Laboratory Schools: Associate Director of Development for Advancement Services

Department
 

Lab School Alumni Relations & Development

About the Department
 

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.
No less than scholarship, Lab’s mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab’s student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members’ identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.
Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, LGBTQ+ identified candidates, candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, and candidates with a demonstrated commitment to a deepening diversity, equity, and inclusion practice. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Summary
 

The Associate Director of Development for Advancement Services at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Lab) has core responsibility to manage key functions that support the schools’ fundraising, alumni engagement and parent relations operations. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Associate Director has primary responsibility for leading prospect management, prospect research, analytics, data integrity and gift processing. The Associate Director will also support stewardship programs, alumni engagement and parent relations. 
The Associate Director manages these key functions in partnership with and in collaboration with University of Chicago Prospect Management and research team.  The Associate Director will serve a pivotal role on Lab's Major Gifts team and will work with individual Lab fundraisers to ensure cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies are fully supported. The Associate Director is a key Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) resource officer that helps ensure that the Lab Schools’ annual philanthropic revenue goals are met and exceeded.  In addition, the Associate Director will benchmark revenue production with other independent schools.
The Associate Director will participate in planning and departmental meetings, accept assignments and perform other ARD duties as assigned. 
This position provides professional support of assigned development activities with instruction from others. Executes fundraising projects, cultivation programs for prospective donors and for visiting committees.

Responsibilities

• Analytics and Data Integrity - maintains, extracts, reports and analyzes constituent data, fundraising progress data, and future campaign data. Liaise with Lab Schools and University technology teams for related data management and technology projects.
• Prospect Management and Prospect Research - oversees the research and analysis, pipeline development, portfolio reviews and goal-setting, and works with gift officers to track strategies for moving gift discussions forward. Prepares Prospect Research profiles as requested.
• Gift Processing and Donor Relations - oversees the managing of gift acknowledgements, creating all stewardship reporting data for donor groups and individuals. Work with the Lab Schools’ Director of Special Events to ensure stewardship events are targeted and successful. 
• Alumni Engagement and Parent Relations - when necessary, supports the alumni engagement and parent relations functions via constituent list pulls and strategic consultation. Attends and supports Lab ARD events as requested. 
• Assists the Director of Development and Associate Director of Schools for ARD in facilitating effective decision-making.
• Provides oversight and guidance to projects of high importance as assigned. 
• Prepares fundraising progress and cash flow reports and analysis for use by the Lab Schools’ Finance Office, and leadership team to measure fundraising success. Produces stewardship reporting and programs. Monitors the integrity of the alumni database.
• Prepares annual expenditure budget. Allocates funds to programs and monitors Advancement Services expenditures to ensure compliance with Lab Schools and University policies.
• Prepares annual development reports assessing progress toward achievement of goals. Analyzes and evaluates information to identify trends and patterns, evaluates strategies and makes recommendations.
• Identifies, cultivates and solicits major prospects. Designs strategies for cultivating participation.
• Plans somewhat complex activities of volunteer and support groups. Recruits members and provides guidance and support to leadership activities.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with donors and volunteers. Establishes and maintains donor records and accounts.
• Performs other related work as needed.​

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:

• Two years or more of related experience.
• Candidates who possess less work experience but have earned degrees in computer science, management information systems or software engineering will be given full consideration.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Background with fundraising databases and reporting tools such as Blackbaud products or Salesforce.

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated track record of organizing and supporting fundraising activities.
• Proven ability to successfully manage a complex network of services.
• Exceptional communication skills including verbal, written, and presentational.
• Proven ability to analyze processes and plan improvement initiatives.
• Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Work on own initiative, develop rapport, and work well with others.
• Handle multiple tasks simultaneously and accurately under strict deadlines.
• Effectiveness; smoothness and coordination of the advancement services functions.
• Efficiency with time and money spent.
• Meeting and exceeding Lab Schools ARD revenue goals.

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for Lab Schools business. 
• Work evenings and weekends on occasion. 

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Three Professional References Contact Information (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
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.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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