Development Assistant

Development Assistant

The Advancement Office in the College of the Arts seeks a Development Assistant to execute administrative operations for the office, as well as manage projects and implement strategic initiatives; providing direct support to the Senior Director of Development, general administrative support for College’s Advancement Office, and support for special events, meetings, and fundraising campaigns, as well as act as backup as needed for strategic initiatives work.

The University of Florida College of the Arts intends to be a transformative community, responding to and generating foundational shifts in the arts and beyond.  As business and academic professionals, artists, scholars, advisors, and teachers, we, the staff of the College, embrace the complexity of our evolving human experience and seek to empower our colleagues, students, and faculty to respond to and shape that experience fearlessly through critical thinking, creativity, constructive questioning, and respectful dialogue. We seek a colleague who engages with openness and enthusiasm for the work and the mission of the college. We seek a colleague who possesses skills in designing and facilitating work that advances curiosity, inclusion, open intellectual discourse, and the well-being of all in an environment of complex diversity. We seek a colleague who identifies as a trusted steward of resources, balancing institutional requirements and the demand for innovative solutions.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty, seeking faculty of all races, ethnicities, genders, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. 

Responsibilities:  
Responsible for the overall clerical/administrative support for the college’s advancement office, directly supporting the Senior Director of Advancement, including serving as the point of first contact for all advancement inquiries, handling all incoming and outgoing mail/packages/deliveries, ensuring office supplies and equipment are organized and sufficiently stocked, maintaining organized and accessible files/documents, maintaining appointments and calendars for the Senior Director of Advancement, coordinating travel arrangements, preparing disbursement requests, preparing for standing and other meetings, as needed.

Responsible for processing all transactions and activities in support of gift processing and stewardship, including reporting fund activity and balances to fund administrators and the implementation of fundraising mailing appeals for various departments of the college. This includes, but is not limited to, the preparation of pledge forms and the compilation of data.

Provide support for development-focused special events, meetings, and fundraising campaigns to include, but not limited to, assistance with sending invitations, tracking RSVPs. Coordinate event contracts, payments, and disbursements.

Responsible for activities in support of maintaining donor fund expectations and relationships such as processing fund creation/revision forms, gift agreements, asset transmittals and fund transfers; entering information into database (Advance) to update contact information and record fundraising activities.  This includes maintaining a solid knowledge of programs of the college and the mission of the Development Office, in order to converse effectively with donors, prospects, and others in an appropriate, informative, helpful and professional manner. 

Responsible for the implementation of assigned projects in support of advancement strategic initiatives, prioritizing multiple projects, planning, monitoring, documenting, and executing these projects, effectively communicating project progress, and ensuring deliverables are met.  This position will work with senior management and the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator to define the scope of the project and create a detailed work plan which identifies and sequences the activities needed to successfully complete the project, determining required resources and a schedule for project completion.

$40,500 - $45,000 based on qualifications and experience.  Eligible for a comprehensive and highly competitive leave and benefits package

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

In order of importance to the position

• Evidence of skill in designing and facilitating work that advances curiosity, inclusion, open intellectual discourse, and the well-being of all in an environment of complex diversities.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to shift tasks to meet urgent deadlines.  
• Accuracy, attention to detail and a service-oriented, highly professional attitude and presentation. 
• Strong organizational skills
• Evidence of success proactively communicating with team members effectively.
• Evidence of excellent written and verbal communication skills; interpersonal skills; and the ability to work collegially and interact effectively with a diverse constituency.  Proven success working with a variety of stakeholders.
• Experience with and skills in project management including the ability to develop realistic timelines for project completion, with clear benchmarks.
• Experience in a data-driven environment
• Working knowledge of a donor database, contact management and tracking system.

A Driver's License is required for this position.

Location and Schedule:

Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.  Infrequent evening or weekend hours may be necessary related to events and other development activities.

This position is expected to perform their duties on the UF main campus in Gainesville, Florida.

Travel may be required for this employee designated as frequent, non-frequent or none by UFA’s driving policy and will operate a vehicle for an assigned business purpose 1-2 times per month, on average.  A Driver’s license is required.

Application Deadline:
All application materials must be submitted by March 17, 2024.   

Application Process:
Applications must be submitted via the University of Florida’s online application system. Online applications must include the following: (1) a detailed letter of application that explains how you match the particular qualifications of this position and how your work and perspective will contribute to and enhance our transformative community; (2) a resume; (3) names and contact information of three professional references. The Search Committee may request additional materials at a later time. 

Inquiries may be sent to:
Lula Dawit
Senior Director of Advancement & Search Committee Chair
Email: [email protected]

The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an educational institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call +1 (352) 392- 2477or the Florida Relay System at +1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS: The mission of the College of the Arts is to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigmatic shifts in the arts and beyond.  We achieve the university’s mission by training professionals and educating students as artists and scholars, while developing their capacities for critical study, creative practice, and provocation.  The College offers baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Approximately 1,700 students are pursuing majors in degrees offered by the College of the Arts under the direction of 130 faculty members in its three accredited schools— the School of Art + Art History, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre + Dance, and in the Center for Arts in Medicine, the Digital Worlds Institute, and the Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship. In addition, the college comprises the University Galleries, and the University level of the New World School of the Arts in Miami. 

The University of Florida: The University of Florida is a comprehensive learning institution built on a land grant foundation, ranked one of the top five best public universities in the nation in U.S. News & World Report. We are The Gator Nation, a diverse community dedicated to excellence in education and research and shaping a better future for Florida, the nation and the world. Our mission is to enable our students to lead and influence the next generation and beyond for economic, cultural and societal benefit. UF is a graduate research institution with more than 50,000 students and membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. Gainesville, which is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s most livable cities, is located midway between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Together, the University and the community comprise the educational, medical and cultural center of North Central Florida, with outstanding resources such as the University of Florida Performing Arts (Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the Squitieri Studio Theatre, the Baughman Center, University Auditorium), the Harn Museum of Art, the Florida Museum of Natural History and in the community, the Hippodrome State Theatre and Dance Alive National Ballet.

In addition to salary, the University of Florida (UF) offers low cost State Health plans, a number of Dental plans to fit you and your family’s needs, and Vision. Domestic partner coverage through GatorCare is also available. Optional plans such as life, disability, legal and accident insurance are also available.

UF provides a variety of leave programs including vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays, personal leave days, and family medical leave. TEAMS employees accrue approximately 22 vacation days annually, 13 sick days annually, and 4 personal leave days, typically used during the holiday closing period (accruals based on full-time employment). UF also provides you the flexibility to deal with life’s challenges by offering paid family leave, eight full weeks of leave over a 24-month period.

Build a retirement roadmap with competitive pension plans, investment accounts and a host of voluntary add-ons, such as 457 deferred compensation and 403(b) plans.

UF Employees are also eligible for the GatorPerks discount program , which provides big savings at various business and retailers!

Explore UF’s plethora of benefit options here: TEAMS Benefits