• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $61,500 - $70,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of the Parents Fund, the Assistant Director is an integral part of the College Parent fundraising team who helps the College’s parent fundraising effort. The incumbent seeks gifts and pledges from the parent community, supports the volunteer efforts of the Parent Leadership Council, and provides input and assistance for the direct marketing aspects of the Parents Fund. The incumbent manages a portfolio of prospects and works closely with the Director to support all activities related to the Parent Leadership Council. Key tasks include personal solicitation, volunteer management, interactive communications, stewardship, events, and direct mail.

Responsibilities

• With the Director, help develop and lead overall gift strategy for current and past parents’ annual fund gifts, with a focus on leadership gifts, and a particular focus on gifts beginning at $10,000, the threshold for the Council. Manage a portfolio of no more than 300 rated parent prospects. Identify, cultivate, solicit parent gifts and steward parent donors, focusing on raising dollars and increasing participation.
• In collaboration with the Director, support day-to-day activities for the Parent Leadership Council by recruiting members, staffing and tracking volunteer assignments, stewarding volunteers and maintaining regular communications with volunteers. Supervise and manage parent-related volunteer reports. With the Director, volunteer leadership and others, develop and assist with parent cultivation events. Ensure that all Parent Leadership Council marketing materials and web page are continuously updated. 
• Provide input and help execute strategy for all related direct marketing including working collaboratively with the Columbia College Marketing team, Prospect Management team, and the Annual Fund Programs team to manage the direct mail, telemarketing and interactive communications programs for parents to ensure that the specific needs of the parents’ program are met. Draft and review appeal letters and scripts as necessary. Review reports regularly and analyze results, making adjustments as necessary to ensure the programs are tracking toward goals.
• Partner with development officers, academic leaders, Student and Family support staff and Engineering School parent staff, on key initiatives, as necessary. Represent and attend, as appropriate key parent events such as Move In, Convocation, Family Weekend, Homecoming, Class Day, Legacy Receptions, Reunion and other in-person and virtual programs as needed.
• Facilitate and manage regular communications with parents through web site; quarterly PLC newsletter, and periodic mail updates. Manage review of parent donor rolls and partner with Donor Relations for the PLC Annual Report.
• Other duties as assigned.                                                                                                                                   

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent required.

• A minimum of two years’ relevant experience required.

• The successful candidate possesses skills for written and oral communication with an emphasis on the ability to execute written materials that are appropriate for the parent audience including being grammatically correct. 

• Candidate must possess initiative and excellent communication and collaboration skills. 

• A working knowledge of personal computers is necessary.

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team is essential.

  *Position requires some evening and weekend assignments and possible travel.*

  **Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be reviewed.**

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience fundraising in a higher education setting and volunteer management preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.