Digital Engagement Officer (HR Title: Leadership Gifts Officer I)
Southern Methodist University Inc

Job Info

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Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body.

DEA comprises the offices of Office of the Senior Vice President, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, Development Services, Program Services and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Principal and Major Gifts, and School and Project Development.

SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fundraising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Digital Engagement Officer for Annual Giving (DXO) will leverage digital communications tools to create tailored ongoing engagement strategies that cultivate relationships, inspire giving, and build sustained philanthropic support based on what truly matters to each donor. Detailed tracking, reporting, and ongoing analysis of results will drive goal-setting, growth, and performance evaluations for the program.

Under the supervision of the Director of Leadership Giving, the role will actively manage a portfolio of approximately 1K newly identified and lapsed annual giving prospects/donors with capacity ratings of up to $100K. The role will leverage digital technology such as the daily use of video, phone, and email, combined with multiple databases and virtual communication technology to make personalized solicitations aimed at retention, reactivation and upgrades of alumni, parent and friends to support SMU's comprehensive campaign.

Essential Functions:

• Actively manage a portfolio of approximately 1,000 identified annual giving prospects and lapsed donors with capacity ratings up to $99,999. Establish a regular cadence of communication touch points using a variety of digital and personal channels including social media platforms, email, text, phone, in-person meetings & video chat. Meet with alumni, parent and friend prospects to identify their level of philanthropic engagement & gauge their interest and potential to upgrade levels of support. Quickly navigate through the large portfolio, providing personalized yet systematic attention to each prospect as the role conducts a high-volume of weekly visits, contacts and solicitations (i.e., 400-500 touchpoints/mo.) Actively solicit donors for support of current-use priorities, capitalizing on marketing strategies of current Annual Giving initiatives and drives. Work cross-functionally with all development teams, & under the direction of the Director, communicate other appropriate fundraising priorities and opportunities for engagement for each prospect, inviting them to deepen their involvement. This requires maintaining current knowledge of University-wide priorities. Tactics include: attending a variety of events throughout the year to support the essential fundraising strategy and becoming an expert in the engagement and giving opportunities across Annual Giving and Alumni Relations to customize experiences and opportunities for individual prospects. Directly steward milestone gifts (i.e, first-time donors, leadership or recurring giving societies' milestone status, etc. through thoughtful outreach with personalized content to illustrate the impact of the donor's gift.) Independently and creatively develop content to share with donors based off existing resources, visits to campus, participation in campus activities, and other easy-to-access resources that can help better connect donors to the areas they support in meaningful ways.
  
• Establishing a sound working relationship with DEA staff to enhance collaboration and build/maintain best practices in giving and engagement. This includes working with school and unit based & major gift officers, planned giving officers, advancement services units, school and unit leadership. Make alumni referrals to alumni engagement officers and identify major gift prospects to be qualified and engaged by campus wide gift officers, as appropriate.
  
• Expertly document all fundraising progress through call and contact reports, cultivate strategy updates and other communication materials in a timely fashion. Regularly meet with Director to review progress, track metrics against goals and adjust strategy as needed. Proactively monitor personal engagement and fundraising results to identify trends and opportunities to optimize success.
  
• Other duties as assigned, including supporting AGAR initiatives and events.
  
• Position requires extensive computer usage, occasional evening and/or weekend work and occasional travel.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree is required. A degree in communications, marketing, or journalism preferred.

A minimum of one year of work experience is required, preferably in higher education or non-profit fundraising.

Professional work experience in social/digital marketing or journalism is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills with the ability to prioritize.

Candidate must have ability to manage a high volume of work across multiple cloud-based platforms in a fast-paced environment.

Candidate must have experience with the following: Zoom, communications software (i.e. Microsoft Teams, Slack), email (i.e. Outlook, Emma), and MS Office products.

Experience with constituent database (i.e. Blackbaud CRM), project management software, Evertrue, GradAdvance and/or similar platforms preferred.

Certifications in fundraising and non-profit management desired.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Bend
• Carry/lift 25 lbs
• Handle objects (dexterity)
• Walk for long distances
• Drives motorized equipment
• Work in confined quarters

Deadline to Apply:

February 10, 2025

Priority consideration may be give to submission received by January 29, 2025

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

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