ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATE

ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATE
Job ID# 965
SMU - Development and Alumni Affairs, National Major Giving Programs

SMU is a private university with an enrollment of over 11,000 students. SMU offers undergraduate programs centered on the liberal arts and excellent graduate, professional and continuing education programs. The campus is nestled in a traditional residential neighborhood five miles north of downtown Dallas. SMU’s spacious park-like campus features red brick buildings of Collegiate Georgian architecture and beautiful fountains.

SMU seeks to offer competitive salaries and a broad array of benefits. Options include – but are not limited to – comprehensive wellness programs, medical, dental and vision care, retirement plan with immediate vesting, athletic and recreational privileges.

Position Summary:
This position provides donor communications, stewardship and administrative and research support for the Director of Development for the Great Plains Region and the Director of Development for the Mountain West Region of the National Major Giving Programs team.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Providing general administrative support, including managing heavy travel for both directors, scheduling appointments, handling general office duties, organizing daily development tasks, reconciling budgets, processing expenditures and reimbursementsDonor and volunteer stewardship and prospect management duties, including researching and tracking donors, maintaining communications and providing support and materials for regional volunteers, drafting correspondence and proposals, completing gift transmittals and following up with Gift Administration, coordinating endowment reporting with the Donor Relations team, collaborating with the National Outreach Program staff on regional event activity, maintaining the development database, executing large-scale mailings, and managing donor and volunteer support activities as required.

Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree preferred. A minimum of one year of work experience is required, preferably providing clerical and administrative support in an office environment to a high-profile manager or sales team. Candidates must demonstrate strong oral, interpersonal and written communication skills. Experience in drafting letters and other business documents is essential.

Candidates must possess strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask. The ability to disseminate information into precise and effective written communications is essential.

Candidates must be self-starters with the ability to work independently. Must also have the ability to learn new applications quickly.

Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, spelling and grammar. Work or volunteer experience with a nonprofit and/or volunteer management experience is a plus. Database experience with FileMaker Pro and/or PeopleSoft preferred.

Must be a self-starter with the ability to work independently. Travel management and/or budgeting/accounting experience are a plus. PowerPoint or other graphic software is desirable.

Apply:
Please provide cover letter for full consideration. DEADLINE TO APPLY: April 8, 2008. Please visit www.smu.edu/hr/recruit to apply.

SMU is AA/EO employer committed to excellence through diversity.