1236 Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - West Plains

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations- West Plains

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1236

GRADE 42

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Executive Director, Engagement and Alumni Relations

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - West Plains works collaboratively with the Director of Annual Funds in creating, managing, and implementing, a successful annual giving program for the MSU West Plains campus.  The Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - West Plains coordinates and manages projects within the MSU West Plains annual giving program, including direct solicitation through mail and social media, digital and web-based solicitations, and marketing to raise funds for University priorities. The Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - West Plains assists with coordinating stewardship events for donors to MSU West Plains. The Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - West Plains collaborates with the MSU Foundation in Springfield in overseeing the MSU West Plains scholarship manager software system. The Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - West Plains works collaboratively with the Executive Director of Engagement and alumni Relations for the development and implementation of programs and events designed to inform and engage MSU West Plains’ alumni and friends with the University.  The Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - West Plains recruits and collaborates with alumni volunteers in achieving campus goals.  The Assistant Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - West Plains assists with planning Homecoming events, reunions, and affinity groups for alumni.  

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education:  An Associate’s degree is required; a Bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Experience: At least one year of successful professional experience is required, preferably in higher education fundraising or alumni relations.

Skills: Exceptional interpersonal skills are required. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills are required, with excellent public speaking skills. Writing, editing, and proofreading skills are required.  Demonstrated ability to work effectively with volunteers is required. Must be a self-starter, detail-oriented, and committed to follow through.  Computer literacy, particularly in word processing and using internet resources, social media, and databases is required. 

Other: The job frequently requires travel and attendance at evening and weekend activities, meetings, events, seminars, and workshops.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Under the guidance of the Director of Annual Funds, develops, implements, and supervises MSU West Plains’ Annual Giving programs, including mail, social media, and digital solicitations.

2. Plans, executes, and ensures achievement of established goals for all annual funds campaigns, which include direct marketing, specialized campaigns on behalf of specific programs or departments, the Faculty/Staff campaign, address label mailing, and other campaign efforts as needed.

3. Drives programs and campaigns to increase participation of alumni, friends, and students in giving to provide a growing base of donors to support the University.

4. Analyzes qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources to drive continuously improved campaign performance.

5. Develops measurable goals and metrics to monitor the impact of annual giving activities on the success of donor acquisition and retention.

6. With the Director of Annual Funds, establishes and maintains tracking and testing methods for all solicitation initiatives and adjust strategies based on the results of data analysis.

7. Plans and executes crowdfunding efforts and electronic solicitations through targeted segmentations to achieve annual goals.

8. Utilizes technology and social media to create and implement innovative annual giving programs to connect with current donors, establish new donors, and increase annual giving.

9. Develops plans and programs for new fundraising initiatives, such as a day of giving, young alumni program, etc.

10. Works closely with alumni relations staff to communicate with alumni regarding annual funds, giving opportunities, recognition of donors, and assists with event promotion as needed.

11. In collaboration with the Foundation in Springfield, oversees the MSU West Plains scholarship manager software system.

12. In collaboration with the Foundation in Springfield, assists with coordinating donor recognition events to provide stewardship to donors of the MSU West Plains campus.

13. Engages alumni and friends of the University by assisting with coordination of alumni activities and providing organization and support to their meetings and activities.

14. Plans and organizes alumni events and reunions during Homecoming by working with the Executive Director of Engagement and Alumni Relations and members of the MSU West Plains Development Office.

15. Fosters good relationships with alumni by responding to inquiries from alumni and providing requested information and assistance.

16. Under the direction of the Executive Director of Engagement and Alumni Relations, coordinates the production of communications sent to alumni by writing text for brochures, letters, news articles, mass email messages, etc.

17. Recruits, trains, and coordinates volunteers for alumni and fundraising events and programs.

18. Recruits and coordinates volunteer opportunities for members of the Student Alumni Association (SAA).

19. Assists in website functions and duties related to Annual Giving and Alumni Relations.

20. Organizes the annual appreciation dinner for the MSU West Plains Advisory Board.

21. Assumes lead responsibility with fundraising events for the MSU West Plains Booster Club and the Friends of the Garnett Library.

22. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as directed by the Executive Director of Engagement and Alumni Relations.

23. Contributes to the success of Missouri State University West Plains by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations - MSU West Plains campus is supervised by the Executive Director of Engagement and Alumni Relations.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED JANUARY 2025

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 1.0 - 500 Points: Knowledge of principles, processes, methods, and procedures associated with a limited range of healthcare, technical, scientific, administrative support, communications, or social science program objectives or common problems. Knowledge permits the employee to complete routine medical and healthcare procedures, common administrative support tasks, operate basic equipment and instruments, carry out a variety of interrelated tasks and recurring assignments, assist individuals, answer common questions, and/or elicit information from a variety of sources. Professional knowledge, skill, and technical mastery at this level are typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience beyond a high school diploma.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 1.0 - 50 Points: Typically, little, if any, supervision of others is required. The job may require irregular but occasional responsibility to direct the work of student workers and/or temporary or part-time workers. The nature of supervision is largely confined to assigning tasks to others and does not include a full range of supervisory responsibilities. The amount of time spent on directing the work of others is normally a small portion of total work time.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 3.0 - 250 Points: The purpose of interactions is to advise or counsel others to solve recurring and structured problems, and/or to plan or coordinate work efforts with other employees who are working toward common goals in situations where relationships are generally cooperative. Interactions are moderately structured and routine and may involve employees in different functions, students, and/or the general public. These types of interactions require normal interpersonal skills.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 3.0 - 500 Points: The employee operates under general supervision expressed in terms of program goals and objectives, priorities, and deadlines. Administrative supervision is given through statements of overall program or project objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are relatively comprehensive and the employee need only to fill in gaps in interpretation and adapt established methods to perform recurring activities. In unforeseen situations, the employee must interpret inadequate or incomplete guidelines, develop plans, and initiate new methods to complete assignments based on those interpretations. Assignments are normally related in function, but the work requires many different processes and methods applied to an established administrative or professional field. Problems are typically the result of unusual circumstances, variations in approach, or incomplete or conflicting data. The employee must interpret and refine methods to complete assignments. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing single-purpose programs or performing complex, but precedented, technical or professional work.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 3.0 - 850 Points: Work involves providing significant support services to others both within and outside of the department that substantially influences decision-making processes. Work activities are complex and others rely on the accuracy and reliability of the information, analysis, or advice to make decisions. Work activities have a direct, but shared, impact on further processes or services, affect the overall efficiency and image of the department, and may have material impact on costs or service quality within the cost center. Incumbents may be responsible for identifying areas of need and for developing proposals that request funding to fulfill those needs.