Associate Director, The Leadership Circle

Title:
Associate Director, The Leadership Circle

Department:
SVP Advancement

Reports To:
Executive Director, Leadership Circle and Parent Fundraising

Position Type:
Staff

Position Summary:
This position reports to the Executive Director, Leadership Circle and Fundraising, and will serve as a constituent-facing, frontline fundraising role primarily focused on building sustainable and authentic relationships while advancing engagement and revenue levels at NJIT. The incumbent will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward mid-level annual gifts, defined as $1,000 to $25,000, while helping to build and maintain the leadership gift pipeline of $25,000 and above. Operating at the intersection of annual, mid-level, and leadership giving, this role enhances strategy and efficiency across all potential giving targets. The position actively, creatively, and enthusiastically participates in institutional fundraising strategy and planning meetings to drive results. It also works to create greater synergy, communication, and collaboration with NJIT frontline fundraisers, internal and external constituents, and other key stakeholders, all in support of advancing the institution. In alignment with NJIT’s annual and leadership giving efforts, the role closely collaborates with the Alumni Engagement and Giving department, to strengthen existing constituent engagement and identify new opportunities. Additionally, the position is responsible for stewarding relationships to fortify and upgrade existing giving, as well as identifying and driving new donor relationships and opportunities across all levels of giving.

Essential Functions:

• Assist in continuing the evolution of a leadership giving program, focused on identifying, cultivating and soliciting “mid-level ($1k-25k)” annual gifts while moving donors appropriately through donor pipeline.
• Collaborate with communications team for Leadership Circle branding and communication pieces, including but not limited to – appeals, newsletters, invitations, general correspondence, web content etc.
• Work in concert with Director and the Donor Relations and Events teams in ensuring appropriate stewardship programming for retention and enhancement within Leadership Circle membership.
• Strategically use all forms of technology and communication in engaging donors and prospects.
• “Follow” donors through pipeline into major gift status as appropriate or necessary.
• In collaboration with Events team, plan and host strategic regional events, promoting Leadership membership retention and onboarding.
• Personally manage a portfolio of 150-200 donors and prospects, achieving and surpassing agreed upon goals for this position, potentially including but not limited to:

-Leadership Circle membership goal
-Visit and meaningful contact goal
-Annual fundraising dollar amount goal
-Membership retention goal
-Gift upgrade goal
-Constituent identification/qualification goal
-Disqualified prospect recovery goal

• Develop gift proposals and custom stewardship strategies for prospects and donors.
• Help ensure that 100% of all assigned leadership annual donors and prospects are solicited individually.
• Collaborate with the team to support the identification and engagement of prospective major gift donors.
• Attend appropriate NJIT and donor-sponsored events.
• Understand and implement analytics as needed to drive increased engagement and giving.
• Travel to visit with donors and prospects, as appropriate and necessary.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Prerequisite Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, with advanced degree preferred.
• Preferred 3-5 years of progressive experience in fundraising and donor engagement, preferably in higher education or a related field.
• Demonstrated track record of success in building authentic relationships while cultivating and soliciting gifts.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to analyze issues and problem solve in a fast moving environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to share the NJIT story to external constituents.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization, fostering a culture of teamwork and collaboration.
• Experience with fundraising database systems and data analysis tools preferred.
• Ability to work independently at times and to travel and work flexible and non-traditional hours as needed to meet demands of the role.
• At the university's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be exempted where the candidate can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the university, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

About the Leadership Circle:
The Leadership Circle is a prestigious recognition society as well as a dynamic community of engaged and loyal Alumni and friends of, celebrated for their transformational impact on NJIT. Through the contribution of significant resources, Leadership Circle members lead the way in NJIT’s continuance and constant pursuit of new levels of excellence. The collective generosity of this group positively impacts the immediate and long-term needs of our talented and hardworking students, esteemed faculty, robust academic curriculum and innovative co-curricular initiatives – all pillars of NJIT’s world-class education.

Bargaining Unit:
PSA

Range/Band:
25

Salary Information:
In compliance with the NJ Pay Transparency Law, the negotiated annual salary range for this position is $70,089.77-$131,210.76 (USD). NJIT considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses or other items.

To learn more about the comprehensive benefits NJIT offers for this position, please visit our benefits page: https://hr.njit.edu/health-benefits.

FLSA:
Exempt
Full-Time