Director of Law Development
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Law School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
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Opening at: Aug 22 2024 at 09:00 CDT
**Position description updated 9/12/24**
VP Area: Law School
Department: Law School
FLSA Status: Exempt
Benefit Eligibility: Yes
Position Summary: The Director of Law Development is responsible for managing the School of Law’s alumni relations and donor recognition program, supporting annual and alumni giving, assisting the Assistant Dean of Advancement for School of Law with appeals, sponsorships, researching donors and advancement opportunities, and assisting with School of Law Alumni Association’s functions and alumni communications.
The Director will embrace key values of the university’s and law school’s advancement program, namely a passion for the law school, partnership with donors, and a people-centered approach demonstrating support for them through professional interactions and activities.
The Director reports to the Assistant Dean for Advancement for the School of Law and will work closely with members from the university-wide Office of Advancement.
- A bachelor's degree is required.
- A minimum of three years’ professional experience, preferably in fundraising, alumni or constituent relations, event planning, marketing, promotions, or related fields is required.
- A suitable combination of education and experience may be substituted for minimum requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., communications, marketing, business administration, nonprofit management) is preferred.
- Proven success in cultivating and soliciting major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations, including sponsorships and major gift proposals.
- Experience in managing alumni engagement programs, including event planning and volunteer board management.
- Demonstrated success in donor stewardship, including managing portfolios of donors and prospects, setting and achieving fundraising goals, and planning donor recognition events.
- The Director of Development demonstrates an attitude and behavior that aligns with and reflects the values and mission of both the Law School and the University.
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Alumni Engagement
- Manage and support the Law School Alumni Association Board, ensuring its strategic alignment with the Law School's mission as well as provide administrative support for Alumni Association Board meetings, including managing committee operations, facilitating goal achievement, and ensuring timely communications.
- Collaborate with Law Advancement, External Relations, and University Advancement teams to plan and execute special events and projects aimed at fostering strong alumni relationships and positive alumni experiences. Alumni and Donor Communications
- Oversee the creation and distribution of print, email, and promotional materials targeted toward alumni and donors.
- Design, order, and manage promotional items for the department and the Law School’s events, speaker series, and alumni activities.
- Assist in developing and maintaining alumni and donor-focused marketing, social media campaigns, and web content to increase engagement.
- Collaborate with Law School, Advancement, and external communications and marketing resources to ensure adherence to institutional processes and standards.
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Fundraising Activities
- Lead and/or coordinate, in consultation with the Assistant Dean of Advancement, solicitation efforts for the School of Law to secure philanthropic support aligned with school and institutional priorities.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gift and sponsorship prospects by aligning donor and external partners interests with the Law School's strategic needs ensuring consistency institutional objectives.
- In collaboration with the Assistant Dean of Advancement, develop annual fundraising goals based on priority funding needs, ensuring that metrics for success are clearly defined and achieved.
- Work closely with the Assistant Dean for Advancement in planning and executing stewardship events to recognize and engage donors and students.
- Provide administrative support for Executive Board meetings, including preparing documentation and maintaining accurate meeting minutes.
- Contribute to annual giving strategy by participating in the planning and execution of targeted fundraising campaigns and appeals.
- Assist in developing solicitation materials for sponsorships, major gift proposals, and other fundraising initiatives.
- Oversee the management of the Law School’s giving portals, alumni outreach platforms, and online alumni database, ensuring that all systems are up-to-date and effectively utilized for donor engagement.
- Work closely with the Assistant Dean for Advancement in enhancing donor retention through effective stewardship and engagement practices.
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Law Advancement Operations
- Oversee the management and maintenance of donor databases, including Raiser’s Edge and Banner, ensuring data integrity and up-to-date records.
- Support the recruitment, hiring, and supervision of student employees, providing training, mentorship, and a professional work environment that fosters student growth.
- Perform specialized administrative and technical functions related to data management, including generating reports and maintaining computerized files.
- Take on additional duties as assigned, contributing to the overall advancement of the Law School’s mission and strategic objectives.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
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Required:
- Must be able to work effectively in a customer-service oriented team environment.
- Must possess a professional demeanor.
- Must enjoy meeting the public in-person and on the telephone and the ability to interact with people at every professional level.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Excellent problem-solving skills.
- Ability to take initiative and develop solutions when confronted with a problem.
- Ability to make sponsorship requests and assist with fundraising efforts
- Ability to work with and manage volunteers.
- Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills.
- Superior organizational, oral, and written communication skills, including impeccable grammar, ability to proofread, and the
- Ability to work productively under pressure.
- Ability to handle confidential information with tact and discretion.
- Ability to work with other departments inside the law school and within the University.
- Knowledge of basic accounting/budgeting procedures; skills in basic math.
- Superior computer skills with specific knowledge and experience with MS word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
- Must be comfortable with technology and flexible in regard to learning new technology unique to the university.
- Ability to develop and use alumni database services.
- Strong project management skills with experience leading diverse teams in completing complex and varied projects.
- Ability to handle and organize multiple tasks and various special projects on an ongoing basis while addressing daily needs for the office
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Preferred
- Strong knowledge of best practices in fundraising, including annual giving campaigns, donor cultivation, and stewardship
- strategies.
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills with the ability to prepare compelling solicitation materials and effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, including donors, alumni, and university leadership.
- Ability to work cross-departmentally, especially with marketing and communications, alumni relations, and university advancement teams to align efforts with broader institutional goals.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, meet deadlines, and effectively coordinate events, programs, and outreach efforts.
- Proficiency in donor management systems such as Raiser’s Edge or Banner, with strong data management, analysis, and reporting skills.
- Experience with constituent engagement marketing, social media strategies, and web content management to increase donor and alumni participation.
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with experience mentoring and managing student employees or volunteers.
- Ability to assess fundraising progress and adjust strategies accordingly, with a focus on achieving defined metrics for success.
- Ability to handle sensitive donor information with the utmost discretion and adherence to ethical standards.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions:
- Manual/finger dexterity enough to operate a computer keyboard and other office machines several hours per day.
- Near vision enough to read written communications and computer display screens.
- Adequate hearing to communicate effectively in person and by phone.
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Work is primarily indoors, but at times may be required to be in an outdoor environment when traveling off campus.
- Will be exposed to frequent noise caused by telephones and office machines.
- Standard office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; occasional work on nights and weekends may be required.
- Off-campus, state and regional travel may be required.
