Senior Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations

Development & Alumni Relations, STEPHEN M. ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Working Title
: 
Senior Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations

Posting Number
: 
62309

Job Category
: 
Fundraising - Annual Giving, Fundraising - Director of Development

Reports To
: 
Chief Development Officer

Experience Range
: 
5 to 7 Years


A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

To apply for this position, please submit your cover letter and resume as one document on the University of Michigan Careers at the U site.

If you are unable to apply via the U-M Jobs site, please submit your cover letter and resume to dev.careers@umich.edu. In the subject line, please type in the Job ID# for which you are applying.

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Position Description

The Senior Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business will be responsible for managing and leading the overall mission of Alumni Relations through enhancement, engagement and strengthening of the alumni relationship with the Ross School. This position will manage the annual fund effort through increasing annual fund participation and revenue across the entire alumni base. Through leadership of the team, the Senior Director will provide overall direction for the successful administration of alumni classes, club activities and regional, national and international programs.

Duties will include creating strategies for outreach and managing the planning, marketing and on- and off-campus programs and events to forge stronger ties between the School and alumni, strengthening the network of alumni to establish and cultivate alumni relationships across multiple generations, and initiating efforts to create a more robust connection to current students across all programs enhancing their relationship to the school upon graduation.

The Senior Director will oversee the annual fund efforts, including solicitation and retention of current annual fund donors, acquisition of new annual fund donors, and annually increasing the annual fund revenue. This position will be charged with the coordination of communication efforts (including direct mail, electronic mail, web interfaces and multi-media), class campaigns, and other initiatives designed to increase both donor participation and revenue for the annual fund. The Senior Director will work closely with the Chief Development Officer to develop program plans, execute program activities, and supervise staff in these areas.

Domestic and international travel is required.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

Management (65%)

♦      Develop, implement and monitor annual giving solicitations including direct mail, telemarketing and class giving programs and leadership annual gifts.  Through the management and leadership of the annual fund team increase alumni participation and annual fund revenue through the implementation of a new initiatives and creative efforts.

♦      Develop annual plan and budget for annual giving and alumni relations programs.

♦      Establish and monitor goals, benchmarks, and year-to-year variances among various solicitation campaigns.

♦      Cultivate donor relationships and steward leadership annual gift donors in collaboration with the donor stewardship and major gift areas.

♦      Develop, implement and monitor alumni relations activities, including the supervision of annual giving and alumni relations staff.  Programs to include:  alumni global outreach (clubs), recent graduate programs, reunion/homecoming activities, and alumni marketing & communication activities (web-based fundraising, social networks, e-blasts, & alumni relations website).

♦      Through the creation of new strategies, programs and initiatives create stronger regional networks of alumni across multiple generations in order to build strong ties among alumni in the various regions which will serve to improve the Ross School brand, build the network of the alumni base and increase giving to the school.

♦      Act as a liaison to Office of University Development on annual giving and alumni relations issues.

♦      Act as a liaison to the School’s Office of Student Life to coordinate student-driven annual giving and alumni relations programs.

Volunteer Staffing  (30%)

♦      Provide staffing to the leadership of the Alumni Board of Governors (ABOG) including meeting scheduling, agenda development, communication, and correspondence.

♦      Staff and coordinate ABOG subcommittee activities.

♦      In collaboration with the Chief Development Officer, provide briefing materials, coordination, and strategic planning for the Dean in preparation for ABOG meetings, and other board engagement.

♦      Create new volunteer structures to increase participation and revenue in the annual fund.

 

Other  (5%)

♦      Serve at the request of the Chief Development Officer on special projects and/or task forces.

♦      Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years progressive experience in annual giving, development and/or alumni relations with a strong focus on the principles and practices of annual and reunion giving required; reasonable experience in personal solicitation programs, program planning and coordination, volunteer leadership and management.
  • Experience in public speaking and the preparation of written communications.
  • Demonstrated ability to design, direct and manage significant program initiatives.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage, organize, and motivate staff and alumni volunteer groups.
  • Familiarity with on-line alumni networks and communities is desired.
  • Superior communication skills; professional and congenial demeanor and presentation with a high level of motivation, integrity and commitment to the mission and values that support the Ross School.
  • Successful demonstration of initiative, organization, and team orientation.
  • Must have exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment; demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships.
  • Must be able to work in fast-paced, demanding and results-oriented environment.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
  • Strong experience in analyzing and interpreting data to drive strategies; ability to conceptualize, develop, implement and assess strategic development activities.
  • Ability to travel both domestically and internationally required.
  • Previous experience in higher education desired.

Additional Information

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

Mission Statement
The Office of University Development maximizes private support for the University of Michigan through high-quality collaboration with the development programs of schools, colleges, and units. We also provide fundraising leadership through the stimulation and facilitation of healthy, productive and life-long relationships with our colleagues, alumni, friends, foundations and corporations.

U-M EEO/AA Statement: The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

The University of Michigan Office of Development, 3003 South State Street, Suite 9000, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1288phone734 647-6000