Position Summary: 

Reporting to the director of the Rice Annual Fund, the associate director – team lead of the Rice Annual Fund provides leadership to, direction for, and management of the class giving program, with special emphasis on increasing volunteer engagement, total dollars raised, and alumni participation to the university. This person will be responsible for management of a team within the class giving program, and will provide input to the overall Rice Annual Fund strategic plan. The associate director – team lead will also develop strategy to manage the fundraising efforts for a portfolio of classes that will work through a five-year reunion cycle. Some may be in a significant reunion year, include high profile volunteers or be identified as having the overall capacity to make a more substantial gift than other classes. In addition, this person may manage an Annual Fund giving program for a specific constituent group.

Education Required: Bachelor’s Degree

Education Prefered: Rice degree

Type of Experience: Professional fundraising experience, including prior management of programs or team members.

Experience Prefered: 

• Five years of annual giving experience at an institution of higher education or non-profit organization
• Experience working with a volunteer-based program
• Experience with face-to-face solicitations

License/Certification Required: 

Must possess (or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and maintain a valid Texas driver’s license with no more than three moving violations and/or at fault accidents within the past 36 months, and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years.

Certification Required: Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE)

Skills Required: 

• Leadership and strategic management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to lead and motivate others
• Ability to manage a large number of project activities simultaneously
• Ability to engage and motivate groups of diverse individuals
• Strong ability to understand customer needs and show good judgment and diplomacy
• Strong attention to detail and ability to quickly understand and remember details about alumni/donors and projects to which they are assigned

Skills Prefered: 

• Demonstrates good judgment in dynamic situations
• Values attention to detail
• Displays confidence as a mentor and collaborator
• Utilizes strong time management skills
• Holds knowledge of fundraising database software concepts

Working Condition: 

Open office environment. 10% out-of-town travel. Some weekend and evening work hours are required.

Essential Functions: 

• Works with a portfolio of assigned prospects/donors to cultivate, solicit, and steward their support
• Develops fundraising strategies, and tracks and analyzes results of development activities
• Identifies, recruits, and trains volunteers, and maintains frequent contact with them
• Identifies and prioritizes prospects and, as appropriate, makes volunteer assignments, prepares background information for solicitations, and follows up with volunteers to ensure completion of assigned solicitations
• Establishes ongoing relationships with individual alumni
• Works closely with other colleagues in development to align program goals with the overall giving goals of the university’s development organization
• Monitors, analyzes, and reports on overall results to internal and external constituencies
• Designs annual gift programs and goals targeted at increasing unrestricted support for a school or unit
• Manages a small team or project, as needed
• Performs all other duties as assigned