Assistant Athletic Director Of External Relations

The Assistant Athletic Director for External Relations supports the College's efforts to grow Athletics gift and sponsorship revenue and to support general operations of the Athletic Department.

The Assistant Athletic Director for External Relations will work with alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and prospective donors who have the potential to support annual funds, endowments, capital projects, and programs. The position is also responsible for prospect research and management, including but not limited to, research on constituents, tracking constituents through the major gift pipeline, and internal management of those identified.

The Assistant Athletic Director for External Relations will align benefactor interests with the strategic objectives of the College. They will build effective relationships with internal and external audiences to achieve objectives. Frequent travel to visit donors and prospective donors throughout the United States, but primarily in the upper Midwest, is required. The Assistant Athletic Director for External Relations works collaboratively within the Office of College Advancement which includes Development, Alumni Engagement, Advancement Services, and Foundation and Government Resources.

The position will be a member of the College Advancement staff and will report to the Vice President for College Advancement with a dual reporting line to the Director of Athletics and Recreation. This position is partially funded with a grant from the NCAA and has specific hiring criteria. See below.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as staff lead for the Friends of St. Scholastica Athletics (FOSSA) booster organization which includes solicitation of gifts, recruitment of volunteers, benefit management, and event planning;
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit sponsorships and gift support for Athletics by developing and maintaining relationships with corporations, foundations, and individuals, including alumni, faculty, staff, local and regional businesses;
• Build collaborative working relationships and serve as development liaison to coaches, College departments, and other key personnel to achieve successful fundraising;
• Responsible for a portfolio of major sponsorship and gift donors as assigned by Vice President for College Advancement and the Director of Athletics and Recreation;
• Collaborate with the Annual Giving team and departmental colleagues in successful planning and execution of Athletics Week of Giving and other giving days;
• Attend all Advancement staff and prospect management team meetings, Athletic Department meetings, and the College Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees meetings.
• Develop competency in fundraising and alumni engagement best practices through professional development;
• Up to 20% of time, as assigned by the Director of Athletics and Recreation, support the general operations of the Athletic Department in areas including, but not limited to, event management, compliance, budget development and management, student-athlete welfare, staff supervision, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and academic support;
• Demonstrate commitment to Inclusive Excellence as an expression of the Catholic Benedictine Values and identity of the College; and
• Travel and weekend/evening work as required to fulfill job responsibilities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Experience with office software (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.)
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Ability to frequently travel throughout the United States
• Ability to work nights and weekends as necessary

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous fundraising experience working directly with donors
• Knowledge of Division III athletics and particularly the MIAC conference
• Understanding of fundraising techniques (annual giving, major giving, planned giving)
• Knowledge of tax guidelines regarding charitable giving

Hiring Criteria:

Per the NCAA grant requirements, the hired employee must identify as an ethnic minority and/or a woman. For the purposes of the grant, racial ethnic minorities are described pursuant to the Federal guidelines of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):

• American Indian or Alaskan Native (not Hispanic or Latino): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
• Asian (not Hispanic or Latino): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.
• Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino): A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
• Hispanic or Latino: A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (not Hispanic or Latino): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands.