Special Information

• This position is a hybrid position which allows the incumbent to complete their work at both an NAU site, campus, or facility and at a non-centralized site with or without accommodation.
• Driving a vehicle on behalf of the university is anticipated to be a regular part of this position. Arizona Administrative Code Fleet Safety Policy requires all employees who drive on university business become authorized by submitting Driver’s license information for driving record monitoring, and completion of training appropriate to the level of driving performed. The law applies to all faculty, staff, and students who drive personal or university-owned motorized vehicles for any business purpose. More information on the NAU Authorized Driver Policy can be found on the NAU website.

About the Department/College

NAU Advancement | Foundation engages students, alumni, parents, friends, and the broader NAU community to connect, invest, and inspire current and future Lumberjacks.

About the Position

As a member of the Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) team, the Assistant Director works as part of Advancement | Foundation to promote Northern Arizona University’s fundraising priorities and mission to philanthropic corporations and foundations whose giving priorities align with the university.

The Assistant Director oversees the development and execution of the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of external partners with the capacity to make contributions/grants at the $50,000 level and above. The position ensures a sustainable and growing fundraising pipeline for the NAU Foundation while fostering enhanced engagement among the NAU community.

The position will work collaboratively with the colleges, schools, and units across campus to that increase engagement and generate fundraising revenue. The Assistant Director manages a portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects and donors and seeks opportunities to grow the CFR pipeline. The position will plan, organize, and implement strategies to maximize philanthropic investments from local, regional, and national partners. NAU is currently in the public phase of its comprehensive campaign.

The position reports to the Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. The position can work at the Flagstaff Mountain Campus or the Phoenix North Valley Campus.

Responsibilities Include

40% - Fundraising and Relationship Building

• Secure philanthropic support from private local, regional, and national foundations and corporations focusing on gifts and grants above $50,000.
• Manage a portfolio of corporations and private foundation prospects through proactive qualification, cultivation, solicitation/proposal submission, and stewardship approaches.
• Serve as the subject matter expert to develop, write, and submit email inquiries, letters of inquiry, formal proposals, and/or other requests to corporations, independently or in collaboration with faculty and staff, elevating NAU’s profile and diversify revenue streams from philanthropic partners.

35% - Strategy Development

• Identify, develop, and implement comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies highlighting NAU’s strategic goals and key areas of funding and engagement.
• Collaborate with division and university partners to foster long-term partnerships beyond one-time gifts/engagement.
• Gather, analyze, and model various scenarios to make recommendations or decisions to increase philanthropic contributions to the university.
• Create project descriptions, case statements, letters of intent, briefings, profiles, and other materials to support foundation approaches, cultivation, and stewardship.
• Proactively engage colleges, schools, and units across the university to identify and share partnership and funding opportunities with corporations and foundations, fostering collaboration and participation in the development and submission of proposals.

20% - Program Administration

• Help develop and build the consensus around fundraising policies, reporting, and procedures with internal and external partners.
• Observe relevant industry trends to inform strategic decisions.
• Conduct high level analysis, compile information, and develop timely and accurate reports on key metrics for leadership.
• Through collaborative strategy and report generation, identify risk factors and address the need for risk mitigations to ensure fundraising effectiveness.
• Track prospect clearance, proposal strategies, and project monitoring utilizing the NAU Foundation’s constituent database.

5% - Other

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field.
• 3 years of relevant experience, including established record of closing major gifts of $50,000 or more, or revenue metrics that support organizational priorities.
• 2 years of management experience.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• 5 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in higher education or non-profit setting.
• Experience in major gift fundraising principles and practices at a major university.
• Capital/comprehensive campaign experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of a donor database.
• Understanding of and appreciation for Northern Arizona University, its cultural and geographic specificity, and its commitment to student success.
• Advanced knowledge of practices, developments and techniques used in university development.
• Knowledge of university development industry trends in higher education.
• Knowledge of current/effective management tactics and practices.

Skills

• Project management skills.
• Conflict resolution and customer service skills.
• Planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills.

Abilities

• Proven ability to engage, motivate, and work with prospects, volunteers, university officials, faculty and staff or similar constituencies.
• Proven ability to work independently; a self-starter with energy, humility, and enthusiasm.
• Communicates effectively.
• Manages relationships.
• Analyzes complex situations and anticipates issues.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to initiate, collaborate, implement, monitor, evaluate, advance, and report on strategic plans that support the activities of, and contribute to, the overall goals and objectives of NAU Advancement | Foundation and NAU.
• Superior interpersonal skills with proven ability to successfully interact and collaborate with varied constituencies in a professional manner, exhibiting excellent communication skills, and demonstrating tact, poise and diplomacy while working with a wide variety of personalities.
• Working knowledge of electronic mail and calendars, the Windows environment, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Teams, and other software such as donor databases, etc. and ability to run, analyze, and summarize computer-generated reports.
• Proven ability to solicit and close philanthropic gifts at the five and-six-figure level, or equivalent experience in a related field such as sales.
• Demonstrated team player with the ability to gain trust and confidence of colleagues and constituents.
• Experience and credibility when presenting materials to both internal and external constituents including individuals from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence, honesty, transparency, and high levels of collaboration.
• Detail-oriented self-starter with demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple projects and priorities to meet aggressive timelines and challenging deadlines with minimal staff support.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, taking initiative and actively seeking to deepen current donor relationships and forge new ones.
• Balances competing priorities.
• Analyzes complex situations and anticipates issues.
• Demonstrates strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to make travel arrangements using prudent fiscal considerations.
• Experience working with sensitive information and ability to maintain

Compensation

Salary range begins at $77,871 to $97,116. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.