VIMS1 Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Compensation

Full Description

Job Requisition: JR100790 Assistant Director Donor Relations and Stewardship (Open) Job Posting Title: Assistant Director Donor Relations and Stewardship Job Family: Staff - Stewardship & Donor Relations Number of Openings: 1 Worker Sub-Type: Regular (benefited) Job Requisition Primary Location: Virginia Institute of Marine Science Primary Job Posting Location: Posting Location - VIMS Gloucester Job Description Summary: The mission of William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is to seek and broadly communicate knowledge in marine and coastal science to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world through research, education, and advisory service. The Batten School & VIMS make seminal advances in understanding coastal and marine systems through research and discovery, translate research findings into practical solutions to complex issues of societal importance, and provide new generations of researchers, educators, problem solvers, and managers with an education of unsurpassed quality. The mission of the Office of Advancement at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is to raise private funds to support VIMS, manage the affairs of the VIMS Foundation, increase the visibility of VIMS and its leadership, and engage audiences, including public and alumni, in the life of the Institute. Job Description: The Assistant Director of Donor Relations, Stewardship and Alumni Engagement is essential to the growth of philanthropic support for VIMS. This newly scoped position offers an opportunity for the individual to creatively build on existing strategies, developing new approaches to recognizing and engaging current and future donors to VIMS. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of VIMS Advancement, the individual will envision and execute comprehensive donor and alumni engagement /stewardship/recognition plans across all giving levels at VIMS. The individual will be responsible for donor giving societies, acknowledgement processes including endowment reporting, and donor recognition (e.g. awards, multi-yr giving recognition, plaques). The individual will work with VIMS advancement and communication colleagues to ensure an inspirational alumni/donor website, timely development of donor philanthropy stories and engagement materials. Core responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Providing leadership, initiative and innovation to develop, lead, execute and document a comprehensive stewardship program to acknowledge and recognize VIMS donors. Developing, overseeing and executing initiatives designed to engage and cultivate greater giving from existing and prospective donors both on campus and off. Partnering with central advancement at W&M, producing high quality other stewardship reports. Developing and executing an alumni engagement program to foster philanthropy. Serving as lead for donor recognition and cultivation events Serving as a liaison to key VIMS staff, such as supporting Advancement events as needed. This position will be located in the VIMS Advancement office near historic Yorktown, VA on our scenic Gloucester Point campus. Remote work for one day a week may be available. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent combination of education and substantive experience directly related to the position. Understanding of the importance of the donor experience and the strategic role of stewardship and engagement in growing philanthropy. Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills. Demonstrates strong sense of customer service. Ability to professionally connect with a diversity of personalities, to inspire and demonstrate diplomacy along with authentic gratitude. Demonstrates problem solving skills and attention to detail. Demonstrates a wide degree of flexibility with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and needs. Demonstrates ability to balance competing priorities, complex situations and tight deadlines. Demonstrates positive, can-do attitude with evidence of being a self-starter. Demonstrates creativity. Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, and effectively with a diverse campus community. Requires the ability to lift, walk and stand for periods of time. Using Microsoft office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Experience learning new software. Experience with project management. Experience connecting with diverse stakeholders. Experience with handling confidential information. Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree. Experience with fundraising in higher education or equivalent experience at non-profit organizations. Experience with stewarding donors or clients. Software skills including CRM experience, specifically Blackbaud. Knowledge of best practices in stewardship and donor relations. Able to create content for and coordinate with central campus and other key stakeholders to produce endowment and other stewardship reports. Manage and execute comprehensive gift acknowledgement processes for donations to the VIMS Foundation. personalized letters or electronic acknowledgement options will be developed for various audiences. Implementation of emerging technologies (e.g. video) for thanking VIMS supporters. Interface with students, faculty and leadership as well as donors in person, online or virtually to gather information or steward giving. Responsible for timely completion of gift acknowledgements. Conditions of Employment: This position requires work in the evenings and weekends, at a variety of locations, as needed for events. Outdoor work, in a variety of weather conditions, will be required for special events. Events require lifting, walking, and periods of standing. Salary: up to $65,000.00 commensurate with experience Additional Job Description: Qualifications: Period Salary Plan: Compensation Grade: S09 Recruiting Start Date: 2025-09-08 Review Date: Position Restrictions: Continuing E&G funded position and not term-limited EEO is the Law. Applicants can learn more about William & Mary’s status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the "Know Your Rights" poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) are vibrant, innovative and engaged communities and we are delighted about your interest in a career with us.