UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES

PRIFYSGOL DE CYMRU

Research and Business Development (Alumni Relations and Development Office)

Alumni Development Officer (Community Relations) - Maternity Cover(Ref: U008052)

Grade E, *£28,452 - £32,958 per annum

*appointment will be made to the minimum of the scale

Fixed Term up to 12 months Contract

The University of South Wales' Alumni Relations and Development Office seeks to appoint an experienced and enthusiastic professional to provide maternity cover for the role of Alumni Development Officer (Community Relations).

Working closely with the Head of Alumni Relations and Development, and across the Team, this exciting opportunity plays a vital part in developing supporter giving and community volunteering, implementing quality stewardship initiatives, and helps broaden the University’s prospect base.

The successful candidate will be providing maternity cover for up to a year (dependant on start date) and will be central to the delivery of initiatives involving alumni, in the UK and overseas. With an eye for digital engagement, a curiosity to manage detail & data, an aptitude to manage people & processes – all combined with a touch of creative flair – this role can offer new perspectives or an exciting redirection for a current career.

For a more indepth conversation about this role and to hear more about operations for 2017/2018, candidates are invited to contact Rachael Barker, Head of Alumni Relations and Development.

This position is based at Treforest Campusof the University of South Wales.

The terms and conditions of the post (including grade and salary) will be those of the University of South Wales.

CLOSING DATE: 25th August 2017

INTERVIEW DATE: Week beginning 4th September

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title:Alumni Development Officer (Community Relations) - Maternity Cover
Type of Contract:Fixed Term up to 12 months Contract
Grade: E
Responsible to: Head of Alumni Relations and Development
Main Purpose of the Job:
All positions in the Alumni Relations and Development Office, including this one, work to support the achievement of both engagement and philanthropic goals. The overarching objective being to maximise supporter interest in, and engagement with, the University of South Wales.
Key focuses for the role of Alumni Development Officer (Community Relations) are chiefly:
  • Facilitate improved levels of proactive engagement and ambassadorial inclination within the USW global alumni community
  • To identify, develop and steward synergies between alumni relations and development programming
  • To adopt strategies to maximise supporter lifetime giving, and non-financial equivalents
  • To devise and implement strategies to attract, retain and increase philanthropic revenue from major donors (specifically trusts and foundations, in support of benefitting non-research-focused USW initiatives).

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Establishing an effective Office
  • Contribute, as a member of the Alumni Relations and Development Team, to the development and implementation of the University’s alumni relations and fundraising strategy
  • Develop good working relationships across the USW community, with particular focus on Faculty and professional service offices
  • Working with the Database Officer, collaborate on the pursuit and management of quality alumni data through initiatives both on and off line, and utilising Raiser’s Edge and BlackbaudNetCommunity technologies
  • To act as a point of contact for community project-focused trust and foundation enquires
  • Collaborate with colleagues in support of USW submission to external rankings or monitoring initiatives eg DHLE, University rankings, ROSS-CASE
  • Produce regular performance reports for the Head of Alumni Relations and Development as required, in accordance with funding opportunities ongoing and agreed targets and objectives
Delivering sustainable programming
  • Working closely with senior colleagues and Faculty connections and adopting a project-led approach; collaborate on suggestions for funding institutional priorities giving expertise in regard to trusts and foundations. Where required, deliver powerful case statements and associated project plans with specialism towards trusts and foundations
  • Where most appropriate, adopt a guidance-only approach to coordinating Faculty interest in seeking trusts and foundations funding
  • In relation to community-focused initiatives, manage and develop a portfolio of trusts and foundations encouraging long-term and sustained interest in the University of South Wales
  • Be proactive in carrying out and recording into Raiser’s Edge intelligence linked to trusts and foundations and associated beneficiaries
  • In partnership with the Head of Office, ensure that financial gifts received are used at the University in accordance with the trust and foundation’s wishes and that appropriate feedback and reporting is provided as necessary
  • Administer, monitor and act as liaison for all donations coming in from trusts and foundations, including their relative disbursement and initial marketing eg: collaboration with colleagues in Student Services
  • Manage an agreed budget for development activities, keeping accurate financial reports on expenditure and associated income in relation to trusts and foundations, and feed in to annual budget planning as required
Community Relations
  • Be the primary lead in helping foster a culture of and an understanding of philanthropy and alumni engagement across the University, within both the student body and staff community
  • Support ‘community fundraising’ initiatives as they arise eg: class giving
  • Support initiatives to identify, nurture and engage alumni groups, both in the UK and overseas for mutually beneficial outcomes
  • Coordinate the alumni volunteer programme
  • Contribute content to alumni and development comms channels, utilising social media where appropriate
Fundraising
  • Produce detailed and compelling written applications for trust and foundation funding in line with the stipulations outlined by such organisations
  • Provide guidance to academics/community project leaders in regard to their obligations to working with trusts and foundations, formulating clear project plans noting key dates and parameters that the Office will support pre and post-award
  • Collaborate with development colleagues to help increase overall donation income, participation rate and average gift size from trusts and foundations supportive of the University of South Wales
  • Develop in partnership with others, assorted ‘recognition activities’ for current and future trusts and foundations to aid retention and increase income/engagement eg: inclusion in donor report, invites to bespoke events etc.
  • Keep up to date and readily available, a bank of documentation typically requested across all trust and foundation applications eg: university governance overview, bank statements
Other
  • Keep abreast of advancement news and innovations
  • Contribute to the evolution of sustainable Office protocols, processes and systems
  • Be alert to possibilities for improving efficiency and effectiveness of the team and make recommendations for improvements
  • Any other duties as required by the line manager as are consistent with the broad purpose and grade of the post grade (or below)

PERSON SPECIFICATION

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Essential / Desirable
a)A mature and collaborative approach to communicating and negotiating - both within the institution and also external to
b)The ability to communicate effectively – in written word and verbally, with persuasion and imagination
c)Ability to build and maintain effective networks and relationships, and solicit the required outcomes
d)Confident and highly motivated in contacting potential donors/trusts and foundations, with the gravitas and articulacy necessary to ask for gifts
e)An ability and willingness to support colleagues
f)A high degree of attention to detail
g)Planning skills with the ability to deliver results to tight deadlines
h)Strong analytical, IT and administrative skills
i)Excellent level of grammar with fluency in the English language
j)Tactful and discreet
k)Capable of remaining calm and effective under pressure
KNOWLEDGE
Essential / Desirable
l)Knowledge and experience of the Higher Education sector
m)Sound knowledge of the principles of effective fundraising, prospect management and constituent engagement / n)Working knowledge of the Data Protection Act and its application to alumni relations and development
EXPERIENCE
Essential / Desirable
o)Fundraising or similar business negotiation or sales-related experience
p)Experience of proposal writing and making trust applications
q)Experience of using relationship management databases to manipulate or access information / r)Experience using BlackbaudNetCommunity web software
s)Proven experience of website maintenance using a content management system
t)Working knowledge and experience of using social media eg: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook
u)Experience of working in an alumni relations, fundraising, public relations or equivalent environment eg: membership community
TRAINING
Essential / Desirable
v)Educated to degree level or equivalent / w)An appropriate fundraising qualification
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential / Desirable
x)Flexible approach to work, with an ability to prioritise and empathy to the likelihood of changing work priorities and service expectations
y)A good understanding of the role and impact of alumni relations and development activity within a Higher Education environment. / z)Ability to speak Welsh

It is essential that when making an application, candidates specifically address the criteria set out in the Person Specification. This information will be used in deciding those to be shortlisted.