Associate Director of Donor Relations and Development Communications

🔍 School of Engineering, Stanford, California, United States

New

📁: Development

📅   : 8 hours ago Post Date

📅   : 107813 Requisition #

Note: This position has been deemed critical by the School of Engineering Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

The School of Engineering

Stanford Engineering has been at the forefront of innovation for nearly a century, creating pivotal technologies that have transformed the worlds of information technology, communications, health care, energy, business and beyond. Our faculty and students are creative risk-takers who pursue excellence across a breadth of disciplines. Our alumni include some of the world's most successful leaders in technology and business. Our staff are critical to enabling Stanford Engineering to accomplish its mission: seeking solutions to some of the world's most urgent challenges and educating leaders who will make the world a better place through the power of engineering principles, techniques and systems.

The Development Office of the School of Engineering at Stanford University is seeking an Associate Director of Donor Relations and Development Communications. The Donor Relations and Development Communications team is responsible for planning and executing a broad range of stewardship and development communications activities designed to strengthen ties to the School of Engineering and enhance the desire of individuals to provide philanthropic support. Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations and Development Communications, you will work to implement a creative, consistent, and donor-centric stewardship and development communications strategy. If you are an excellent writer and strategic thinker who thrives in a fast-paced environment, this role may be perfect for you!

In this role, you will:

Participate in defining the donor relations strategy for the school/unit portfolio of donors in adherence to the university's donor relations guidelines. Ensure messaging aligns with school/unit communications plans and strategic priorities. Identify key information, messages and topics.
Develop and implement programs that provide comprehensive reporting to donors. Communicate donor relations plans across the organization and/or school, department and with partner teams and maintain open channels of communication with donor relations colleagues across the university.
Establish and maintain strong partnerships with gift officers in order to maximize engagement for their portfolios of donors. Build complete understanding of each donor's involvement and giving activity.
Oversee design and production of development materials from creation to deployment. Research, develop, execute and manage high-profile written reporting on complex topics.
Develop, compile and edit supplementary materials that support written communication (i.e., backgrounders, biographies, briefing materials and talking points, and other related materials).
Responsible for the allocation of resources for donor relations reporting, the gift acknowledgment process, and donor relations requests.
Coordinate with staff and development officers to develop and produce key donor relations deliverables, including written (hard copy, email or online content), video, or events.
Execute fiduciary responsibility to ensure that gifts are awarded and utilized in accordance with donor expectations and university policy in a timely manner. Resolve discrepancies and escalate when needed.
Manage vendors/consultants on specific projects and may oversee key vendor and consultant relationships.
May manage program budget, goals and objectives in alignment with organizational goals, in partnership with director.
Set priorities for school/unit donor relations functions and manage their overall effectiveness. Develop tracking methods for reporting of the team's overall productivity.
May be involved in hiring, training, setting individual performance goals and completing annual performance reviews.
Other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience (Required):

Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (Required):

Strong client service orientation and attention to detail.
Excellent interpersonal skills, and professionalism to interact with a wide range of people at different levels of an organization.
Ability to clearly and credibly communicate a diverse array of topics.
Ability to articulate progress and impact in a way that is understandable and meaningful to various constituencies.
Demonstrated understanding of a wide variety of donor audiences.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to edit high-level correspondence.
Demonstrated experience leading project teams.
Proven ability to effectively and efficiently manage multiple priorities, with competing deadlines.
Must be able to conduct research and ability to interpret information available in a database.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Tact, discretion, and experience handling confidential information.
Proficient in MS Office Suite and database applications.
Demonstrated project management skills.
Demonstrated sound judgment in situations requiring independent decision-making and in handling confidential and sensitive material.

Education & Experience (Desired):

Experience in a fundraising organization, ideally in development communication or stewardship roles.
Experience in higher education, particularly complex research institutions.
Experience with relationship or prospect management systems.
Familiarity with InDesign and/or Photoshop.

Working Conditions:

May require working flexible hours, including nights and weekends.

Physical Requirements:

Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks, stand/walk, sit, use a telephone.
Occasionally light/fine grasping, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds, writing by hand.

Work Standards:

Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu

Pay Range:

The expected pay range for this position is $108,365 to $117,923 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Why Stanford is for you:

Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:

Freedom to grow. We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
A healthier you. Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!

How to Apply:

We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button. To be considered, please submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application. The cover letter should briefly describe why you believe you are a good fit for this position.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additional Information