Position Summary: 

This position oversees the engagement center activities, including calling and texting, and is responsible for setting goals, developing strategy and collateral, managing operational logistics, analyzing performance metrics, and communicating with key stakeholders and leadership about engagement center activities and performance. The position also serves as the annual giving liaison for three to four assigned schools, colleges, and units. Communication is important to this role in crafting and producing solicitation messages, developing promotional and recognition opportunities, and responding to individual donor questions or concerns. This position primarily utilizes multiple communications channels to secure private gifts and engage large numbers of donors through specialized campaigns including crowdfunding. This position occasionally interacts with constituents through face-to-face solicitations, personalization of solicitation materials, attentive donor relations and inclusion in exclusive events and opportunities.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and/or Competencies: 

• Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment
• Exemplary communications skills (both written and verbal)
• Organizational skills
• Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service
• Advanced computer skills in comparing data and logic
• Ability to synthesize data and provide recommendations based on a data-analysis
• New media proficiencies as technology advancements are coupled with phone/digital marketing strategies
• Experience in training and coaching in phone/digital solicitation fundraising environments
• Knowledgeable of annual giving best practices
• Knowledgeable of Word, Excel, database management, and email skills
• Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia
• Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct

Additional Division Expectations: 

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Duties/Responsibilities: 

• In partnership with Engagement Center Manager, oversee the engagement center strategic plan and analyze key performance metrics. 
  • Create overall engagement center goals and objectives based on historical data and analysis.
  • Serve as the primary contact and relationship manager with the Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) staff.
  • Serve as the point person for the engagement center within development and alumni relations, including communicating with internal stakeholders on a frequent basis, developing reporting for leadership and presenting information on available services.
  • Work closely with the engagement center manager to ensure the engagement center is running smoothly and review daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly reports to ensure best practices are utilized and adjust as needed to optimize performance and desired outcomes.
  • Oversee annual and bi-weekly data processes with RNL and ensure that all data is delivered accurately in a timely manner. Troubleshoot any data issues with RNL and internal partners as needed.
  • Work with advancement IT, gift accounting and other internal partners as needed to ensure that phonathon pledges and gifts are being booked properly in the Giving and Alumni Information Link (GAIL) database.
  • In partnership with the annual giving liaisons, plan and oversee the annual engagement center strategy for each school, college, and unit, including creating the calling pools and segmentation plans, ensuring the marketing effort is created properly in GAIL, reviewing creative materials (i.e., emails, caller reference sheets, etc.) and interfacing with the engagement center manager and RNL staff to ensure the strategy is implemented properly.
  • Coordinate any necessary follow-up communications and tasks generated from daily calling shifts. 
  • In partnership with central annual giving, schools, colleges, and units, and DARCOMM, assist with the creation and editing of creatives for the Engagement Center, including reference sheets, pledge fulfillment design and messaging, text messages and ad hoc emails. 
• Manage a portfolio of 3-4 school, college, and unit annual giving partnerships.
  • Plan and implement multi-channel annual giving strategies for assigned schools, colleges, and units, including direct mail, email, digital, phone, texting, etc. 
  • Coordinate special giving campaigns for assigned schools, colleges, and units.
  • Advise school, college, and unit development staff on annual giving best practices and coordinate school, college, and unit involvement with central annual giving initiatives. 
  • Analyze key performance metrics for annual and special giving campaigns and provide reports to school, college, and unit liaisons. 
• Plan and implement ad hoc crowdfunding campaigns.
  • Plan and execute central and unit-based ad hoc crowdfunding campaigns as they arise during the year, including partnering with the division’s communications department (DARCOMM) to create design and messaging, with the central annual giving team to coordinate with schools, colleges and units, with advancement IT to create proper queries and selections, with donor relations and stewardship to create a stewardship plan for donors, and with vendors to execute the project as needed.
  • Analyze and provide reporting on the performance of each crowdfunding campaign. 
• Other duties assigned to include, but not limited to:
  • Manage student worker/intern.
  • Respond to donor questions and concerns from phone, email, and direct mail efforts. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field.  Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• At least three years of experience in higher education fundraising field, preferably annual giving
• One year or more experience in higher education phone/digital solicitation management or call/engagement center supervisory experience

Additional Schedule Information: 

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday; Additionally, as institutional priorities and fundraising strategies evolve, work hours may adjust to meet those demands. Must be willing to work evening and weekends, as necessary. 

Advertised Salary: 

$65,000+ Commensurate with qualifications and experience

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([email protected]).