Assistant Director of Development

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Development and Alumni Relations Office

Sanford School of Public Policy

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Development & Alumni Relations (DAR), the Assistant Director of Development is a member of the Development and Alumni Relations team and a frontline fundraiser for the Sanford School. The Assistant Director identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards prospects and leadership donors through both individual and programmatic outreach. With a special focus on prospective leadership annual fund donors and first-time (student) donors, the Assistant Director will engage with Sanford constituents in person (both on campus and in region) and virtually.

The successful candidateWill have at least three years’ of experience working in alumni relations fundraising, sales, or a customer facing role.

• Experience in higher education preferred but not required. In addition the Associate Director will have strong organization and interpersonal skills, and will demonstrate a commitment to team work, curiosity and initiative.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. Creativity, adaptability, diplomatic skills, and a sense of humor are critical. This person must have the ability to understand the big picture, communicating how a desired strategy or objective fits into the overall vision and mission of the organization, and must demonstrate optimism and commitment.

WORK PERFORMED 

• Develop a thorough knowledge of the Sanford School’s history (including its namesake and founder), programs, interests, and people. Understand and effectively articulate the Sanford School of Public Policy’s strategic initiatives and priorities, goals, objectives, and needs to prospective donors. These include, but are not limited to, alumni engagement, annual giving, financial aid, faculty support, and a variety of interdisciplinary centers and programs.
• Conduct approximately 120 individual alumni meetings annually (virtual and in person) for the purpose of leadership donor and volunteer pipeline development. As part of this goal, the assistant director will be expected to travel approximately 6-8 times a year to an assigned region to cultivate, solicit and close new and established leadership support to the Sanford Annual Fund. Coordinate with University Development and other schools as cultivation and solicitation activities warrant.
• Serve as the primary Sanford liaison to the Duke Annual Fund on the central communication plan (CCP) by creating and delivering compelling Sanford content in a timely manner. In addition to the CCP, the Assistant Director will develop, plan and execute an incremental Sanford Annual Fund plan with the goal of expanding the base of support for the Sanford Annual Fund. To accomplish this goal, the Assistant Director will collaborate with the Digital Communications Coordinator to develop a digital campaign to support both the CCP efforts and additional Sanford directed solicitation efforts throughout the year.
• In coordination with the Assistant Director of Development & Alumni Relations, serve as a point of contact in assigned regions for the School’s alumni engagement program, helping to increase alumni involvement with the School as part of the department’s overarching goal of creating an engaged and supportive alumni network.
• Collaborate with the AED class gift infrastructure to identify Sanford Annual Fund advocates and integrate Sanford Annual Fund messaging into the larger undergraduate campaign. Evaluate the feasibility of a class gift program for the Master’s degree students.
• Serve as one of Sanford’s liaisons to University Development, communicating Sanford’s development activities, and looking for opportunities to collaborate with other school and unit development officers throughout the University on cultivation and solicitation of multi-interest prospects.
• Participate in professional development opportunities, on campus and through national organizations.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described above.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification.  This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

DEPARTMENTAL PREFERENCES

Education/Training

Work requires communications, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor’s degree program.

Experience

Work requires a minimum of three years’ experience in alumni relations, higher education, or a customer-facing role such as sales.

Experience in higher education fundraising is preferred.

Knowledge of the Sanford School or Duke University is preferred.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the following qualities/attributes:

• Outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Collaborative nature and willingness to travel.
• Familiarity with academic environments is highly desirable.

Given the nature of the role, the successful candidate with possess all physical and mental skills needed to plan and execute on domestic travel without restriction.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Work requires the skills and knowledge normally acquired through completion of a Bachelor's degree.

Experience

3 years progressive fundraising/customer relations/marketing or sales and promotions experience in team environment.

Proven verbal and written communication skills and computer experience with Windows environment.

Occasional travel required.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.