Assistant Director, Donor Relations and Events

About the role

Join a dynamic advancement team and play a key role in shaping meaningful donor experiences that elevate engagement and strengthen philanthropic impact at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for External & Donor Relations and colleagues, manages and executes high-impact donor stewardship and recognition events and engagement touchpoints, including donor recognition societies and funded naming opportunities.
• Manages the planning and execution of strategic events to support the goals and objectives of the University Division of Advancement, including planning, scheduling, vendor coordination, pre-event communications, on-site logistics, program preparation, and post-event follow-up.
• Maintains accurate data and records; completes all pre- and post-event reporting in a timely and accurate manner seeking opportunities for continuous improvement.
• PARTNERS WITH ADVANCEMENT COLLEAGUES TO DEVELOP DATA-DRIVEN LISTS AND MESSAGING.
• IMPLEMENTS DONOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RECOGNITION PROCESSES, ENSURING TIMELY, ACCURATE, AND HIGH-QUALITY STEWARSHIP COMMUNICATIONS.
• DEVELOPS AND MANAGES DETAILED PROJECT PLANS, TIMELINES, AND BRIEFING MATERIALS TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT ACROSS CAMPUS PARTNERS AND LEADERSHIP.
• MANAGES BUDGET, ASSSESSES FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS, AND EFFECTIVELY NEGOTIATES COST CONTAINMENT STRATEGIES AND VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS AS NECESSARY.
• SUPPORTS UNIVERSITY SIGNATURE EVENTS SUCH AS GROUNDBREAKINGS, RIBBON-CUTTINGS, AND OTHER STEWARSHIP ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
• INTERACTS PROFESSIONALLY, EXERCISING SOUND JUDGMENT WITH ALL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONSTITUENTS. SERVES AS AN ENTHUSIASSTANT TEAM MEMBER AND LEADS BY EXAMPLE.
• MENTORS STUDENT AMBASSADORS ON EVENT ADMINISTRATIVE/PRODUCTION TASKS AND CONSTITUENT RELATIONS, ENSURING ACCURACY OF INFORMATION, AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES.
• SERVES AS AN ACTIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC PARTNER TO ALL ADVANCEMENT FUNCTIONS AND CAMPUS COLLEAGUES TO FOSTER STRATEGIC, EFFECTIVE, AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT ARE INFORMED THROUGH RESEARCH OF BEST PRACTICES AND CONSTITUENT FEEDBACK.
• WORKS COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS ADVANCEMENT AND CAMPUS PARTNERS TO ENSURE COORDINATION, ALIGNMENT, AND TIMELY EXECUTION OF PRIORITIES.
• SETS ENGAGEMENT GOALS AND METRICS, EVENT-SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND PROJECT PLANS, AND USES JUDGMENT TO ENSURE STAKEHOLDER EXPECTATIONS AND OUTCOMES ARE ACHIEVED.
• COORDINATES RESOURCES AND SETS DAILY PRIORITIES TO MEET OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.
• PREFERRED: Bachelor's degree in events, hospitality, public relations, public administration, communications, or related field.
• 3-5 years of work experience to include events management and/or donor stewardship experience. Experience working in a CRM preferred.
• WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT PRINCIPLES.
• ADVANCED PROFICIENCY IN MICROSOFT OFFICE SUITE; EXPERIENCE WITH CRM SYSTEMS PREFERRED.
• EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS WITH THE ABILITY TO MANAGE MULTIPLE PRIORITIES IN A FAST-PACED, COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT.
• EXCELLENT INTERPERSONAL, WRITTEN, AND VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
• HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS, INCLUDING DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF A WIDE RANGE OF AUDIENCES.
• OUTSTANDING ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND COMMITMENT TO QUALITY.
• ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND AS PART OF A TEAM.
• ABILITY TO LIFT 25 LBS. AND OCCASIONALLY WORK ON FEET FOR PERIODS OF TIME.

Benefits

• This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.