The VCU School of Nursing is seeking to fill the role of Development Specialist. The Development Specialist will enhance the university’s relationship with donors through appropriate stewardship initiatives. The position assists several elements of fundraising programming and serves on the team implementing strategy for cultivating major gifts and provides support to development and alumni relations for the School of Nursing. The Development Specialist is a professional position reporting to the Sr. Director of Development. Specific duties include serving as a project lead for the logistics of events, overseeing regular stewardship communication with donors, coordinating development-related collateral, managing expenses for the development team and assisting the Sr. Director of Development.

Typical Duties

·         Manages gift processing, pledge reminder and acknowledgement process for all donors to the school.

·         Coordinates stewardship, condolence and congratulatory communications from the school to include phone calls, cards, special correspondence and flowers from the Development Office and dean.

·         Conducts regular stewardship activities required by the development office to maintain and build relationships.

·         Maintains the alumni and donor sections of the school’s websites. Writes content for the monthly e-newsletter.

·         Coordinates with the school’s director of communications on donor and alumni related news and is in regular communication with DAR to communicate on behalf of VCU Alumni.

·         Assists with logistics for all development (alumni, donor, etc.) events such as reunion weekend by encouraging classmates to attend, annual donor recognition event and retired faculty luncheon

·         Provides administrative support to Sr. Director of Development including coordinating the director’s travel to meet with major gift prospects. Enter, maintain and update data, contact reports, actions and proposals in RADAR database on behalf of the director.

·         Responsible for ensuring expenditures comply with State and University policies and procedures.

·         Demonstrates a commitment to risk assessment (considering cost, benefit, and impact) – utilizes identified control mechanism, practices routine verification of the accuracy of data.

·         Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Hiring Standards

·         High level customer service and verbal and written communication skills.

·         Ability to create and maintain positive relationships with diverse internal and external constituents.

·         Ability to manage time efficiently, prioritize work and handle multiple projects simultaneously.

·         Ability to attend to details and meet deadlines.

·         Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends for special events of the School.

·         Knowledge of and proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite, competent in software word processing and spreadsheet programs.

·         Excellent customer service, ability to communicate effectively, engage in effective problem solving and priority setting, function independently and demonstrate initiative, work as an effective team member, identify and meet continuous quality improvement goals.

·         High level organizational skills; accuracy and attention to detail.

·         Successful work history demonstrating either effective management or management of multiple complex tasks.

·         Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Hiring Standards

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or related field.
Working knowledge or experience in stewardship, alumni/donor relations, and/or event coordination.
Customer Relationship Management System or Blackbaud system experience.

Job Specific Physical and Cognitive Requirements

·         Light Lifting (<20 Lbs.) – Essential

·         Pushing/puling – Essential

·         Standing -Marginal

·         Sitting – Marginal

·         Repetitive motion – Essential

·         Fast pace – Essential

·         Average pace – Essential

·         Multiple Stimuli – Essential

·         Frequent Change – Essential

·         Intense Customer Interaction – Essential

·         Memory – Essential

·         Reading – Essential

·         Verbal Communication – Essential

·         Written Communication – Essential

·         Reasoning – Essential

·         Analyzing – Essential

·         Hearing – Essential

·         Logic – Essential