Position Summary

The Assistant AD of Development will lead annual fundraising efforts for the Rice Department of Athletics, including the Owl Club, Rice Athletics Scholarship Fund, and Sport Interest Groups. In addition, this position will assist in major gift fundraising in collaboration with the Major Gifts Officer. In collaboration with Rice Development and Alumni Relations, this position will oversee a team including fundraisers and event personnel to achieve aspirational annual fundraising goals in support of exceptional student-athletes. This position will also coordinate closely with the Director of Ticket Sales, the Assistant AD of Ticketing and Business Strategy, and other athletic department groups to ensure synergy between development and transactional revenue pipelines. The Assistant AD will manage volunteer groups, specifically the Owl Club Advisory Board.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s required
• Three (3) years of related experience in annual giving, sales, or an external revenue generating function.

Skills 

• Strong organization skills with keen attention to detail
• Foundation in problem solving and data analysis
• Ability to create an annual giving plan and lead, manage, coach, and motivate a development. team to execute against the plan
• Strong relationship building
• Excellent communication skills both oral and written
• Experience with direct mail, telemarketing, and/or database marketing
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.

Preferences 

• Five years of related experience in annual giving, sales, or an external revenue generating function
• Three years of related experience in annual giving, sales, or an external revenue generating function
• Familiarity with constituent databases such as Ticketmaster Arctics or Blackbaud
• Knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or InDesign

Essential Functions

• Provides supervision and administrative oversight for assigned program(s)
• Develops strategic plans and recommendations to the Senior Associate AD of Development 
• Forms strong alliances and relationships with the Houston community for the purpose of developing additional resources and cutting-edge opportunities.
• Manages staffing and operations budgets in the aforementioned programs / units and continues to develop strategies to maximize resources and performance.
• Collaborates with the Senior Associate AD of Development to set department policies and goals.
• Performs all other duties as assigned. 

Additional Functions

• Create and execute annual giving strategy and plan for the department of athletics, including prospect identification and segmentation, marketing and messaging, solicitations, stewardship, and reporting.
• Employ a data-driven approach to prospect identification and cultivation.
• Manage a portfolio of assigned leadership donors and prospects to cultivate, solicit, steward, and grow donor relationships.
• Lead team of full-time staff and volunteers, including the Owl Club Advisory Board, to assign prospects and support solicitations.
• Monitor, analyze, and report results of solicitations to determine effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the Director of Ticket Sales and team to increase number of donors who are also premium ticket buyers.
• Collaborate with Rice Athletics Major Gift team and Rice Development and Alumni Relations, especially the Rice Annual Fund, to ensure coordinated approach to annual giving outreach and communications.
• Plan and execute donor hospitality events for all sports, particularly football and basketball, and for special events.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

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Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.