Associate Director of Development Communications, Stewardship and Digital Strategies - Penn Engineering

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Associate Director of Development Communications, Stewardship and Digital Strategies - Penn Engineering

Job Profile Title

Staff Writer C

Job Description Summary

Penn Engineering’s world-acclaimed faculty, state-of-the-art research laboratories and highly interdisciplinary curricula offer an experience that is unparalleled. Innovation and technology drive every program and transform the fundamentals of what future engineers are learning. http://www.seas.upenn.edu/
Reporting to the Director of Development Communications and Stewardship at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Associate Director of Development Communications, Stewardship and Digital Strategies will help manage and advance the strategic plan to recognize, thank and steward current and past donors of the School with a particular focus on major gift and endowment fund donors. The Associate Director will have primary responsibility for creating and managing digital communications and stewardship strategies for the Development and Alumni Relations office at Penn Engineering.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Write and edit original content for specialized and personalized correspondence to be signed by the Engineering dean in acknowledgement of major gifts, pledges and payments to the School, and other materials highlighting initiatives and programs at Penn Engineering.

• Create and manage digital donor communications and stewardship strategies, including but not limited to the following:  Design and send event invitations and other Annual Giving, Alumni Relations and Stewardship emails using Salesforce Marketing Cloud; Create and manage event registration pages for Penn Engineering alumni events; Collaborate with the University Stewardship team on ThankView videos and other personalized stewardship videos for high-level donors; Partner with the Penn Engineering Office of Marketing and Communications to coordinate social media content for alumni engagement; Manage the Penn Engineering Development and Alumni Relations website and create digital content for capital funding priorities; Work with a professional photographer and departments throughout Penn Engineering to create and edit a gallery of high-quality photos to be used in print and digital pieces; Track and analyze key metrics for digital communications to inform data-driven decision-making and improve the effectiveness of development outreach.

• Write and edit annual stewardship reports for named funds including endowed fellowships, endowed undergraduate scholarships and capital projects. Work closely with the Stewardship Director, Senior Director, Vice Dean and others to help create comprehensive stewardship reports detailing the impact of the gift, research activities and significant accomplishments of individual faculty members and students, where appropriate.  Research and write stewardship reports for special student and School initiatives.

• Independently create funding proposals to motivate prospective donors to support the School's priorities and expand the community of donors. Responsible for working with Gift Management to create and execute gift agreements for commitments of $25,000 and above. Prepare detailed memos for the University President's Office regarding Eng. donor visits and/or events, produce Eng. Advisor nomination memos for Univ. Secretary's Office and compose short pieces for Univ.-wide development communications.

• Work with the Director and Central DAR to identify, code and link all Engineering major donors with their designated funds for the purpose of producing stewardship and other development reports. Ensure that collected data is accurate and uploaded into the University’s Salesforce-based Constituent Relationship Management system, Compass, in a timely manner.

• Work with faculty and School leadership and serve as an interface across the School's various stakeholders with regard to development and stewardship initiatives. Ensure stewardship and development communications are produced and delivered in a timely manner.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Previous experience working in an academic setting preferred. The ideal candidate will be a strong writer and demonstrate strong attention to detail, accurate proofreading and editing skills and the ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Knowledge of fundraising principles and effective communication practices is important, as is the ability to work with the Engineering Dean, senior Engineering leadership, faculty and staff of Penn Engineering. Proficiency with Windows-based systems, including Office Suite, Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Adobe Creative Suite, is preferred. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and graphic design skills, self-motivated and adept at working both independently and in a team environment.

Please attach writing samples for consideration.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Pay Range

$51,824.00 - $76,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. 

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay