The University of St. Thomas invites qualified candidates to apply for an Assistant Director of Corporate Relations position within the University Development and Alumni Relations.

The University of St. Thomas embraces diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.  We welcome applicants of diverse races, ethnicities, geographic origins, gender identities, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, religions, work experience, physical and intellectual abilities, and financial means. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. This commitment is consistent with our mission to inspire our students, using the Catholic intellectual tradition, to think critically, work skillfully, and act wisely – all for the common good.  A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

The University of St. Thomas offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Up to 100% tuition remission for employees, spouses, and dependents upon eligibility
• A generous Employer retirement contribution of 9.4% of annual salary upon eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision options
• Employer-paid disability, life, and AD&D benefits

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, the Assistant Director of Corporate Relations is responsible for qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding corporations with the goal to align corporate interests with strategic objectives and priorities of the University of St. Thomas. The position is responsible for assisting the director in leading the planning and implementation of strategies and programs designed to maximize corporate and foundation (CFR) support.  The Assistant Director will work in collaboration and cooperation with the full University Development and Alumni Relations Team, the Office of Sponsored Research, Student Affairs, the faculty, deans and administrative leadership to build external relationships with industry and secure funds on behalf of the University of St. Thomas. The Assistant Director will manage a portfolio of corporate prospects and donors.  Expectations include annual gift production from corporations; number of single and multi-unit proposals submitted; and the achievement of a significant positive response ratio for those proposals given serious external consideration. This position works with the director of CFR and the team to build a dynamic culture of collaboration and coordination for all corporate engagement activities across the University.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Manage a Portfolio of Corporate and Foundation Prospects and Donors

• Manage a portfolio of corporate prospects and donors.  Represent the University’s development effort within the Twin Cities metro area and nationally.  Provide leadership to maximize the relationship with institutional partners or prospects – leading to mutually beneficial relationships between the University and partner organizations that result in gifts.  Develop timelines and plans for engagement. 
• Foster and exemplify a holistic approach to working with corporations 
• Design and implement an “internal partnership coordination team” model to promote and assure team management of top level corporate prospects
• Lead and/or serve as a University of St. Thomas liaison on corporate “internal partnership coordination teams,” and work with central development and university leadership, collegiate development officers, faculty, business development and career services offices, and others at the University in identifying needs and benefits of the relationship and facilitating the necessary interaction to develop strategies for giving.
• Build and lead teams of staff, faculty, unit development officers and others aimed at designing and implementing strategies for engagement, leading, when possible, to major gift proposals for corporations.  Leverage other University partners to gather information and build gift proposals.

Liaison and Coordination Across Development Programs and Services

• Ensure systems, practices, and procedures are in place for Corporate Relations administration.
• Collaborate with the Development Research department to advance research needs in support of top corporate prospects – ensuring up-to-date and useful information for briefings and proposals.  Provide prospect coordination assistance with corporations ensuring that industry needs and trends match St. Thomas’ mission and goals and work to build mutually beneficial partnerships and projects.
• Develop, implement and manage processes, protocols and systems for seeking, securing and fulfilling corporate sponsorships.
• In collaboration with the gift processing team, ensure the matching gifts program strategies, tracking and compliance are in good order.  Maximize this program in collaboration with the individual gift officers to leverage the Tommie Network to further the corporate relationship as well as the individual ones. 
• Collaborate with UDAR donor relations and stewardship teams to create stewardship reports and events/activities aimed at ensuring high level of stewardship for corporations and foundations.
• Collaborate with other gift officers, departments and collegiate units to ensure prospect coordination for cultivation and solicitations, accurate data/information, and communications and materials.
• Partner with development communications to determine proposal-writing strategy and resource as appropriate.
• Determine roles/responsibilities for the University President, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, and other senior university leadership for involvement in relationship building and gift solicitation.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, VP of Student Affairs, and its affiliated functions (Sponsored Research, Career Services, etc.) on corporate related programs and strategies that help advance the University and increase corporate partner investments.

Counsel to University Development Staff

• Provides counsel and base level of training and value additive services to University units interested in creating corporate proposals on their own.  Examples could be updated web site information, annual or bi-annual training sessions.
• Working with the Development Directors and gift officers, help to lead continuous efforts to identify ways to improve the overall efficiency/effectiveness/environment of the development operation. 
• In collaboration with other CFR staff, work to build a culture of philanthropy and collaboration for corporate engagement across campus.  Partner with the faculty development center, Controller’s office and the sponsored projects office to provide resources to secure more funds and work together as a collaborative team.     

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Five years of fundraising/solicitation experience to include a successful record of soliciting major grants from foundations and corporations. 

Preferred qualifications:

• Personal experience soliciting charitable gifts and familiarity with standard prospect research practices and materials are desirable. 

An equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired may be substituted.

HOW TO APPLY

On the University of St. Thomas Jobs page, follow the instructions to complete an online application which includes uploading a resume and copy/pasting a job specific cover letter.

In light of its commitment to create and maintain a safe learning and working environment, employment with the University of St. Thomas requires consent and successful completion of a background screening.

The University of St. Thomas, Minnesota Human Resources Department advertises the official job listing on its website at www.stthomas.edu/jobs.

The University of St. Thomas is an Equal Opportunity Employer