Careers

Working/Functional Title

Assistant Director, Annual Giving

Position Summary

The Annual Giving department, within the MSU Alumni Office of University Advancement, manages all Annual Giving activities for all colleges and units including direct mail, telemarketing, online and email solicitations.  Annual Giving is seeking an Assistant Director to assists in the organization and operation of Greenline, a student-run telemarketing program, which solicits donations from alumni and friends of MSU.  Responsibilities will include managing and monitoring the use of the automated telemarketing system (Vanilla Soft) and supervision of the student staff and managers.  The Assistant Director will develop and maintain positive relations with all internal and external customers (including college development officers and deans).  Additionally, the Assistant Director will be responsible for researching and analyzing trends, results, and new initiatives while developing new strategies to increase results for fundraising programs and assisting with high-end annual gift donor solicitation.  This position will require the ability to work evening hours and weekends.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

Directly reporting to the Senior Director of Development for Annual Giving, the Assistant Director of Annual Giving Programs will:

Ensure the call center software systems and processes are effective and efficient 

• Support in the implementation process of new calling software (VanillaSoft) and develop comprehensive training for student staff and managers.
• Monitor and assess the data in the telemarking system to ensure that calling lists are current and accurate, in order to reduce prospect fatigue.
• Oversee, coordinate and resolve all issues regarding telemarketing computer system, its operations, and the data needed for effective calling.
• Develop and maintain pledge processing procedures and other supportive mechanisms to ensure timely responses to donor/alumni pledges, requests and concerns.
• Develop and maintain procedures to handle prospective donor requests for information and expressions of concerns relative to university programs, and to initiate written, telephone, or direct contact with such individuals, which will satisfy their requests and create an attitude conducive to giving to MSU.
• Make changes and enhancements to the telemarketing program to increase involvement and revenue from alumni, parents, students, friends, and employees of the university.

Plan for and assess the results of the University Advancement call center 

• Develop and implement long-range and immediate plans for increasing revenue and donor participation for appropriate audiences through a comprehensive telemarketing program.
• Plan and execute a comprehensive annual calendar for multiple telemarketing segments. Task will include establishing goals, segmenting audiences, updating the calling database including the appropriate scripts and information sheets, caller screens, acknowledgment letters, setting timelines, training student callers, and monitoring results.

• Develop written budget request for the telemarketing program, monitor expenditures according to approved budget limitations and maintain cost-efficiency of the telemarketing program.

• Conduct annual benchmarking with similar university programs and report statistical information, results, and effectiveness of MSU overall telemarketing programs and strategies.

• Serve as the liaison between college directors of development and their respective deans regarding telemarketing specific issues for respective college programs.

• Serve as the main liaison for telemarketing issues regarding vendors, systems, and inquiries from outside institutions.

Supervise the student staff of the call center 

• Ensure that student salary dollars are effectively spent and verify that managers and callers are adhering to the set schedules.
• Create and monitor the weekly work schedule of the student managers and supervisors.
• Ensure that student salary dollars are effectively spent and verify that managers and callers are adhering to the set schedules.
• Regularly meet with and evaluate the student managers
• Oversee hiring of a diverse student staff, representative of the student body at MSU. 
• Responsible for providing regular training for all student staff so that they are familiar with and adhering to all university policy and procedures. 

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

• Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year degree program in communications, public relations, marketing, business, or related field.
• 1-3 years of related and progressively more responsible and expansive work experience in professional fundraising or public relations
• Experience in training and supervision of student employees and/or volunteers.
• Ability to work during evening hours and weekends. 
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing, communication, or related fields.
• Ability to recognize importance of teamwork and foster a good working environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly organized.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume and cover letter

Special Instructions

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Recruitment at karampat@msu.edu. 

All candidates must submit an application, resume and cover letter through the Michigan State University Human Resources web-based system the URL for that website is www.careers.msu.edu.  Please indicate the position number 865381 when submitting your application.

Work Hours

Sunday - Thursday 12:30 - 9:30 pm

Website

https://advancement.msu.edu/

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends May 23, 2023 at 11:55 P.M.

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About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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