Job Description for the Director of Development – School of Communications position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Director of Development – School of Communications

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: University Advancement

Department: University Advancement

Position Summary

The Director of Development – School of Communications is responsible for leading and managing development activities within the Elon University School of Communications.

The director manages a portfolio of university constituents – alumni, parents, and friends – who have connections to the School of Communications, helping to increase engagement and philanthropy, particularly at the leadership annual giving level. This position works closely with the Dean of the School of Communications and University Advancement leadership to ensure appropriate coordination efforts within the School and across the University.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree, preferably in communications or business, and 5-8 years of relevant experience, preferably in higher education development or a comparable role.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Necessary skills include strong managerial skills, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills to build to build effective relationships with external and internal constituents. The director must also be effective at working across divisional lines to solve constituent issues and navigate the university landscape. Further, the director must possess the ability to work collaboratively to achieve common goals and demonstrate strong organizational and communication skills.

This position must be able to relate conversations with university constituents to broader university strategic initiatives such as the current strategic plan and fundraising initiatives, which requires working knowledge of all areas of the university and institutional priorities.

Job Duties

• Actively manage a portfolio of university donors and prospects of approximately 200 constituents. The director will identify cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic support. 
• Work closely with the Associate Director of Corporate & Employer relations to identify and engage potential corporate partners to determine philanthropic inclination. The director will provide leadership for all development activities related to the School, including strategy and development of leadership annual giving solicitations. 
• Travel on behalf of the university to engage Elon constituents to identify, cultivate and solicit donor prospects for key Elon philanthropic priorities, which include annual gifts, endowed scholarships, gifts to capital projects and others gifts illustrated in university campaigns and strategic plans. 
• Assist the Dean and the Dean’s staff in the recruitment and management of members of the School’s Advisory Board, and will serve as the primary liaison between the School and the staff within University Advancement. In collaboration with colleagues across campus, the director will assist in planning and implementation of university wide initiatives including Family Weekend, Homecoming, Move In Weekend and Commencement. In addition, the director will devise and communicate engagement strategies for university constituents including volunteer opportunities such as Elon Alumni Board, Young Alumni Council, Affinity groups, Parents Council, and other volunteer outlets at Elon. 
• Develop opportunities for alumni to engage with the faculty, staff and students of the School and regularly communicate through both formal and informal channels to advance relationships in service to our philanthropic priorities. Regularly speak in front of groups to deliver information and updates around university activities. 

Special Instructions to Applicants: The director can expect to conduct work and travel during some nights and weekends as needed on behalf of the university. Frequent travel will be required for this role across the United States, with the distance depending donors and prospects under management.