Department
 

ARD Physical Sciences Division

About the Department
 

The ARD team of the Physical Science Division (PSD) serves as part of the Sciences and Organizations fundraising team at the University of Chicago. Tasked with raising money for the Dean’s priorities in the PSD, as well as supporting departmental needs for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geophysical Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics. The team engages in alumni relations activities; manages a portfolio of donors and prospects to the Division; and works with colleagues across ARD to broaden the exposure of the PSD to the alumni and friends of the University of Chicago.

Job Summary
 

This position uses best practices and knowledge in the planning and implementation of development activities; typically within the undergraduate college, an academic department, a professional school, the central development office, or another University unit. Executes fundraising projects, cultivation programs for prospective donors and for visiting committees.

Responsibilities

Under the leadership of the PSD Director of Development, works to develop strategy around Divisional and Departmental priorities, including persuasive writing, strategic events, and donor cultivation. Collaborates with faculty and departmental administrators to identify programmatic needs and develop strategy for funding opportunities.Manages the stewardship and acknowledgment process for principal and major gifts to the Division including timely reporting and stewardship event execution. Develops and implements compelling plans for stewardship and donor relations and seeks new and innovative ways to engage donors and prospective donors in order to increase fundraising. Leads the development team’s efforts in utilizing stewardship as a cultivation tool for existing and previous donor engagement.Leads development team’s efforts in identifying, cultivating, and securing bequest opportunities to the division. Collaborates with the Director of Development to identify and target key gaps in coverage among prospect segments with promising fundraising potential, including planned giving pipelines.Manages a portfolio of roughly 25 to 40 prospects; this includes a combination of major gift, annual giving, and bequest prospects. Provides support in lead discovery and prospect engagement activities with the goals of increasing contributed revenue, expanding the prospect pool, and growing the donor base to reflect the diversity and capacity of PSD’s audiences.Manages development communication programs for the Division in partnership with the PSD’S communications team. Assists in the PSD Annual Giving campaign strategy and story content. Collaborates and liases with PSD’s marketing department and central ARD strategic communications and direct response teams. Has a high level of authority in drafting donor content for print and digital publications, informational and marketing materials.Provides leadership,  strategic planning and administrative support in the development department and serves as project manager for key fundraising initiatives as assigned.Acts as the Phoenix database power user and in-house expert with an emphasis on extracting, organizing and analyzing data on engagement and cultivation activities, meetings and interactions to develop comprehensive strategies throughout donor lifecycle. . Maintains visit records as well as prepares custom and ad hoc reports, spreadsheets, graphs and charts.Plans, manages, and executes strategic events and programs, both in-person and virtually, designed to advance relationships with prospects and donors. including semi-annual PSD Council meetingsPrepares confidential briefings for events and individual meetings for the PSD director of development, Dean, and other University leaders as needed.Develops PSD materials such as funding priorities talking points, department updates, proposal language, toolkits, pitches, gift opportunities, etc. for gift officers.Connects ARD generalist gift officers with PSD funding opportunities and leadership. Earns shared solicitation credit as a key partner for ARD generalists and fundraisers in other units as opportunities for collaborative solicitations arise.Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.Establishes fundraising goals and priorities based on department objectives, designs strategies to meet those goals, and monitors progress against goals.Identifies, analyzes, and qualifies donor interest to maximize giving. Helps with overall planning efforts for the University's most important prospects. Works independently to develop communication strategies for projects, including publications and public presentations.Prepares annual development reports assessing progress toward achievement of goals. Analyzes and evaluates information to identify trends and patterns, evaluates strategies and makes recommendations.Participates in the development of school or department fiscal year operating budget. May help develop and manage program or event budget.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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree.Advanced degree.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of professional work experience in fundraising, development, alumni relations, donor relations, nonprofit management, research, marketing, communications, sales or similar professional work experience.Proven record of accomplishment in solicitations and cultivation of prospective donors or sales and client development.A history of working with volunteer leadership, faculty, and/or board members.Excellent written and oral communication skills with demonstrated presentation abilities.A minimum of one year of leading a project team or managing staff.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including Griffin (the University's Donor Relationship Management System), Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.Demonstrated project management experience.

Preferred Competencies

Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.Self-motivated take initiative.Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.

Working Conditions

This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.Standard office environment.Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.Work evenings and weekends as needed.This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required)Cover Letter (preferred)

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
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or 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.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.