Senior Associate Director, Annual Giving - Direct Appeals

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/11

Please note: The target budgeted salary for this position is $98,500 - $100,000 annually. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.

For full consideration, please apply by Thursday, May 30.

Job Summary:

High-level officer with responsibility for yielding high-impact results through the design, implementation and management of innovative programs to identify, engage/cultivate, solicit, and/or steward prospective donors. Builds and adapts programs to a point of sustainability. Monitors and reports on team activity and progress to goals, initiates and manages change as needed. Participates in one-to-one relationship management strategy development and execution with high-profile/high potential volunteers and donors. Serves as liaison to both University and Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA). May supervise groups of volunteers and/or staff.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• High-level responsibility for envisioning, developing and implementing strategic plans relating to specific segments, programs, support teams to meet goals for engagement, dollars, and donors.
• Reviews plans, meets with leadership, key faculty, and staff, and recommends changes or improvements to dramatically increase engagement & participation & meet organizational and donor needs and objectives.
• Shares strategic responsibility with regional/ market/ school-based managers.
• Maintains awareness of University and department organizational goals and activities of other departments.
• Manage an annual giving calendar that includes soliciting and stewarding gifts primarily through mail and email.
• Develop new solicitation and stewardship practices, across mail, email, and the web to increase dollars and donors and improve donor retention.

Collaboration

• Involves high level of collaboration with both internal department and broader University partners to identify common goals & develop & execute strategies to increase integration.
• Please bullet examples of key partnerships and work involved below:
• -Marketing and Communications
• -Reporting and Analytics
• -ARD User Services

Prospects & Gifts

• Researches & develops prospects including up-to-date knowledge on assigned groups & works with other areas of development to coordinate contacts.
• Develops & implements overall communication plan to meet engagement and/or participation goals for broader segments within Northwestern community, including alumni, friends, parents, & faculty/staff.
• Plays a significant role in individual relationship management of volunteers and donors.
• Identifies prospects.
• Develops and implements individual engagement plans.
• Creates programs &/or events that promote engagement & philanthropic opportunities.
• Personally solicits gifts.
• Plans and/or executes individual stewardship for gifts.

Administration

• Manages activities related to high-level solicitations and stewardship.
• Develops & implements processes &/or procedures.
• Engages and reviews vendors and contracts.
• Giving Society Lead - Northwestern University Leadership Circle. Duties include manual gift club updates, data quality reviews, e-newsletter creation and deployment, and updating the website with content as needed
• Conducts associated ongoing data analysis to determine trends, results & future plans.
• Reports to senior management and key collaborators.
• Provides necessary documentation and follow-up to donors & internal contacts.
• Responsible for duties assigned to supervised staff.
• Optimizes the use of technology including social media for marketing, communications & data reporting & analysis.
• Assists in the development of dashboards & metrics which provide quantitative analysis of program & event outcomes.

Budget

• Drafts budget(s) for larger more-complex programs &/or, reviews with manager.
• Manages approved budget ensuring to minimize expenses while maximizing return.
• Drafts special budget requests for manager's review.

Supervisory

• Supervises 1-2 staff &/or provides work direction.
• Provides training to staff within or outside of immediate dept or division in regard to function.

Miscellaneous

Performed other duties

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Bachelor's degree or 2 years equivalent experience in development function.
• 6 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Team leadership; curiosity and analytical thinking, global/organizational perspective; complex problem solving; ability to work in fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Experience with CRM platforms, databases, and analytics

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Adept in use of software and data, including experience with Salesforce Marketing Cloud as well as constituent records management.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.