Assistant Director of Development Operations, Athletics

The University of Connecticut is a top-ranked national university and health-system with its flagship campus located in idyllic Storrs. Designated a Carnegie Research 1 institution, UConn is the state land- and sea-grant university focused on education, research, and service to the state of Connecticut and beyond. The University serves over 33,000 students across seven campuses, 8,550 first-in-family students, and boasts numerous national championships. UConn Health is a top-ranked health provider that delivers groundbreaking medical education, research, and hospital and clinical services to over one million patients each year. In addition, UConn has nearly 300 scientists who are in the top 2 percent of researchers investigating everything from cancer to AI.

UConn continues its meteoric rise as a top public University with a record number of applications, continued investment in student success, health, and wellness, recruitment of top faculty, innovation in research, and top-tier athletic programs focused on the health and financial literacy of student-athletes. This includes the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which have brought home three consecutive NCAA National Championship trophies in the last three years. UConn is proud to have 26 national championships across all sports.

Guided by the public launch of our most ambitious campaign in history, Because of UConn The Campaign for UConn Nation, we are moving boldly into the future. The $1.5B comprehensive campaign spans all schools, colleges, campuses and UConn Health and focuses on four pillars designed to make education more affordable and elevate UConn among its national peers.

• Students First: making transformative investments in financial aid, student health, career readiness, and life skills to improve time-to-degree and career outcomes.

• Academic & Innovation Excellence: driving investment in top faculty and graduate fellows and building the innovation ecosystem of the state and beyond.

• Health & Wellness of People & Planet: focusing on patient care, medical research, and development of life-changing technologies that improve healthcare outcomes.

• Husky Pride: investing in athletic excellence and supporting a thriving UConn Nation that includes more than 290,000 alumni worldwide.

Because of UConn will have a profound impact on the University. It will double the number of named scholarships, fund scientific breakthroughs and advanced lifesaving therapies, and engage UConn Nation in the life and mission of the University like never before.

We seek the top talent in the country to join Husky Nation and help us drive our mission and UConn into the future. We are committed to a caring and supportive work culture, professional and leadership development, and flexibility for high achievers with a passion for higher education.

We’re looking for dedicated professionals to drive success and excellence and exemplify our values.

The UConn Foundation is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We celebrate different perspectives and are committed to a welcoming environment that values your unique experiences and identity. As an organization, we strive for continued growth each and every day.

Position Summary -

The Assistant Director of Development Operations, Athletics, assists in the development of annual fund strategies for the Division of Athletics. The Assistant Director will lead the athletic development efforts in strategic growth strategies around annual giving, donor acquisition, and strategic implementation of annual programs. In coordination with the Director of Development Operations, the Assistant Director will manage multiple programs and processes and act as the team liaison with several other teams and units with the athletic department and UConn foundation.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage annual giving programs through an established set of fiscal year priorities.

• Support the creation and dissemination of the athletic development Donor Guidebook and renewals.

• Responsible for supporting fundraising activities for assigned sports.

• Assist with communications, emails, club newsletters, and other donor-centric e-mails and social media efforts as needed.

• Assist with the execution of premium seating, premium parking, annual appeals and annual fund solicitations.

• Collaborate with Foundation colleagues to generate new opportunities for athletic donor acquisition, annual fund programs, and stakeholder engagement.

• Provide support for athletic operations team in the donor engagement and stewardship space.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Leadership

Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization-wide activities such as department meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events.

Key Competencies

• Values diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

• Strong interpersonal skills, tack, and diplomacy and ability to build productive, beneficial relationships with a broad range of constituencies.

• Strong written and verbal communications skills, including ability to effectively communicate University priorities to donors and prospects, and to positively represent the University and Foundation.

• Ability to handle multiple tasks, to assess and order priorities, and to track details in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to train and learn multiple systems of donor record, e-mail management, event management, and creative design software.

• Integrity in dealing with confidential information.

• Knowledge and understanding of Division I athletics and NCAA rules and regulations.

• Ability to remain flexible in a fast paced and complex organizational environment. Ability to work to the demands of the position which may exceed a 40-hour work week and will include nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Must be willing to travel extensively and reliable personal transportation is required for this position.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license issued from state in which employee resides. Employee must maintain at their expense, automobile liability insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $500,000 or a combination of umbrella and automobile liability insurance coverage of $500,000. A certificate of automobile insurance evidencing the limit, must be provided to the Foundation at hire and annually thereafter

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 1+ years of experience in athletics fundraising, educational fundraising or relevant transferable skills.

• Competence in Microsoft Office suite and donor management systems.

Salary:

The expected salary for this position is $60,000+. It will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also placing an emphasis on internal equity.

Benefits:

Benefits start from day one. We offer medical, dental, and vision plans and will make an annual contribution to your health savings account if enrolled in one of the high-deductible health plans offered by the Foundation.

In addition, there are a few other perks to being a UConn Foundation employee:

• We offer a generous contribution to your 403(b)-retirement plan to help you plan for retirement.

• We place an emphasis on work/life balance. In addition to a hybrid schedule, you will receive thirteen paid holidays, five weeks of paid time off per calendar year, and additional sick time.

• We invest in your professional development. Aside from opportunities to participate in various trainings, committees, and conferences throughout the year, you will also be eligible for tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.

Please inform a Human Resources Representative if you need any assistance completing any forms or participating in any part of the application process due to a disability.