Director, Athletics Advancement

Welcome to Career Opportunities at Lindenwood University.

PLEASE READ: For all applications, please include your resume and cover letter. You may skip the “_ Quick Apply ” page by simply clicking “Next” at the bottom of the page. When you arrive at the “Experience” page, you may upload all desired documents using the upload box labeled “Resume/CV._” This is the appropriate box to upload all documents.

Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:

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Welcome to Career Opportunities at Lindenwood University.

PLEASE READ: For all applications, please include your resume and cover letter. You may skip the “_ Quick Apply ” page by simply clicking “Next” at the bottom of the page. When you arrive at the “Experience” page, you may upload all desired documents using the upload box labeled “Resume/CV._” This is the appropriate box to upload all documents.

Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:

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• Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only).
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.   
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.

JOB TITLE SUMMARY

Job Title: Director, Athletics Advancement

Division: Advancement and Community Engagement

Evaluation Group: Staff

FLSA Status: Exempt

Application Deadline: 11.25.2024

Anticipated Start Date: 12.6.2024

Reports To: Associate Vice President, Advancement

Positions Supervised: N/A

Job Summary

The director of athletics advancement is responsible for cultivating strong relationships with individual donors, alumni, foundations, corporations, and friends of the University to secure major gifts for the Athletics department.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Ensures the Advancement team conducts prospect research and solicitation and donor stewardship, with a focus on major gifts 
• Manages a large portfolio of major-gift level prospects
• Manages the solicitation process and completes solicitations, including revocable intentions and weekly face-to-face meetings; recommends proposal ask amounts
• Assists with fundraising initiatives established by department leaders and Lindenwood’s Board of Trustees
• Prepares reports and proposals as related to fundraising
• Participates in the supervision of the charitable contributions program, including coordinating the approval process, screening requests for financial support, and directing the disbursement of funds
• Develops strategic and structural plans, including short- and long-term goals, to position the University’s growth and development
• Manages End Zone Club and VIP room events along with sport alumni engagement events
• Leads Lions Booster Club and other sport affinity programs

Service Excellence

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
• Cultivates strong relationships with individual donors, alumni, foundations, corporations, and friends of the University for the purpose of securing major gifts
• Implements a thorough donor acknowledgement and stewardship system

Communication, Teamwork, and Collaboration

• Plans programs that promote goodwill and foster relationships with community leaders; utilizes University stakeholders, including the president, as part of the cultivation process
• Advises the associate vice president for advancement on internal and external constituency relations
• Provides leadership to campus constituents on current, effective fundraising techniques
• Leads major gift initiative planning meetings
• Represents the University on committees and boards and at events

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience in a development or sales environment; sales preferred
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience in higher education environment
• Participation in a comprehensive campaign preferred
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge preferred
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge of the grant preparation process, including researching, writing, and facilitating grant and private foundation funding
• Knowledge of the field’s best and current concepts, practices, and procedures, including planned giving techniques and vehicles
• Ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts of $10,000 and above
• Empathetic listener with corresponding excellence in verbal and written communication
• Detail oriented with ability to multi-task accurately under deadlines
• Ability to use discretion with confidential information

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions. Please click here to view Lindenwood University’s flexible work designation descriptions.

• General office setting
• Regular night and weekend work required
• Serves as regional representative for Lindenwood Advancement; regular travel to assigned region to conduct donor visits and alumni engagement events required
• Standard Flex

Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for up to eight hours daily
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time
• Ability to use repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements to type regularly
• Adequately mobile to attend events on- and off-campus
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees.  Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational work environment.

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