Associate Director, Development, PME
The University of Chicago

Job Info

---

Department

ARD PME

About the Department

Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) engages alumni (220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional, and social activities on campus, around the world, and online. ARD raises $600 million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) development team works collaboratively to secure gifts and grants from individuals and institutions to support PME priorities and objectives, as set by both the PME Dean and Director of Development, and foster increased engagement with PME. The development team's goal is to significantly increase philanthropic support in the next three to five years, through in-person meetings, carefully curated cultivation and stewardship events, and other forms of donor engagement. The team collaborates with colleagues across ARD to broaden the exposure of the PME to alumni and friends of the University of Chicago.

Job Summary

The Associate Director's primary responsibilities are to secure leadership annual, major, and planned gifts as well as work closely with the Director of Development to develop and execute strategies that support engaging and growing the PME donor base. This includes serving as a frontline gift officer, managing development communications, coordinating stewardship and donor relations, and leveraging programs and events to strengthen donor engagement. The Associate Director provides leadership in the development department on various projects and areas of responsibility and operates with a high degree of independence.

This position manages programs designed to meet University fundraising goals for contributed income. Serves as strategist of efforts to secure gifts and build relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations with potential to make gifts. Develops communication strategies for projects.

Responsibilities

• Drives PME activity for major gifts. Manages portfolio of 80 -100 prospects. Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals or institutions that have the capacity and interest to make five and six-figure gift commitments to PME.
• Collaborates with the Director of Development, Prospect Management, and Prospect Research to identify and target key gaps in coverage among prospect segments with promising fundraising potential and build leadership annual, major gift, and planned giving pipelines.
• Achieves personal fundraising activity goals monthly, quarterly, and annually. Maintains active and regular local travel schedule to meet with donors and prospective donors.
• Assists in the planning and execution of strategic events and programs designed to advance relationships with prospects and donors, including the semi-annual PME Advisory Council meetings.
• Cultivates relationships with PME Advisory Council members and develops corresponding solicitation strategies.
• Leads or contributes to development communications including writing appeal letters and development talking points, briefings, and proposals; creating and overseeing donor content for print and digital publications; and collaborating and liaising with PME's marketing department and ARD's strategic communications and direct response teams.
• Develops and implements compelling plans for stewardship and donor relations and seeks new and innovative ways to engage donors and prospective donors in order to increase fundraising.
• Provides leadership in the development department and serves as project manager for key initiatives as assigned.
• Establishes and maintains strong links between PME and ARD colleagues to ensure a coordinated approach to multi-interest prospects and donors and the implementation of fundraising best practices.
• Works with Assistant Director to identify and refine useful reporting from development CRM.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Has a deep understanding of fundraising operations for a school or department of the University. Participates in the development of fundraising goals, policies and short and long-term strategies. Assesses, analyzes and evaluates fundraising programs, specialized projects or major events.
• Prepares annual development reports assessing progress toward achievement of goals. Analyzes and evaluates information to identify trends and patterns, evaluates strategies and makes recommendations.
• Establishes fundraising goals and priorities based on department objectives, designs strategies to meet those goals, and monitors progress against goals.
• Identifies, analyzes, and qualifies donor interest to maximize giving. Helps with overall planning efforts for the University's most important prospects. Works independently to develop communication strategies for projects, including publications and public presentations.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
---
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of professional work experience in fundraising, development, alumni relations, donor relations, nonprofit management, research, marketing, communications, or similar professional work experience.
• Proven record of accomplishment in solicitations and cultivation of prospective donors.
• Leading a project team or managing staff.
• Working with academic or non-profit leaders, especially in fields relating to the sciences.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• 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 and the Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Competencies

• 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, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.

Working Conditions

• 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.

Application Documents

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

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

---