Senior Advancement Officer

Senior Advancement Officer
Vacancy #: 002453
Recruitment Range:  Commensurate with qualifications
Closing Date:  Open Until Filled 

Organizational Unit Overview
The Division of University Advancement is the friend-raising and fund-raising arm of the general academic areas of the university; therefore, all of its activities are designed to generate support, financial or otherwise for East Carolina University. The units and subunits within the division work together to identify, involve, cultivate, and solicit alumni and friends of the university to gain financial support from the private sector for the purpose of enhancing the long and short range growth and welfare of the university. The Office of the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement is responsible for the following diverse units: Alumni Relations, ECU Foundation, Medical and Health Sciences Foundation of ECU and University Development.

Job Duties
Responsibilities

• The senior officer is expected to help establish a new pace for ECU fundraising activity in terms of submitted gift proposals and closes in a fiscal year
• The senior officer assists in the on-boarding and orientation of new team members, including making introductions to prospects, facilitating joint training meetings, and sharing best practices for prospect management, gift solicitation and travel planning
• Manage a 150+ household portfolio in a multi-state area, the majority of which are qualified major gift prospects
• Develop a strategy for each prospect in portfolio; complete 150+ face-to-face visits annually, requiring regular overnight travel
• Using a data-driven approach with industry-wide best practices, and in collaboration with the Associate Vice Chancellor for development, establish and work toward annual visit, solicitation, dollars raised, and prospect qualification goals
• Working a minimum of 90 days in advance, plan and execute a travel strategy based on the assigned portfolio, supplemented by strategic prospect discovery work
• Maintain a working knowledge of the demographics and donor patterns of the assigned region; serve as a strategic facilitator of regional alumni events; facilitate Chancellor’s, Vice Chancellor’s, and Deans’ travel to the region
• At the direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor, proof reporting for all academic-advancement coordination meetings
• At the direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor, convene and lead prospect strategy discussions and other meetings as needed

The Advancement Officer will be expected to:

• Meet monthly, quarterly and annual activity metrics; document all prospect interaction appropriately
• Navigate a data-driven environment using Excel and the University’s alumni database to secure visits, manage portfolio activity and articulate one’s regional strategy
• Collaborate with University Advancement and campus-wide colleagues according to prospect management guidelines for interacting with donors
• Take advantage of internal expertise in Advancement Services and Gift Records to ensure proper use of database and gift processing; attend all required database and compliance trainings
• Attend internal team trainings around fundraising priorities and take ownership of one’s own professional development needs; be conversant in each college/unit’s top 3 fundraising priorities and partner with college-based liaisons as needed to create gift proposals and steward donors
• Take ownership of and serve as fundraising coordinator for at least one university fundraising initiative (e.g. merit aid, need-based aid, alumnae philanthropy, or artistic series); maintain prospect data, inform communications materials and aid in campaign planning related to assigned initiative
• Attend University-sponsored functions and events with a focus on assigned region; make use of campus activities and events to create stewardship opportunities for donors
• Travel extensively throughout a multi-state area; overnight and day travel required monthly

Minimum Education/Experience
Qualifications:
The Advancement Officer will be a fundraising professional who knows and understands the culture, nature, and purpose of development/advancement activities as they apply to the university environment and possess at a minimum:

• A Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years of experience in conducting successful personal solicitations for annual, leadership, or major gift fundraising or other pertinent/transferrable relevant experience
• Familiarity with industry best practices related to metrics; demonstrated appetite for the nature of high-volume discovery work
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, demonstrated competence in delivering presentations to individuals or groups
• Ability to interact positively with a wide range of individuals and position levels
• Initiative, innovation, and creativity; self-directed and motivated to excel in a metrics-driven environment
• Ability to plan, organize, implement, oversee, and coordinate multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Willing to approach roles and tasks with a commitment to the mission and values of East Carolina University

Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education
Master’s degree preferred

Special Instructions to Applicant
East Carolina University requires applicants to submit a candidate profile online in order to be considered for the position. Candidates must also submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references, including contact information, online.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Additional Instructions to Applicant
In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit any requested documents. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable.

Applications will be considered until position is filled. Please submit an online ECU application for vacancy # 002453 to ECU Human Resources at http://jobs.ecu.edu.

East Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. 

Visit this job posting at https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/37707