Associate Director, Development Operations

About University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation

Established in 2003, the  https://www.uma-foundation.org/ University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF), a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, exists to raise philanthropic funds in support of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s mission and highest aspirations. Located on the Amherst campus and wholly dedicated to supporting the University’s mission, UMAF is a separately governed nonprofit organization with its own health, wellness, and retirement benefits. UMAF serves the University of Massachusetts Amherst community by serving as a best practices resource for fundraising strategy and implementation. 

About the role

The Associate Director, Development Operations will play a key role in supporting the Vice President of Development (VP_D) in advancing the strategic fundraising and organizational goals of the UMass Amherst Foundation. In this capacity, the Associate Director will primarily focus on managing critical projects, coordinating strategic initiatives, and ensuring the efficient operation of development activities in close collaboration with the Vice President of Development and the Assistant Vice President, Development (AVP-D). This role demands exceptional organizational skills, proactive problem-solving, and the ability to anticipate and respond to the evolving needs of the team. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic environment and excels at balancing competing priorities while maintaining a high level of professionalism.

Location: This is a full-time hybrid position and is open to employees in select US states: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

What you'll do

• Lead the execution of Development projects and initiatives as directed by the VP_D, and in close collaboration with the AVP_D. Oversee timelines, milestones, and deliverables, and coordinate with multiple executive-level partners, including extensive collaboration with the Chancellor’s office.
• Serve as a primary point of contact and liaison between the VP_D and internal/external partners, ensuring effective communication and timely follow-up on key initiatives.
• Prepare briefing materials, presentations, and reports for meetings, donor engagements, and leadership discussions. 
• Lead coordination efforts for team meetings, including agenda-setting, note-taking, and follow-up on action items.
• Implement and refine work-flow processes that enhance efficiency, streamline information flow, and improve coordination across the development team.
• Monitor and evaluate programmatic initiatives providing insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Track progress on key fundraising and operational goals, providing regular status updates and recommending adjustments as needed. 
• Review travel requests and reimbursements for development officers, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and accuracy of submissions.
• Develop and provide reports, proposals, lists, contact reports, and submit associated entries into the donor databases (Advance, Evertrue, Affiniquest).
• Serve as a point of contact for key events and ensure that these events are executed seamlessly. Coordinate closely with the central events team and manage vendors, coordinate event logistics including tracking invites, RSVPs, timelines, expenses, collateral, giveaways, and staff involvement. Conduct event follow-up tasks to completion.
• UMAF is building and growing, and this position will support those efforts with other duties and projects as assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in fundraising, project management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in advancement roles, with demonstrated expertise in project management, and administrative support.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to handle complex tasks, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences, including senior leadership, donors, and volunteers.
• Proficiency in donor management software, project management tools, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• High degree of emotional intelligence, professionalism, and discretion in handling sensitive information.
• Commitment to a donor-centric philosophy and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Valid driver’s license with the ability to travel and occasionally work evenings and weekends.

Note: We’re passionate about building a diverse team. If your experience is close, but not an exact match, please consider applying. Experience comes in many forms, and skills are transferable. We know that diverse teams make better decisions and deliver better results, which is why we’re committed to adding new perspectives and encourage everyone to apply. 

BENEFITS

• 20 vacation days, 12 holidays, 12 sick days, 5 personal days, and 2 office closure days.
• 4-day summer work week.
• 401(k) plan. You contribute 5% and receive a 10% match.
• Health insurance packages for medical, dental, and vision.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave to use within 1 year of childbirth. An additional 6 weeks available for the birthing parent. Part-time work for full-time pay for the first 4 weeks post parental leave.
• Learn more about our benefits.

Proposed Annual Salary Range:
 $78,000 - $85,000

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION 

At the UMass Amherst Foundation, we understand the value that diversity, equity, and inclusion bring to our workplace, our constituents, and our community. View our DEI Statement here 

We welcome and value diversity in all its forms and recognize that a diverse and inclusive team strengthens our work and advances our mission. We recognize that the benefits of a diverse team are fully realized when people of all races, gender identities, ages, ethnicities, cultural heritages and nationalities; educational backgrounds; religious and political beliefs; sexual orientations; abilities; and socioeconomic and veteran status are valued, respected, and included at every level. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact careers@uma-foundation.org to request accommodation.

OUR VALUES (S.T.E.W.A.R.D.S)

UMAF is committed to building a team with these shared values:  

Service:  We focus on the needs of others above ourselves and support our colleagues when they need help. 

Trust, Transparency, and Teamwork: We value honesty, trustworthiness, and open communication. Our colleagues can count on us for support. 

Excellence: We pursue excellence in all that we do – each time, and learn and grow as a team. 

Wellness: Our work culture provides flexibility and empowers individuals. 

Accountability: We accept full responsibility for our decisions, actions, and results. 

Respect: We respect each other and celebrate our different ideas, strengths, interests, and cultural backgrounds. 

Donor-Centric: We find intersections between donor’s experiences and values, and our organization’s priorities and funding needs. 

Synergy:  We connect, communicate, and collaborate within teams, and across functions to enhance our effectiveness and impact. 

Questions regarding the position or anything else related to careers with UMAF may be directed to the People & Culture team at careers@uma-foundation.org 

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