing, development, and recruitment into a synchronized, multi-year institutional strategy
• Departmental Supervision: Manage, mentor, and set clear professional goals for the three department Directors (Admissions/Recruitment, Development, and MarComm), fostering an aligned team environment

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