Senior Associate Director, Donor Relations - College - JR26881-3800

at University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

• Oversees program(s) to steward and engage donors to the College at all giving levels.
• Creates and executes stewardship plans in partnership with ARD and University leadership.
• Engages with donors and students remotely and at visits, meetings, and events.
• Serves as representative and voice of donor, participating in the planning and execution of events and experiences that are donor and student-centric, strategic, advance overall fundraising goals, and are consistent and coordinated across the University.
• Develops and manages communications plans for donor stewardship and engagement.
• Acts as a key partner and strategist for naming opportunities and donor recognition events such as building dedications.
• Educates and trains colleagues on policies and best practices through a variety of communication tools and vehicles including written information, meetings, presentations, and staff training.
• Manages staff including hiring, assignment of work, mentoring, promoting professional growth, and evaluating performance.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions and to broadly diversify the advancement profession.
• Guides the creation of University-wide standards on appropriate ways to recognize and steward donors. Uses a deep understanding of donor programs to develop policies and quality control guidelines for donor relations programs.
• Has full authority to develop communication strategies for publications related to donors and volunteers.
• Has a deep understanding within the areas of recognition, stewardship, acknowledgement, and proposal writing. Sets activity goals and develops the annual operating budget for donor related programs.
• Performs other related work as needed.

• Coursework in project management, business, finance, economics, analytics, library and information science, or non-profit management.

• Minimum five years of professional experience in nonprofit management, donor relations, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional work experience.
• Minimum one year leading a project team or managing staff.
• Minimum one year experience developing and monitoring budgets.

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including the University's donor relationship management system, Microsoft Windows computer environment, and the Microsoft Office Suite.

• Build, lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse team, and encourage growth and change in both people and programs. A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, kindness, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Self-motivated and have the ability to take initiative.
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects independently with a high attention to detail.
• Lead a team strategically and cohesively.
• Align work with broader ARD and University strategies and priorities.
• Develop partnerships by communicating and demonstrating the value of stewardship.
• Build and scale programs.

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)