Assistant Director - Development & Sponsorships

Job Title

Assistant Director - Development & Sponsorships

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Dept Of Recreational Sports

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & identities.  Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who we are

The mission of the Department of Recreational Sports is to promote activity, wellness, and development by providing high quality, inclusive experiences and facilities for the students and community of Texas A&M University.

What we want

The Assistant Director, under general direction, provides inspired and results-oriented leadership within the Recreational Sports department to obtain private and public investment/ support for the department’s work, its programs, and its students’ success. Serves as designer and implementer of comprehensive resource development plans and strategies that include: individual donors/major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grant writing, special event management (including football game day tailgates), alumni management, stewardship programming, and donor research, recruitment, and retention. Establishes annual and long-term fundraising targets. Develops and implements strategies for their attainment. Develops and implements comprehensive strategies for establishing a strong public understanding of and support for the work Recreational Sports in the Texas A&M community. Serves as a guide to the department Executive Director and leadership team in establishing and maintaining relationships and communications in support of the department. Provides oversight of the department’s scholarship programs.  If the description sounds interesting to you, we invite you to apply to be considered for this opportunity.

What you need to know

Salary Range: $55,412- $71,219.20 annually (commensurate to selected hire’s experience).

Cover Letter and Resume: A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended. You may upload them on the application under the CV/Resume section.

For best consideration, application materials should be submitted by Monday, March 27, 2023. 

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, business, public relations, sports management, higher education/student affairs, recreation, or related area of study, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Six years of progressively responsible experience in an area directly related to institutional advancement, recreational sports, or student affairs.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively to ensure understanding.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in related field.

• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in an area directly related to institutional advancement.

• Experience in recreational sports industry. Institutional advancement experience at a higher education institution.

Responsibilities:

• FUNDRAISING & STEWARDSHIP: Create trusted relationships with department alumni and donors. Create, manage, and sustain a program of donor stewardship activities. Monitor contacts and engagement to ensure positive and purposeful prospect and donor relations. Activities may include: special events, football game day tailgates, strategic communications, publications, personal meetings, etc. Work collaboratively with department staff to implement purposeful cultivation and solicitation activities that strengthen existing relationships with department alum and donors and expand the donor base with new prospects. Consider individual donor interests and align with the department’s needs and priorities, to create and implement customized solicitation strategies. Partner with the Texas A&M Foundation to support their solicitation efforts for the department; share knowledge across the stakeholder base, and leverage its expertise to build and sustain cultivation and fundraising efforts including donor research, wealth screening, donor qualification, planned giving, naming opportunities, gift agreements, etc. Develop and lead special fundraising projects and initiatives for the department, including the Walk of Champions brick initiative. Ensure the brick program is up to date and accurate. Offer support and guidance to sport clubs and/or their respective alumni groups in their efforts to fundraising and cultivation efforts. Adhere to the CASE Statement of Ethics, Donor Bill of Rights and fundraising best practices ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, Texas A&M Foundation policies and donor intent. Establish annual and long-term fundraising targets and develop and implement strategies for their attainment including marketing and communication plans and the use of digital, print, and social media in support of the goals and activities focused on stewardship and fundraising. Serve as the department liaison to the Texas A&M Foundation providing information, resources and collaborating with them to bring in financial support and establish a strong understanding of the work Recreational Sports provides in the Texas A&M community.

• SPONSORSHIPS: Recruit and develop relationships with local and national organizations to enter sponsorship agreements on a departmental, program area, or individual event level. Work with clients and identify opportunities to generate new deals. Ensure that a plan for continued client management and follow-up is in place to increase renewals and new business opportunities. Maintain deep relationships with existing and potential sponsorship clients and exhibitors.

• STRATEGIC PLANNING: Develop and implement clear strategies for the use of electronic, print, and social media in support of the fundraising and stewardship goals and activities. Translate ideas, objectives, and information into relatable messages that resonate with alum and donors and distributed through best communications platform, i.e., email, letter, publication, social media, etc. Author and edit funding proposals, and donor communications to facilitate gift solicitations. Write, edit, and distribute department publications targeted to alum and donors, i.e., RecLife magazine, working in collaboration with division marketing and communication team on design, photography, etc. Provide stories and content for TAMU Foundation publications. In partnership with division marketing and communications, ensure content for any website presence for department fundraising and stewardship is current and accurate.

• LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT: Hire, train, and supervise a student staff of 5-10 to implement special events, programs, and football gameday tailgates. Create and implement fundraising and stewardship objectives and goals, ensuring alignment with the department’s strategic plans and goals.  Develop and implement strategies, and initiatives for goal/target attainment. Provide direction and supervision that coordinates the staff work (professional and/or student staff) to meet goals and increase support for the work of the department. Ensure professional development goals of the team are met. Evaluate fundraising and stewardship programs and initiatives. Monitor compliance with all unit, department, university, and government standards, policies, and procedures. Develop and manage operational fundraising budgets. Develop and manage processes and procedures applicable to fundraising and stewardship, including gift acknowledgement, and where applicable deposits to and payment of expenses using funds at the Foundation. Monitor and report on department endowed funds. Manage, keep accurate and current the department alum database, donor files, and gift agreements. Help create and implement a donor recognition plan that outlines processes for gift acknowledgement and identifies opportunities to enhance existing donor relationships. Prepare timely interaction notes and other appropriate progress reports and maintain accurate records of donor activity in donor database. Prepare reports, analyses, and surveys as requested by the department, including those that gauge performance based on metrics.

• SCHOLARSHIP MANAGEMENT: Manage the scholarship evaluation and selection process, ensuring all policies are adhered to and best practices implemented. Responsibilities include committee formation, application distribution, communication coordination with students, committee, university, and foundation, awarding of funds to recipients with posting to student accounts.

• GRANT WRITING - Research, draft and submit proposals for grant funding to support the programs and operations of the department. Work collaboratively with department and division staff to identify appropriate avenues for obtaining grant funding.

• Department Mission Duties: Serves on national, university, divisional, and departmental committees as needed. Assists in establishing long and short-term goals of the department. Attends local, state, and national workshops and conferences; hosts and presents at various workshops. Maintains positive relationships within department, other university departments, community and vendors. Assists other university staff members as requested. Interacts with students, faculty, and staff for the benefit of carrying out the mission of the department. Performs other duties as assigned.

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/AffirmativeAction/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity.