Asst Director Development Communications

UR University of Richmond; United States; On-site; USD 44,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Richmond is seeking an Assistant Director to lead strategic communications for the Spider Athletic Fund, coordinating donor stewardship and signature events with Advancement and Athletics teams. The role focuses on increasing donor participation and giving through creative storytelling and integrated campaigns.

Required are a BA, strong communication and leadership skills, and experience in fundraising or marketing. Some evenings, weekends, travel, and event planning are expected.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and leadership abilities with diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for fundraising contexts.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in teams across departments.
• Experience with Photoshop, InDesign or related creative software.
• Proficiency with computers, standard office apps, and fundraising software.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving history.

Responsibilities

• Lead Spider Athletic Fund strategic communications (60%).
• Tell the Spider student-athlete story creatively and support branding efforts.
• Coordinate with Athletic Public Relations on external communications branding.
• Develop and implement donor solicitation and stewardship strategies (mail, email, social media).
• Produce compelling content for campaigns and events.
• Oversee stewardship for the Fund (20%), including donor recognition events.
• Manage acknowledgment processes for the Spider Athletic Fund.
• Lead all communications for signature events (20%).
• Assist planning for event management and game operations.
• Coordinate with University Advancement and Office of Annual Giving for communications and donor relations.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Written & oral communication

Collaboration

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Photoshop

InDesign

Job description

Job Description REQUIRED: Cover letter and Resume

POSITION SUMMARY

The primary role is to manage the overall strategic communications strategy, organize and manage stewardship, and assist in signature events and operations for the Spider Athletic Fund. Reporting to the Assistant Athletic Director of Annual Giving, the Assistant Director will collaborate and participate in successful solicitation activities by creating strategies to increase donor participation rates and donor giving.

JOB DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead all Spider Athletic Fund Strategic Communications (60%)
• Be creative to tell the story of the Spider student-athlete experience and Spider Athletics
• Partner with Athletic Public Relations to ensure branding on all items related to external communications
• Contribute to the creation and implementation of the Spider Athletic Fund’s solicitation and stewardship strategies, including direct mail, email, social media, and other related items.
• Produce creative content
• Organize and manage stewardship for the Spider Athletic Fund (20%)
• Assist in managing and executing the plan for the Spider Athletic Fund stewardship chart, including the organization of all signature donor recognition events.
• Lead the Spider Athletic Fund’s acknowledgment process.
• Signature Events and Operations (20%)
• Lead all communications related to signature events
• Assist in the planning and preparation of event management and game operation efforts
• Partner with University Advancement, specifically the Office of Annual Giving and Donor Relations, to coordinate all communications and rapport building.

CONTACTS

• Advancement Staff – for fundraising strategy and management
• Spider Athletics Staff – for effective partnership between fundraising and donor relations activities and athletics operations
• Alumni, parents, friends – for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL EFFORT

Required to work some evenings and weekends in conjunction with Advancement, Athletics, or other University events.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, along with the ability to work with diverse internal and external constituencies
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, in conjunction with a comfort level of working in a fast-paced environment while handling multiple projects
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Proven ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team environment
• Experience using Photoshop, InDesign, or other creative development software.
• Skill in use of personal computers, standard office software applications, and fundraising software
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Valid driver’s license with a good 3-year driving history

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Experience in fundraising, marketing, or other related field preferred.

SCHEDULED HOURS

Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; 38.75 hours per week; some evenings, weekends and travel required.

SALARY GRADE LEVEL

Level 5: $43,867 to $58,136

ABOUT US

Located just minutes from downtown Richmond, Virginia, the University of Richmond blends the intimacy of a small college with exceptional academic, research, and cultural opportunities usually found only at large institutions. The mission of the University of Richmond is to educate in an academically challenging, intellectually vibrant, and collaborative community dedicated to the holistic development of students and the production of scholarly and creative work. A Richmond education prepares students for lives of purpose, thoughtful inquiry, and responsible leadership in a diverse world. Our strategic priorities are academic excellence, belonging and community, access and affordability, well-being, and experiential learning and community engagement. These priorities, coupled with strong benefits, makes the University of Richmond an employer of choice in the Richmond area. UR is a private, highly selective, liberal arts university with a welcoming spirit that prizes diversity of experience and thought. With more than 60 undergraduate majors and an average undergraduate class size of 15 students, the University provides a collaborative learning and research environment unlike any other in higher education, offering students an extraordinary combination of the liberal arts with law, business, leadership studies, and continuing education. The University of Richmond ranks number 30 among the nation’s best liberal arts colleges by US News and World Report, one of many accolades that showcases Richmond as a premiere place to grow professionally and personally.