GENERAL PURPOSE:The General Purpose provides a concise, high-level overview of the role, level, and scope of responsibility consisting of 3-4 sentences. It provides a basic understanding of the job and a concise summary of why the job exists and how it makes an impact.Affinity Networks are alumni communities that form around identities including cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation. These communities offer a way for diverse and historically underrepresented alumni to build lifelong connections with the University community around a shared identity. The Affinity Networks and EDI team fosters and grows a culture of belonging for alumni, students, families, and friends by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of constituent engagement programming.The Senior Director of Affinity Networks and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is a key member of the University of Rochester Advancement team responsible for broad oversight of the engagement and fundraising strategies for identity-based affinity networks and equity, diversity, and inclusion programs.The Senior Director develops and champions the vision for the Affinity Networks and EDI programs. This role will lead a team of 4+ staff members in developing and implementing a strategic plan focused on expanding engagement and fostering a greater sense of belonging for our Affinity Network communities and our diverse and historically underrepresented/underserved alumni communities. The Senior Director will partner with Advancement colleagues to support fundraising efforts for Affinity Networks and equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.They are responsible for increasing fundraising and engagement of underrepresented populations across Advancement and the University, establishing and maintaining critical relationships with University Board of Trustee members, students, staff, faculty, alumni, senior administration, and volunteers. They will deepen the University¿s engagement with alumni and community partners by aligning identity-based affinity networks to showcase and support the University¿s priorities and fundraising campaigns.They oversee services, programs, strategic support, and volunteer management for the portfolio of identity-based affinity Networks and Diversity Advisory Council, including strategic planning, budgeting, program development, event planning, leadership recruitment and training, fundraising, and communication.The Senior Director coordinates fundraising initiatives in support of identity-based affinity fundraising initiatives with Development, School, and Annual Giving teams to develop, promote, and track progress toward of raising $8-10 million dollars annually. This includes facilitating donor identification, solicitation, and stewardship.They provide leadership, vision, and strategic planning to ensure optimal volunteer engagement, including developing and maintaining relationships with University Board of Trustee members and direct management of the Diversity Advisory Council; identify and recruit talented alumni for volunteer roles; guide thoughtful succession planning; foster interaction across constituencies; and develop accountability standards across Networks.Travel is required for this role.RESPONSIBILITIES:Fundraising
For the comprehensive campaign, manage the fundraising portfolio of raising $8,000,000 ¿ $10,000,000 for DEI initiatives. Identify, cultivate, and steward donors who support the specific existing and future fundraising initiatives.
Coordinate the engagement of high-capacity donors in partnership with development and University leadership while also determining strategic engagement opportunities for future high-level prospects.
Collaborate with advancement partners (development, annual giving, donor engagement, etc.) to develop new fundraising strategies for affinity Networks that support the growth of the donor base and pipeline while ensuring alignment with campaign and strategic initiatives.
Initiates and/or strengthens relationships, creates strategies for, and solicits and guides donors in accomplishing their philanthropic goals, securing major gifts that align with annual goals for fundraising and engagement.
Maintains regular contact with prospects and donors through visits, correspondence, and personal calls, as well as manages and tracks movement related to donor activity.
Strategic Planning and Program Management
Leads, creates and sustains the comprehensive strategy for all identity-based affinity Networks, including annual event and program planning, communications, fundraising, and volunteer management.
Works closely with Alumni Relations and Constituent Engagement team and Advancement leadership to set goals for the identity-based affinity program, ensuring alignment with the University¿s campaign pillars, Advancement equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as the University¿s Office of Equity and Inclusion.
Develop goals and manage the overall tracking and analysis of EDI and affinity engagement efforts, including events, volunteers, giving, etc., to determine the programs' and groups' effectiveness, contributions, and sustainability.
Manage the strategic and thoughtful inclusion and creation of marketing and communication efforts for all EDI and identity-based affinity Network events programs, and fundraising ensuring they align with the University¿s visual identity.
Serve as a resource to key Advancement partners on identity-based fundraising, events, and volunteer programs, including reunion, regional, student, young alums, career, annual fund, and major gift fundraising.
Volunteer Management
Oversee a team of 3-4 Engagement Officers (P3s) managing a portfolio of volunteers for all identity-based affinity Networks, including the Black Alumni Network, First-Generation Network, Latin Alumni Network, LGBTQ+ Network, and Women¿s Network.
Work closely with Board of Trustee members and high capacity/high visibility prospects involved as volunteers with the affinity Networks.
Manage the University¿s Diversity Advisory Council, a national volunteer body responsible for providing leadership, guidance, and feedback to the University on diversity and inclusion initiatives for its alumni. This includes managing the entire volunteer life cycle of identification and recruitment, onboarding and offboarding of members, as well as volunteer and meeting management¿agenda development, activity coordination, and minutes.
Build, maintain, and track a pipeline of diverse future volunteer leaders. In partnership with advancement and campus-based partners, prioritize the identification and engagement of these future leaders and work to increase representation across all volunteer committees.
Expectation to meet annual visit goals (30-50).
Program and Event Development and Implementation
Oversee development and management of 50 ¿ 75 events and programs designed to expand engagement within identity-based affinity Networks.
Direct strategic planning of topic, speakers, and program implementation of signature EDI events, including REAL Conversations, Juneteenth, Faculty and Staff of Color Luncheon and Meliora Weekend, and Volunteers in Partnership Leadership Conference programs.
Develop goals, inclusive strategies and implementation for identity-based affinity Network members to engage within university-wide and campus events as attendees, speakers and volunteers in collaboration with Advancement and University colleagues.
Administration, Team & Budget Management
Hire, recruit, manage, and professionally develop a team of 4-5 engagement officers supporting identity-based affinity engagement efforts.
Manage overall operations and a budget of $200k + for EDI and identity-based affinity programs, including strategic funding for newly formed groups and sustained funding justification for existing groups.
General
In collaboration with the Vice President of Alumni and Constituent Relations and the Assistant Vice President of Volunteer Engagement, Networks and Programs, develop overall department business plans and metrics and support the team¿s external marketing and communications.
Other tasks and duties as assigned.
Field miscellaneous inquiries from alumni.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor¿s degree required
Master¿s degree preferred
Required:
7-10 years required in a related field such as alumni relations, fundraising, volunteer management, community building, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging strategy development.
Experience working with underrepresented populations and demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), including experience/ability to identify and emphasize diverse perspectives in programming, communications, and strategy.
A general knowledge of institutional fundraising, alumni relations, and constituent engagement is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated project management and problem-solving skills, including organizational skills, to meet goals and objectives through effective program and project planning.
Proven ability to fundraise, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects.
Broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising ¿ able to participate in all aspects of the gift cycle:
to initiate contacts with potential donors;
to develop appropriate cultivation strategies for them, including working with the volunteers and senior University administrators;
to move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure;
to make solicitations when appropriate;
to maintain stewardship contacts with donors.
General information tac laws that impact charitable giving, personal assets, and estates.
Supervisory and management experience with the ability to coach, mentor, and tailor professional development plans for individual staff members.
Demonstrated ability to work with, motivate, and lead colleagues and volunteers.
Experience working in a fast¿paced, results¿oriented environment and demonstrated flexibility in meeting shifting demands and priorities.
Proven qualities of initiative, creativity, and a commitment to client/customer service.
Excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication and wide-ranging writing skills. Ability to manage multiple projects under deadline. Must be detail-oriented and have the ability to produce accurate, high-quality work under deadline. Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
Demonstrated skill in various forms of written correspondence. Must be extremely comfortable in communicating information to individuals and groups orally, both by telephone and in person.
Experience with data tracking and annual reporting processes.
Demonstrated ability to gather, condense, and synthesize information and conduct analysis, report results, and summaries.
Experience with computer technologies and sophisticated software applications.Working knowledge of the Windows environment, including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, electronic mail and calendar, and internet/HTML that support high-level alumni engagement activities.
Travel is required, as well as some evening and weekend work.
A personal belief in the mission, goals, and objectives of private higher education and a desire to change the world.
The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the University¿s mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create ¿ and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations.How To ApplyAll applicants must apply online.EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/DisabledPay RangePay Range: $96,860 - $145,290 AnnuallyThe referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job¿s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.Apply for Job
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