RIT’s Division of University Advancement is seeking an Associate Director of Advancement for the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and the College of Engineering Technology.

Please note: travel required; some evenings and weekends required

Advancement staff for the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and the College of Engineering Technology work closely with university senior administrators, department leadership, and faculty to raise the necessary support for identified priorities. The colleges prepare students to meet the existing and future needs of industry and solve significant engineering challenges. Laboratories, research centers, maker spaces, design studios and project rooms house the latest equipment to foster a creative and innovative learning environment.

The Associate Director of Advancement works closely with university senior administrators, department leadership and faculty to raise the necessary support for identified priorities. Manages a portfolio of approximately 100-125 prospects, creates fundraising strategies for all prospects, develops relationships with donors, solicits gifts primarily between $5,000 and $250,000, and coordinates effective donor stewardship. As RIT seeks to expand its prospect pipeline, the associate director will be expected to obtain 180 visits a year, including a significant number of discovery visits. The Associate Director cultivates relationships with alumni, parents, companies, and other friends, and collaborates with the teams in planned giving, principal giving, alumni relations, parent engagement, regional advancement, and corporate and foundation relations to encourage donors to support RIT initiatives. The Associate Director of Advancement reports to the Director of Advancement and works with the university wide Advancement team on behalf of RIT.

The Associate Director of Advancement is expected to work collaboratively and constantly seek ways to increase effectiveness and efficiency to reach yearly metrics.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop an understanding of the educational, research, operational, and financial needs and goals of their assigned College(s)
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership annual gift and major gift donors and prospects in coordination with faculty, staff, and volunteers through the proper clearance process
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-125 prospects, creating fundraising strategies for those prospects, and regularly solicit gifts in the $5,000 – $250,000 range
• Assist in planning, coordinating, and directing special events for donors and prospects
• Make appropriate use of time and resources; plan travel efficiently; continuously update the prospect management database with information related to donor strategies, proposals, contacts, and results.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Advancement of their assigned College(s)

Department/College Description

At Rochester Institute of Technology, our mission is to shape the future and improve the world through creativity and innovation. As an engaged, intellectually curious, diverse and socially conscious community, we leverage the power of technology, the arts, and design for the greater good. In the Division of University Advancement at RIT, we are dedicated to advancing this mission by fostering deep and meaningful connections with alumni, parents, friends, and organizations with the goal of increasing the resources available to the university through greater volunteer engagement and increased philanthropic support. As Advancement professionals, we seek support from a variety of investors to ensure a life-transforming RIT education is accessible to the talented students who seek to join us.

RIT’s Division of University Advancement (UADV) is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. All division members are committed to building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive work environment where diversity is celebrated and valued. We believe the power of diversity enriches all of us by exposing us to a range of ways to understand and engage with each other, our constituents and our broader communities. We are dedicated to developing and implementing best practices to promote even greater diversity through our employee retention and hiring, accessibility, marketing materials, constituent engagement and in pursuit of our philanthropic goals.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of successful annual fund or major gift fundraising or customer-centered constituent engagement or marketing/sales experience
• High degree of computer literacy; interest and aptitude in learning more about management information systems
• Ability to manage complex projects and to effectively manage detail
• Sophisticated interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Additional Details

Rochester Institute of Technology, the 10th largest private university in the U.S., is among the world’s leading technological universities. Its 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries are enrolled in over 200 academic programs, including 7 interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs. A pioneer in experiential education, RIT was the first to offer undergraduate degree programs in biotechnology, information technology, software engineering, and microelectronic engineering. As home to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, the university offers unparalleled academic opportunities and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Founded in 1829, RIT has 115,000 alumni throughout the United States and around the world. RIT has been named by the Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the “Great Colleges to Work For.” RIT is a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation site, and is responsive to the needs of dual-career couples through the Upstate NY Higher Education Recruitment Consortium. For more information, visit http://www.rit.edu/overview/rankings-and-recognition and http://www.rit.edu.

As a member of the RIT community employees receive a well-balanced benefits package that offers a variety of choices and access to additional employment advantages. These benefits, combined with an employee’s pay, provide a total compensation package that can be tailored to meet your needs. More on RIT’s Benefits, Health & Wellness program can be found at: https://www.rit.edu/fa/humanresources/content/benefits-health-and-wellness

RIT does not discriminate. RIT is an equal opportunity employer that promotes and values diversity, pluralism, and inclusion. For more information or inquiries, please visit RIT/TitleIX or the U.S. Department of Education at ED.Gov