DLA

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The University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press seek a dynamic and personable professional to support the Director of External Relations, Communications and Development Initiatives, with the creation and organization of donor relations communications, events and stewardship activities. Reporting to the Director of External Relations, Communications and Development Initiatives, the External Relations Specialist is responsible for assisting in the implementation and evaluation of a full range of strategic stewardship activities including leading the Library’s comprehensive acknowledgment and recognition process, supporting the Director of External Relations, Communications and Development Initiatives, personalized stewardship activities for major donors, and strengthening the engagement efforts of the Friends of the University of Delaware Library (FUDL) to increase donor engagement activity across the Library.

The External Relations Specialist understands fundraising, stewardship, philanthropy, and donor relations in a higher-education environment and has significant interaction with donors, faculty, staff, alumni, University leadership and the FUDL. The position requires a high level of independent and excellent judgment as well as a high degree of personal and professional integrity, poise, and maturity.

Major Responsibilities 

• Manages and coordinates all stewardship-related programs, initiatives, and activities for the Library, Museums and Press. Collaborates with the Director of External Relations, Communication and Development Initiatives, the Friends of the University of Delaware Library, and with on-campus and external partners such as the Office of Development and Alumni Relations Gift Processing Team and Donor Relations Team to ensure smooth execution of programs through continuous communication with all departments involved.
• Coordinates and develops processes for ongoing donor stewardship programs, manages donor correspondence and outreach including weekly gift acknowledgments and the Library, Museums and Press acknowledgment process, ensures the confidentiality of sensitive and anonymous gifts and contributions, drafts communication and acknowledgment letter templates using industry-standard language, updates templates regularly and as needed.
• Performs the data entry and maintenance of a confidential database of gifts, gifts-in-kind, pledges, endowments, and bequests to the Library, Museums and Press; manages confidential donor information and post membership affiliations to donor records in the University’s donor management system. Facilitates transition of paper donor files into electronic/digital format as needed.
• Coordinates and supports the Friends of the University of Delaware Library, in consultation with the FUDL Board and committees: plans meetings, events, and activities, consults with relevant UD offices regarding finances, risk management, and other Friends fiduciary matters. Ensures the maintenance and distribution of financial, statistical, and analytical reports utilizing advanced skills, works closely with the Library’s Financial Analyst to track and manage contributions to the FUDL used for budget projections, annual audits, and yearly meetings, and plans and facilitates preparation for all FUDL meetings and events.
• Initiates continual stewardship and engagement of current donors. Collaborates with the Director of Development (in DAR), the Director of External Relations, Communications and Development Initiatives and the Vice Provost for Libraries and Museums to support the Library’s fundraising campaign in association with University-wide campaigns. Arranges opportunities for Library staff to meet with prospective donors.
• Coordinates and/or provides administrative support for the Director of External Relations, Communications and Development Initiatives, as relates to the above functions.
• Works closely with all Library staff to ensure donor contact is monitored, documented, and managed effectively across the Library, Museums and Press.
• Supports and implements new development initiatives and other stewardship administrative needs as they may arise.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree and two to three years of related experience. Knowledge of, or experience with donor relations, development, advancement, or fundraising.
• Experience with CRM including entry and management of data and report generation for recognition and stewardship.
• Excellent customer service and written and oral communication skills; ability to interact effectively with donors, board members, colleagues, and other community members via various modalities (in-person, by phone, in writing, etc.).
• Ability to manage projects and make independent decisions and judgments in keeping with the responsibilities of the position.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and work on multiple projects simultaneously, while managing competing priorities. Must demonstrate excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Knowledge of and experience in using advanced features of word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, database, email, scheduling, and other productivity software as well as a learning orientation to changing technology.
• Initiative, flexibility, and the ability to adapt to a changing environment.
• Ability to assist with occasional evening and weekend events as needed.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including discretion, maturity of judgment, and ability to interact well with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a culturally diverse environment.
• Demonstrated understanding and consideration of the differing needs and concerns of individuals with varying identities, cultures, and backgrounds.
• Committed to fostering a workplace culture of belonging, where diversity is celebrated, and equity is a core value.

Preferred 

• Knowledge of library operations, services, programs, priorities, and external constituents.
• Knowledge of University policies and procedures.
• Experience in higher education or not-for-profit setting
• Experience working in and with libraries, museums, or other cultural heritage institutions

General Information: The University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press is committed to student success, scholarly research and inclusive excellence. The Library is strongly committed to fostering diversity within our community. We welcome those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and will assist us in expanding our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. The Library collaborates with strategic campus partners to achieve these priorities, as well as with national professional organizations including the Association of Research Libraries, Center for Research Libraries, Coalition for Networked Information, Council on Library and Information Resources, Digital Library Federation, Greater Western Library Alliance, OCLC Research Partnership, SPARC, HathiTrust, the National Digital Stewardship Alliance, the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) and the ACRL Diversity Alliance. More information about the Library is available at library.udel.edu/.

Benefits: 22 vacation days. Generous 403(b) retirement plan. Tuition remission for dependents and spouses, and course fee waiver for the employee. Full information about University of Delaware benefits is available at: www.udel.edu/benefits/