Job Information
University of Kansas Assistant Director for Development in Lawrence, Kansas
28624BR
Job Title:
Assistant Director for Development
Department:
Biodiversity Institute
Primary Campus:
University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
Job Description:
45% - Resource Development
Using the BI/NHM Strategic Plan for guidance, work with the BI/NHM Director to identify fundraising priorities, set fundraising goals, and plan and implement associated activities including Endowment-driven fundraising campaigns such as One Day, One KU and Ever Onward.
Identify funding opportunities; write and work with KU units (e.g. KU Center for Research, KU Endowment Association) to submit proposals to federal, state, local, and private agencies and foundations to support BI/NHM programs.
Manage current and prospective donor relations.
Develop and coordinate donor-focused events for solicitation and stewardship, including an annual or biannual public fundraising event.
30% - Public Engagement
Manage and advance the NHM membership program, including recruitment of new and lapsed members.
In collaboration with other BI/NHM staff, plan and implement events to engage the public including member appreciation/recruitment events, donor appreciation events, events to promote BI research, and events to strengthen engagement of KU students.
10% - Board Relations
Serve as the primary BI/NHM staff contact for the BI/NHM Board of Advisors, providing administrative support to the board including: coordinating meetings; setting agendas; maintaining operating procedures, handbooks and board memberships; providing orientation to new board members.
Under the direction of the BI/NHM Director, work with the BI/NHM’s Board of Advisors to identify board projects, such as fundraising, that support the mission of the BI/NHM.
Keep the board apprised of BI/NHM news.
5% - Administration and Service
Advise the BI/NHM Director in all matters related to development and associated public affairs.
Serve on BI/NHM committees including the Administration Committee and the Public Understanding of Biodiversity (PUB) committee.
Be a spokesperson for the BI/NHM at public and private events.
5% - Supervision and Management
Supervise the Visitor Services and Donor Relations Coordinator, holding regular planning meetings and providing regular feedback.
As necessary, supervise student assistants.
Serve as back-up for the Visitor Services and Donor Relations Coordinator as needed.
5% - Other duties as assigned
Req ID (Ex: 10567BR) :
28624BR
Disclaimer:
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.
Work Schedule:
40 hours/week
FLSA Status:
Administrative
Conditions of Employment:
Contingent on Funding
Contact Information to Applicants:
Jaime Keeler, jrkeeler@ku.edu
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, museum studies, or a relevant field.
Three years of related professional experience.
Experience writing successful proposals to seek external funding, as demonstrated by application materials.
Strong writing skills, as evidenced by application materials.
Excellent organizational skills, as evidenced by application materials, work, and educational history.
Supervisory experience, demonstrated by previous work experience and application materials.
Employee Class:
U-Unclassified Professional Staff
Advertised Salary Range:
$65,000 - $75,000, depending on qualifications
FTE:
1.0
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in communications, marketing, museum studies, or a relevant field.
Three or more years professional experience in development.
Strong interpersonal skills as needed for maintaining good donor relations.
Knowledge and interest in natural history, as evidenced in application materials.
Strong interest in and familiarity with museums, as evidenced in application materials.
Experience with non-profit fundraising.
Professional experience at a large, public research institution or museum/cultural institution.
Familiarity with customer relationship management software (e.g. Patron Manager).
Experience with event planning, as demonstrated by application materials.
At least one year experience in project management or leading a team.
Excellent oral communication skills, as evidenced by work history and application materials.
Position Overview:
The University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute (BI), on the Lawrence campus, is one of the premier research and education institutes in the U.S. in biodiversity science, biodiversity informatics, paleobiology, biogeography, evolutionary biology, and archaeology. The BI, one of the University’s designated research centers, reports to the KU Office of Research and comprises three units:
Natural History Museum (NHM) , in Dyche Hall, provides informal science education, science outreach and engagement through its public programming and 50,000 sq. ft. of exhibits.
Research and Collections in Dyche, Lippincott, Lindley, Haworth, Spooner and Bridwell halls and the Public Safety Building, includes 14 scientific research divisions and departments, 11 million specimens and cultural objects in research collections with associated biotic and archaeological data that document the life and past cultures of the planet, and research laboratories, offices and equipment.
Paleontological Institute, in Lindley Hall, is the global hub for production of the Treatise of Invertebrate Paleontology, an encyclopedic compendium on fossil invertebrate animals.
The BI and its three units are housed in seven buildings on Main and West Campus. The BI is home to 55 staff members and 60+ graduate and undergraduate students who work in its research and public programming divisions and departments.
Staff members and students are engaged in scientific research, education and service in archaeology and in the faunistics, floristics, biogeography, history, paleobiology, ecology, phylogenetics, systematics, genomics, behavior, and morphology of the world’s plants and animals. Taxonomic foci include mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects, corals, sea anemones, parasites, and plants, as well as fossil vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. Archaeological foci include Great Plains cultures.
The BI acquires, manages, and stewards collections of recent and extinct plants and animals, and of past cultural objects, along with their associated data. The BI serves the worldwide biodiversity science and archaeology communities through free and open access to collection-based data, and through extensive loans of specimens and tissues of animal and plants, and of cultural objects. In addition to graduate and undergraduate educational opportunities, the BI provides a wide variety of public programs to approximately 30,000 visitors including 10,000 K-12 students, youth and families annually onsite and through science outreach to local and regional communities. The BI has an annual state operating budget approaching $3 million, which is approximately doubled or tripled through extramural grants and contracts.
Working with the director, advisory board, the KU Endowment Association development officer, and other staff of the BI/NHM, the Assistant Director for Development is responsible for planning, advancing and implementing development and fundraising activities and events of the BI/NHM. Specifically, this position: manages museum memberships and organizes donor and prospective donor contacts; assists KU Endowment fundraising staff with development of donor gift solicitations; organizes fund-raising activities, including events for donors and prospective donors and public engagement in the museum; is the liaison with the BI/NHM’s Board of Advisors and its committees/activities, and plans meetings of the board four times annually; seeks out and applies for grant funding that supports the mission of the BI; works closely with the museum’s Public Programs staff to ensure alignment of planned programs with mission, goals and development; serves as a spokesperson for the BI/NHM at events. This position has one staff direct report—the Visitor Services and Donor Relations Coordinator.
Reg/Temp:
Regular
Application Review Begins:
16-Sep-2024
Anticipated Start Date:
01-Dec-2024
Additional Candidate Instruction:
In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:
Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
Resume
List of three (3) professional references
Writing sample of a proposal seeking funding
Only complete applications will be considered.
Application review begins Monday, September 16th, 2024 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.
Job Family:
Administrative/Management-KUL
Work Location Assignment:
On-Site
Position Requirements:
Ability to work evening and weekend events, as needed.
Eligibility to work in U.S.