The Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) seek an enthusiastic, collaborative, and resourceful development professional to serve as Associate Director of Development (ADD).

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, Gabrielle Peterson, the ADD will be responsible for a portfolio of major gift prospects, and will work to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumni and friends to support fundraising efforts with a focus on alumni and faculty engagement. As a member of the Rutgers University Foundation (RUF), the ADD will join a high performing team of 200 colleagues across fundraising and prospect research departments.

A highly visible representative of RUF, SEBS/NJAES, and Rutgers at large, the ADD must share an appreciation for the diverse and impactful work of SEBS/NJAES, and work to thoroughly understand fundraising priorities in order to make a compelling case for support. They will be instrumental in the development of major gift pipelines through teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and solicitations at the major gifts level.

The successful candidate has a solid record of securing collaborative gifts and executing proposals, as well as experience engaging diverse and complex constituencies; they are dynamic and engaging, a self-starter, a team player, possess excellent verbal and written communication, organizational and interpersonal skills, an aptitude for data mining, and the ability to handle sensitive information discretely. They must exhibit strong professional judgment and exemplify the mission, core values, and vision of SEBS/NJAES including a compassionate, professional, and donor-centric demeanor in all interactions with donors and alumni.

Essential Functions

• Manage a portfolio of major gift ($25,000 ) prospective donors, with independent responsibility to develop and execute strategies leading to successful cultivation and solicitation activities
• Actively solicit prospects and donors and meet mutually established goals related to solicitations, gift closures, prospects met, and qualifications. This includes utilizing various giving vehicles, such as in-kind and planned gifts.
• Develop positive, professional working relationships with the faculty and staff members within SEBS and NJAES
• Clearly articulate, in written and verbal form, the needs and priorities of the school and experiment station to make a compelling case for support.
• Collaborate with SEBS/NJAES and Rutgers University Foundation (RUF) colleagues to effectively communicate and comply with operational policies and procedures; accurately analyze and maintain reports, data, and unit documents; and follow RUF policies and procedures as they relate to prospect management, solicitation, and follow-up procedures.
• Ensure timely reporting and tracking of contacts, solicitations, events planning, etc. through RUF tracking systems.
• Develop cutting-edge alumni cultivation strategies and networking activities in partnership with advancement colleagues, including prospect research, alumni records, and donor relations.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills and Abilities

Consistency

• Able to meet and exceed individual fundraising metrics
• Able to successfully execute, devise, and implement increasingly complex donor pipeline strategy
• Demonstrate an ability to identify new prospects for assigned units

Contributions

• Sustain a strong working relationship with deans, chairs, directors, and faculty members of assigned unit(s)
• Demonstrate an ability to create increasingly more complex donor pipeline strategy and work collaboratively with other unit leaders
• Recruit and effectively manage volunteers

Competencies

• Demonstrate an ability to operate autonomously
• Demonstrate an ability to manage projects, sub-unit(s), or a team
• Demonstrate an ability to identify new prospects for assigned unit(s)
• Demonstrate an ability to manage multi-unit proposals

Leadership

• Set clear direction for projects
• Demonstrate a commitment to aligning donor intent to University priorities
• Ability to be consistent with owning your voice

 Education/ Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and three to five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, advancement, non-profit or higher education. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in a higher education environment. Master’s degree preferred.

Mental Demands

Clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines.

Workplace Arrangements

This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.

Working Conditions

This position requires little physical effort. Will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet resource-raising commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituent’s schedules.

Benefits

• Office-centric hybrid work schedule
• Comprehensive medical
• Comprehensive no cost dental, and no cost vision insurance for employee and dependents
• 403(b) plan with matching employer contribution
• Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days each year
• Nine holidays, as well as four flex days
• Parental leave
• Significant tuition reductions
• Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression
• $40 monthly cell phone reimbursement

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment based on any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment.