Assistant/Associate/Senior Associate Athletic Director for Championship Resources

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. The posted salary and/or position title may be adjusted dependent on the successful candidate’s education, experience, and unique qualifications as they relate to the position.

Description

This position is responsible for fundraising activities for the Division of Athletics. The primary function of this role is to oversee the daily fundraising of the athletic department, with a primary emphasis on increasing philanthropic engagement on behalf of the North Alabama Athletics Department. This position reports to the Director of Athletics, with a dotted line to the Vice President for University Advancement and works closely with the UNA Foundation staff. Responsibilities include managing, planning, and executing a comprehensive fundraising program that connects to the Shine On, Gold! capital campaign and construction of Bank Independent Stadium, in partnership with the University’s advancement team and Foundation. This position works in a team environment with the athletic department and university advancement staff to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumnae, parents, and friends of the University in order to meet the short- and long-term goals of the athletic department.

The successful candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with the Director of Athletics, other divisional staff/coaches, and the division of University Advancement to lead specific development funding opportunities for the Intercollegiate Athletics programs.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. The posted salary and/or position title may be adjusted dependent on the successful candidate’s education, experience, and unique qualifications as they relate to the position.

Description

This position is responsible for fundraising activities for the Division of Athletics. The primary function of this role is to oversee the daily fundraising of the athletic department, with a primary emphasis on increasing philanthropic engagement on behalf of the North Alabama Athletics Department. This position reports to the Director of Athletics, with a dotted line to the Vice President for University Advancement and works closely with the UNA Foundation staff. Responsibilities include managing, planning, and executing a comprehensive fundraising program that connects to the Shine On, Gold! capital campaign and construction of Bank Independent Stadium, in partnership with the University’s advancement team and Foundation. This position works in a team environment with the athletic department and university advancement staff to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumnae, parents, and friends of the University in order to meet the short- and long-term goals of the athletic department.

The successful candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with the Director of Athletics, other divisional staff/coaches, and the division of University Advancement to lead specific development funding opportunities for the Intercollegiate Athletics programs.

Essential Job Duties

• Work closely with both the Director of Athletics and Vice President for University Advancement to coordinate meetings with staff/coaches to maintain an active list of potential, current, and former donors;
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals and organizations to make philanthropic gifts for the UNA Athletics department;
• Work closely with the Shine On, Gold! capital campaign and funding initiatives related to Bank Independent Stadium;
• Develop and execute strategic funding requests, proposals, gift materials, and stewardship materials based on short- intermediate-, and long-term funding goals of the University on behalf of the division of Athletics;
• Play a lead role in soliciting and closing gifts;
• Manage a pipeline of active gift prospects and set and execute strategies for the discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of these prospects;
• In cooperation with the Director of Athletics and Vice President for University Advancement, establish measurable goals and objectives for the year based on program needs and donor capacity;
• Oversee the Champions of the Pride (annual giving arm) of the entire athletics department and work closely with the athletics external team;
• Collaborate with the Director of Athletics and the athletic department’s multimedia rights partners to execute the department’s Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) priorities alongside philanthropic and corporate giving initiatives;
• Work cooperatively with other senior members of the division to successfully coordinate visits and strategies that will benefit the university and division of Athletics goals and objectives;
• Initiate and oversee the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of current and potential donors;
• Travel extensively to meet with current and potential donors – overnight travel is required;
• Responsible for meeting measurable goals related to the number of visits, solicitations, and monies raised of current and potential donors;
• Prepare documents and record actions of identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activity with donors;
• Attend and participate in athletic events and university functions (both on- and off-campus) as a member of the division;
• Attend prospect management team meetings and athletic department staff meetings;
• Attend seminars and workshops for professional development;
• Discover and create opportunities that will attract major gift prospects into the life of the University and athletic department;
• Maintain a comprehensive strategy for the development of specific annual and campaign goals and objectives;
• Work closely with donors and volunteer boards/councils to facilitate gifts;
• Maintain a working knowledge of planned giving vehicles;
• Disseminate information and generate exposure and awareness;
• Assigned sport administrative oversight;
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
To be determined.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field is required;
• Master’s degree is preferred;
• Three or more years of experience in university fundraising is required;
• Experience in fundraising and solicitation at the university level in intercollegiate athletics is preferred;
• Experience in community outreach/involvement and planning events relative to stewardship and/or recognition, preferred;
• Experience with businesses/corporations/foundations in establishing strong relationships leading to desired outcomes, preferred.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS:
Current, valid, drivers’ license is required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent usage of the English language, both verbally and written, as well as presentation skills;
• Ability to work with all constituencies, including administration, faculty, staff, donors, alumni, friends, and students;
• Ability to make a strong commitment to higher education;
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and deadline-oriented;
• Ability and desire to grow personally and professionally;
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor, behavior, and appearance at all times;
• Cognizant of the highly visible nature of advancement office work;
• Ability to raise significant funds for academic programs, endowment, and capital support through identified individuals, corporations, state, and federal resources;
• Word processing, PC, and research skills;
• General understanding of the purpose and function of a specialized fundraising database;
• Proficiently skilled in the Microsoft Office Suite;
• Excellent analytical and diagnostic skills;
• Well-organized and detail-oriented;
• Ability to cultivate and maintain personal relationships;
• Knowledge of the sensitive nature of donor records and the necessity of maintaining confidential protocols;
• Ability to respond with urgency to the needs and request of others, internally and externally, and ensure a high degree of responsiveness to all donors without regard to their giving level;
• Ability to think strategically and creatively and to persuade others;
• Knowledge of a constituent relationship management system;
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated in initiating contacts with potential donors;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, with interruption, in an energetic environment;
• Ability to travel extensively – including overnight – as requested;
• Ability to effectively build and maintain relationships with diverse groups of students, faculty, staff, administrators, donors, visitors, parents, and the general public;
• Ability to articulate the case for support to individuals and organizations.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must upload a cover letter and resume as well as provide contact information for at least three professional references at the time of application. For questions, please email employment@una.edu or call 256.765.4291 and select option #2. Selecting an option other than #2 will result in a delayed response.

UNA is an equal opportunity employer committed to achieving excellence and strength through diversity. UNA seeks a wide range of applicants for this position so that one of our core values, ethnic and cultural diversity, will be affirmed. UNA is a smoke-free campus.