Assistant Director, Principal Gifts Strategy & Communications

GENERAL SUMMARY: The Assistant Director, Principal Gifts Strategy & Communications is responsible for performing complex and diverse work in support of fundraising goals for Chicago Booth’s Office of Advancement. Coordinates the advancement activity of Chicago Booth’s dean and deputy deans and the outreach of the Deans’ Office to donors and prospects, manages briefing and debriefing process for all visits completed by the dean and deputy deans. Guarantees the accuracy of all prospect related information in the Phoenix Connection Center (PCC), the University’s alumni database, serves as a power user of the database, assists the work of Booth Advancement’s Prospect Management Team and generates reports to track and guide the office’s work with principal gift prospects. Helps gift officers effectively utilize Booth leadership to help meet fundraising goals.

Provides information in response to specific requests, directs calls and other relevant information to appropriate individuals while using discretion and judgment with confidential information. Develops a network of internal contacts and provides advisory assistance to other Booth and University offices that seek it. They will be encouraged to initiate projects that will be beneficial to Booth’s Advancement Team and will be expected to anticipate next steps and follow-up related to fundraising activity and active prospect management at the principal gift level.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Assistant Director will coordinate the activity of the Principal Gifts Team, particularly in relation to the dean and deputy deans’ work with prospects and donors. They will serve as a secondary moves manager to facilitate, organize, and execute fundraising activities for principal gifts officers.

• Acts as the main contact and liaison for gift officers with the Deans’ Office; manages the scheduling, briefing, and debriefing process with the dean. Organizes dean’s travel for development and manages itineraries, assists with agendas and materials for gift officers, deans, and Chicago Booth leadership. Participates in strategy development.
• Writes briefings, acknowledgements, special greetings, and one-pagers created for specific audiences such as donors or prospective donors, family foundations, or volunteer solicitors. Ensures the timely production and transmittal of the dean’s correspondence with principal gift prospects.
• In partnership with the Advancement Communications Team, acts as a project manager for proposals and other written documents and coordinates with Chicago Booth’s Research Centers’ Teams.
• Leads the production of briefings for leadership and principal gift officers with support from the Research and Prospect Management Team.
• Coordinates recognition and stewardship with the Donor Relations Team.
• Manipulates and analyzes data to integrate information from the Phoenix Connection Center (PCC) and other databases into various reports and summaries. Creates reports related to alumni and prospects, assures appropriate information is captured in all applicable donor files and in PCC.
• In collaboration with the Research and Prospect Management Team, shares relevant reports to assist gift officers in active prospect management. Updates the PCC by creating prospect actions and maintaining solicitation data, strategy, and next steps.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:

• A Bachelor’s degree is required.
• A minimum of three years of work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, or similar work is required.
• Interest in pursuing a career in development is preferred.
• A strong commitment to customer service, proven track record of problem solving, and the ability to manage multiple projects and relationships is required.
• Strong verbal and writing skills, high attention to detail and follow-up, and excellent organizational skills is required.
• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn the internal workings of the University and the technology tools available to Chicago Booth staff, including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access is required.
• Ability to work independently, collegially, and collaboratively in a team setting is required.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact is required.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends is required.
• Familiarity with the University of Chicago is preferred.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information, please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. Academic job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5671 or email ACOppAdministrator@uchicago.edu with their request. Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-1841 or email talentacquisition@uchicago.edu with their request.