Assistant Director of Development
The University of Chicago

Department

Library Administration - Development

About the Department

The University of Chicago Library is forging new paths and aiming to make a significant impact at the University of Chicago, as well as in a leadership position in the global knowledge environment.

Traditionally, the role of the academic library has been to bring information into the community it serves and to provide the spaces, skills, and tools to enable its patrons to benefit. Library buildings, fully of books, embody this way of operating. This traditional model is enhanced by leveraging digital technologies to facilitate information flows within the university and allowing information to be shared online in a sustainable way.

This new paradigm will require libraries to develop sustainable services for information management and sharing and taking an active role in shaping the knowledge ecosystem, which will facilitate equitable access to and increase the visibility of information. To contribute to the ongoing success of the University of Chicago, the Library is changing its operating model to position itself as a leader in this environment, while still expanding on its historic strength in collection development.

The Library is also developing a new strategy to position itself as an international leader in information services and technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, and other related areas.

Job Summary

Alumni Relations & Development
The University of Chicago's Alumni Relations and Development Office (ARD) engages alumni (~190k), current students, parents and friends of the University through intellectual, professional, and social activities on campus, around the world and online. ARD raises $600 million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

Library Development
The Library's Development department is responsible for enabling the strategic plans and aspirations of the University Librarian and Library leadership by securing philanthropic, grant, and government funding. Recent success in annual giving includes the launch of the Freedom to Read Fund and Civic Engagement Fund alongside the long-standing opportunities to support the Library Annual Fund and Library Fund for Books.

The Assistant Director of Development will plan and deliver programs designed to meet University fundraising goals for contributed income for the Library's annual giving appeals, manage the Library's events for fundraising and alumni and donor engagement, manage donor relations activities, manage the annual endowment reporting requirements, and manage and analyze the Library's data held on the shared database.

Responsibilities

Annual Giving

• Plans and delivers on contributed income targets for the Library's annual giving appeals, including Giving Day and Giving Tuesday, through email, mail, social media, phone, and other channels from University alumni and other prospective donors.
  
• Partners with the Central Alumni Relations and Development to plan, create, schedule, execute, and evaluate productive, high-quality, cost-effective solicitation projects.
  
• Cultivates and maintains strong and collegial relationships with colleagues in various alumni relations and development roles across the University to ensure a coordinated approach to strengthening alumni and donor relationships.
  
• Drafts compelling solicitations in various channels using direct response marketing best practices to motivate alumni and donors to support the Library.
  
• Uses research on giving patterns to improve solicitation techniques and improve future solicitation campaigns.
  
• Facilitates proactive data pulls, reports, and lists. Maintains records and files, and updates the database regularly.
  

Stewardship

• Plans and delivers the Library's annual stewardship program for donors at the annual giving and leadership annual giving levels.
  
• Plans and delivers the Library's annual endowment reporting process.
  

Event Planning and Management

• Plans and delivers events to engage and steward the Library's donors and prospects. This includes, but is not limited to: event program development, event communications, venue selection, food and beverage, audio/visual equipment, and décor.
  
• In coordination with the Director of Development, plans and delivers the annual meetings of the Library Council.
  

Other Responsibilities

• Seeks opportunities of professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
  
• Contributes to the planning and implementation of programs to identify, visit, and solicit alumni, parents, and other constituencies within an assigned geographical region for gifts to meet fundraising goal. Does this with a moderate level of guidance and direction.
  
• Ensures quality control when monitoring various marketing channels by developing a targeted strategy for solicitation and marketing materials as well as campaign appeals, solving a range of straightforward problems as they arise.
  
• Performs other related work as needed.
  

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
---
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Professional experience of working in a library setting.
  

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly the technology tools available, including Phoenix (the University's Constituent Relationship Management System), a Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
  

Preferred Competencies

• Strong verbal and writing skills, high attention to detail and follow-up, and excellent organizational skills.
  
• Strong commitment to customer service.
  
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
  
• Act with integrity and professionalism.
  
• Ability to work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
  
• Self-motivation and the ability to take initiative.
  
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
  
• Flexible and adaptable to new programs in an emerging and changing environment.
  
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  
• Embrace the mission and vision of the Library and become knowledgeable about the work across the Library to connect meaningfully with alumni, donors, and prospects.
  

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
  
• Cover Letter (preferred)
  

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

---