Assistant OR Associate Director for Gift Processing

Position Summary

The University of Virginia External Relations Operation’s team is seeking an Assistant or Associate Director for Gift Processing. This role involves reviewing and assuring the quality of gifts and pledges entered into the UVA Advancement (Salesforce Ascend) system. The Assistant or Associate Director reports to the Director, University Advancement Services.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the gift processing team.
• Assist in managing all gift processing functions.
• Manage the gift processors, coordinate workflow; assign projects to processors; monitor backlog and redirect workflow; answer staff questions; help processors resolve issues; act as informational resource on gift processing procedures.
• Ensure the completion and daily review of data entry batches, prior to posting to the database.
• Work with Advancement Service’s team to produce various reports pertaining to gift transactions as requested including gift processing metrics and key performance indicators.
• Understand and communicate the intricacies of processing planned gifts into the Salesforce Ascend system.
• Responsible for complex research to ensure accuracy in the data that is being processed.
• Provide excellent service to all constituents and work cooperatively as a member of the Advancement Service’s team.
• Create and maintain documentation and processes for colleges and units to allow for ease in submitting gifts and requests to the processing group.
• Mentor, train, and evaluate gift processing staff, providing excellent service to all constituents, and working cooperatively as a member of the Advancement Service’s team.
• Serve as support for processing gift receipts and pledge reminders within parameters established in Advancement Service’s policies and procedures (UVA Advancement Gift Manual) as needed.
• Afford assistance with other gift processing related duties as assigned including coverage for Help Desk.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree Required.
• Minimum of 4 years' work experience in a role supporting fundraising such as Advancement Services, Donor Stewardship, Gift & Records Processing.
• Experience in higher education or other equivalent experience preferred.
• Management and leadership experience and the ability to coach and direct employees to perform and meet mutually agreed upon performance objectives.
• Skill in prioritizing assignments to accurately reflect the relative importance of job responsibilities.
• Experience with Salesforce, Kindsight Ascend, or similar software preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong computer skills required, including advanced use of Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn new technologies and systems; SharePoint experience preferred.
• A comprehensive understanding of gift processing includes planned gifts, security processing, matching gifts, gifts in kind, and bequests.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of the development profession in general and as it relates to the University.
• Knowledge of the University of Virginia’s development data, standards, and practices.
• Ability to read and interpret a variety of documents and use discretion in resolving issues and discrepancies with minimum supervision.
• Ability to work accurately with detail in a busy, fast-paced environment to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a team environment, establishing and maintaining cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to provide leadership and professional supervision to a team to achieve shared goals in an efficient and effective manner.
• Ability to act with a high level of judgment and diplomacy when completing all job-related responsibilities.
• Demonstrated willingness to adapt to change, proactively solve problems and to help others do the same.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to represent the department and UVA External Relations in a friendly, courteous, and professional manner with excellent interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Demonstrated self-motivation and personal accountability.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of the development profession in general and as it relates to the University.