Associate Director for Donor Programs

Associate Director for Donor Programs

Job no: 508792
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: Development
Union: PSU
Categories: Development & Fundraising, Advancement

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Associate Director for Donor Programs reports to the Executive Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations and plays a critical role in the development, implementation and management of recognition programs that honor and celebrate donors at key lifetime giving milestones; promotes additional (and increased) giving; and deepens each donor’s personal commitment to the campus through personalized and meaningful engagement. This position often works autonomously and requires creativity and innovation. This position includes the possibility of working remotely from the New England region.

Essential Functions

• Programmatic Development: Develop, implement, and lead broad-based stewardship and communication plans and programs that strategically target a variety of giving levels and large strategically identified constituency groups. In close collaboration with Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, develop and improve execution of initiatives and programs in an effort to communicate gratitude and impact to annual giving donors with the goal of increasing donor retention. Programs may include the first-time donor recognition program, young alumni donor programs, loyalty giving program, Faculty/Staff campaign, Giving Tuesday, UMassGives and I Love UMass Day.  In partnership with Advancement Communications and Annual Giving, create specialized communications to recognize positive giving behaviors, such as payroll deduction/monthly credit card giving, reactivated donors and donors who increase/double the size of their gifts.
• Donor Recognition Societies: Conduct periodic audit of, revamp and revitalize centralized giving societies and develop programming aimed at building stronger, deeper, relationships with our donors; create giving society collateral materials that increase donor awareness and increasing levels of membership status. Collaborate with members of the Gift Planning team to design and execute specialized communications and engagement opportunities for members of the Legacy (William Smith Clark) Society. Oversee recognition data, production of rosters, and membership criteria; with communications colleagues, coordinate production of recognition society supporting materials; create strategy and programming for annual donor recognition event.
• Enhance the Donor Giving Experience: Seek to enhance current processes and implement new technology for added efficiency, improved donor experience, and benefit to unit partners. Represent our donors’ best interests by providing strategic input for process improvements through cross-team collaboration and workgroup participation as requested by the Executive Director. Design and implement regular donor survey techniques as well as programmatic implementations based on survey responses. Research and provide benchmarking data to ensure all donor programs are on par with, or surpass, similar programs at peer institutions.

Other Functions

• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelors degree
• 3 years of experience in development.  Equivalent experience in private sector marketing or public relations will be considered.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively and effectively with senior management, staff and constituent groups across all levels of the organization and to maintain productive professional relationships in complex, demanding environments.
• Computer skills in using word processing and spreadsheet applications as well as ability to access and update a computerized donor database.
• Ability to travel occasionally and work occasional nights and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelors degree in Business, Communications, Marketing or related field.
• Experience in program development.
• Stewardship and/or donor relations experience.
• Higher education experience.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Salary Information

Level 26

PSU Salary Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply, please provide a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references. This position will remain opened until filled.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.