Assistant Director of Parent Giving \u0026 Engagement

Title:Assistant Director of Parent Giving & Engagement

Position Purpose:

This role works as part of a team in the office of Parent Giving and Engagement to create a sense of connection to Bates among families as a first step in building philanthropic support of the college. The Assistant Director facilitates relationships between the college and Bates parents and families through regular communication and campus updates, on-campus and regional events, and volunteer support. This role works collaboratively to create and implement a parent fundraising strategy that builds awareness of and support for the Parents Fund through education around philanthropy and crafting of solicitation messaging, as well as through volunteer recruitment, management, and stewardship. Furthermore, this role assists in identifying prospective donor families, creating opportunities to deepen the engagement of these families with the college, and facilitating conversations about giving.

Job Duties:

Writing, editing, & content creation:

• Assist with drafting of various fundraising materials (print mailings, emails, etc.), including education about the impact of giving to Bates and direct solicitations, in order to execute the team's strategy for increasing family philanthropy.
• Develop communication to all parents around key times in the academic calendar (incoming family updates, campus updates, commencement, etc.) in order to build family relationships with the college, establish a sense of reliability and trust in the college, and support campus partners in their work to facilitate the student experience.
• Moderate the parent class group Facebook pages through scheduled posts, post approval and response, and engagement with group members.
• Proofread all communication types (general updates, solicitations, event briefings, etc.).
• Possess a strong knowledge of Associated Press Style Guide.
• Ability to write with consistency, accuracy, and precision, and to recognize/correct for those aspects in the writing of others.

Volunteer management:

• Support various volunteer programs with the goal of increasing family philanthropic support of the college through the building of relationships and family community connections. Recognize and enhance the value of participation in these programs for both family volunteers and (when applicable) their assignments.
• Recruit family members and connect them to volunteer opportunities (including fundraiser, parent ambassador, panelist speaker, event host, etc.) and other engagement opportunities to deepen and strengthen their relationship with the college.
• Manage and provide regular updates for GiveCampus templates and resources in order to support the success of the work of the Parents Fund Committee, the Parent Ambassador program, and various sets of volunteers within the platform.
• Has knowledge of or is willing and able to learn new application features of the GiveCampus Volunteer Management System in order to improve the volunteer experience and expand the reach of members of the Parents Fund Committee.

Event planning and coordination:

• Serves as a key partner in the planning, preparation, and execution of various on-campus and regional event offerings for families, including Back to Bates Family Weekend and Summer Welcome Receptions. Ensure the purpose of these events is in line with the team's strategic goals of family connection and philanthropy.
• Organized and detail-oriented in all stages of event planning and preparation.
• Exercise creativity in finding new opportunities for constituent engagement and stewardship through events and offerings.

Communication & interpersonal skills:

• Coordinate with campus partners to ensure accurate and timely communication within and outside the campus community; forge new partnerships across campus.
• Provide support in managing the shared inbox and phone line during high-traffic seasons; connect constituents to the most helpful point person/resource with enthusiasm and empathy.
• Develop and maintain collegial relationships through a collaborative and positive attitude.
• Demonstrate an understanding and respect for confidentiality and discretion around constituent data and privacy.

Other:

• Has the ability and willingness to work weekends, evenings, and other non-traditional schedules.
• Maintains a thorough understanding of the college's priorities and initiatives.
• Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and belonging, and to serving the needs of a culturally and educationally diverse and inclusive community.
• Demonstrates a personal commitment to excellence and the mission of a top-tier liberal arts college.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Valid driver's license required.

Experience

• 3+ years of experience in higher education advancement or equivalent, or a non-profit institution of comparable complexity and scale.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in event management.
• 2+ years of volunteer management experience or supervision.
• Experience in portfolio management and solicitation preferred.
• Experience in program development preferred.
• Experience in event management preferred.

Skills and Knowledge

• Commitment to equity and inclusion, and serving the needs of a culturally and educationally diverse community.
• Excellent communication (written, verbal, and presentation) skills.
• Keen attention to detail necessary for successful documentation, planning, and execution.
• Impeccable organizational skills and ability to coordinate resources and staff within the college community.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills; ability to synthesize complex or diverse information.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships. Must be flexible, collaborative, and have a positive attitude.
• Ability to remain composed, friendly, and demonstrate poise under stress while working in a deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to work independently and to discern when to check in with a supervisor.

Benefits:

Bates College offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits (health, dental, sick leave, 24 days of vacation, 2 personal days, 13 paid holidays, dependent care subsidy, free parking, access to library and athletic facilities & more), and a supportive, collegial environment in a drug and smoke-free workplace.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Bates College is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The college prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff. Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations. All college faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Non-Discrimination Policy.

Inquiries concerning the college's policies, compliance with applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VII, Title IX, and ADA/Section 504), and complaints may be directed to Gwen Lexow, Title IX Officer, 207-786-6445 or via email at glexow@bates.edu.

About Bates:

Bates is internationally recognized as a leading liberal arts college, attracting 2,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world.

Since 1855, Bates has been dedicated to educating the whole person through creative and rigorous scholarship in a collaborative residential community. Committed to opportunity and excellence, Bates has always admitted students without regard to gender, race, religion, or national origin.

Cultivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action, Bates prepares leaders sustained by a love of learning and zeal for responsible stewardship of the wider world. Bates engages the forces - intellectual trends, demographic changes, and technology - that are transforming higher education and the world into which our students graduate.

Bates has highly competitive admissions, graduates over 90 percent of its entering students, and more than half of its alumni earn graduate degrees. Bates employs 200 faculty members and 550 staff.

The college is proud of deep roots in the Lewiston/Auburn community, Maine's second-largest urban area with a population of approximately 65,000. Bates is located on a beautiful, 133-acre, traditional New England campus in Lewiston, an emerging city with an entrepreneurial climate, a lively arts scene, and a dynamic business community. Bates is 35 miles north of Portland, 140 miles north of Boston, and 350 miles north of New York City.