Senior director of advancement

Full time, 12-month position

Position Summary

This position directs the affairs of the advancement office, supervises operations and alumni relations staff and is responsible for implementing annual advancement strategy. This position also maintains a portfolio of major donors and serves as the endowment manager.

Essential Responsibilities

Advancement strategy

• Coordinate and implement the annual development strategy for alumni, development and corporate/foundation relations to achieve annual fundraising revenue goals. Manage advancement expense budget to align with priorities and goals.
• In coordination with vice president, develop and manage the president’s donor relations strategy including travel schedule and communication with donors. Update and maintain president’s visit records in NeonOne (database) to include post-visit information.
• Attend donor events and establish a rapport with donors.
  
  

Annual giving

• Develop and implement an annual campaign strategy to invite gifts of $1-$5,000 for unrestricted annual operations ($900k raised annually). Manage strategy for special annual giving initiatives like Arts at Bluffton, TEAM Bluffton, President’s Society, etc.
• Communicate the goals of the annual fund programs to development and public relations staff and the opportunities for collaboration in the implementation of each program.
• Analyze strengths, weaknesses and outcomes of annual giving campaigns and programs.
• Serve as liaison between academic departments, development and public relations on the production of Arts at Bluffton campaign; serve as host for donor reception(s) as needed.
• Serve as liaison between athletics department, development and public relations to communicate solicitation plan for TEAM Bluffton fundraisers; support annual golf outing event as needed.
• Implement annual President’s Society solicitation strategy and support development officers and president’s office with moves management updates to grow membership base.
• Manage annual recognition program for consecutive year giving and lifetime giving societies. Plan annual President’s Society banquet.
• Continually research best practices in annual fund programs and evaluate which practices make a good fit with Bluffton.
  
  

Donor portfolio

• Maintain an individual portfolio of 175-plus donor relationships ($500k raised annually)
• Coordinate and provide strategic direction for development officers for all donor relationships
• Cultivate donor interest in and growth in planned gifts
  
  

Alumni relations

• Develop and implement annual alumni relations strategy to strengthen engagement and relationships with students, alumni, parents and friends.
• Give oversight to staff planning established campus events which include Homecoming, President’s Society/Alumni recognition banquet, Athletics Hall of Fame and Senior Week events.
• Work with PR staff on effective alumni communications.
• Support admissions office work through alumni engagement opportunities for outreach to increase applicants and enrolled students.
• Evaluate and refine alumni programming to support institutional priorities.
• Manage budget for alumni relations program.
• Serve as university spokesperson when appropriate.
  
  

Endowment management

• Give direction and oversight to gift entry staff on ensuring gifts are allocated to endowment funds appropriately.
• Manage quarterly distributions of endowment, making strategy decisions on disbursements.
  
  

Staff management

• Oversee and supervise all staff and systems of the advancement division to achieve goals and objectives and to increase overall effectiveness.
• Supervise and provide leadership to development officers and staff (as assigned) to ensure that development team and individual goals are achieved.
• Encourage teamwork and professional growth of development team members. Oversee day–to-day operations of the development team, conduct development staff meetings and report to vice president as required. Develop recommendations on professional development for development staff.
  
  

Secondary Responsibilities

• Other tasks as assigned by supervisor.
• Occasional evening and/or weekend duties as needed (determined by supervisor).
  
  

Qualification Requirements

Minimum

• Education/Certification: Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• Experience: Three to five years of administrative support experience similar or directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified above.
• Skill/Abilities: Organizational skills with keen attention to detail; computer proficiency, particularly in Word and Excel; good written and verbal communication skills; ability to handle multiple tasks; interpersonal skills.
• Diversity & faith commitment: Bluffton University expects all employees to show respect in the workplace and not to base business decisions on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by law. As a religious institution, Bluffton University welcomes its faculty and staff and encourages respectful consideration of the Christian faith which is consistent with the Mennonite/Anabaptist beliefs of the university’s founding and supporting church.
  
  

Preferred

• Experience: Four years of broad experience with higher education administration with notable experience within an institutional research office. Some supervisory experience a plus. Previous work in statistical research with data collection and reporting. Previous work experience in an education setting helpful.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and/or work environment encountered by the employee while performing the essential responsibilities of this job must be met with or without reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations will be considered and implemented when possible to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities of this position. Secondary responsibilities may be removed when needed as an accommodation strategy.

Application Materials

Applications are considered complete when the following materials are received at the office indicated below:

• Letter of interest
• Resume or vita
• Three letters of reference
• Completed Bluffton employment application
  
  

Send Application Materials To

HR@bluffton.edu

Employment decisions are based on merit and university needs, and not on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by law. As a religious institution, Bluffton University expressly reserves its rights to appoint faculty and staff who share a commitment to the Christian faith which is consistent with the Mennonite/Anabaptist beliefs of the university’s founding and supporting church. EOE.