Summary
Description
About the University of Denver
The University of Denver (DU), a private university, is the oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain region, with approximately 12,900 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. DU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University.
At the University of Denver, we’re doing higher education our way: authentic to the Rocky Mountain Wests confident optimism and pragmatic independence. It sets us apart. We’re preparing young people to be the solutions in their own stories, empowering them to face uncertainty with confidence and uncommon sense.
We’re fiercely ambitious and forward-thinking, surpassing all expectations to redefine success and how to achieve it. And we’re true to our mission as a top-tier private institution dedicated to making the world a better place – contributing to our communities and making positive change in the world.
About DU Advancement
The Denver Difference campaign is our most ambitious yet. It marks a dramatic shift in conventional thinking about what the university experience can and should be. DU is setting the bar with our approach to higher education, developing and preparing students to be successful in life in every way. The University of Denver is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence and innovation of our great institution. Inclusive of alumni relations, development, and student and alumni career services, DU Advancement is building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our bold vision.
The University of Denver and DU Advancement deeply value inclusive excellence, recognizing that its success depends on how well it values, engages, and includes the rich diversity of constituents. As a part of that effort, we are continuing to grow a team of inclusive, collaborative, inquisitive, innovative, ethical, and transparent advancement professionals who possess deep mutual respect for one another and for our shared profession.
About the Advancement Campaigns Team
The Campaigns Team, led by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Campaigns, plays a pivotal role in driving the success of the University’s comprehensive campaigns and beyond. This team is responsible for strategizing and executing all campaign-related activities, ensuring the institution’s goals are advanced externally. This is accomplished through crafting experiences that increase the philanthropic commitment and engagement of the University of Denver’s community, including students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends through strategic events and on-brand communications and marketing strategies.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Senior Director, Advancement Marketing and Creative, the Associate Director, Campaign Team Project Management partners across Advancement and campus to oversee project planning and execution for Advancement marketing and communications projects and advancement events. The Associate Director is a strategic and partner-oriented leader who ensures that all project components are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and are aligned with Advancement strategic objectives.
The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic, strategic, and result-driven collaborator with strong leadership and problem-solving skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance culture. The Associate Director brings detailed production knowledge for marketing, communications and event deliverables, including email marketing, video, design, print production, partner management and event logistics. The Associate Director brings a track record in managing multiple projects simultaneously and effectively, the ability to conceptualize, execute, and report on strategic and metric-driven project plans, and a high level of comfort working across multiple platforms and databases.
Essential Functions
Project Planning & Execution
- Serve as the primary point of contact and team lead for all Advancement Campaign team projects, including leading kick-off meetings with relevant stakeholders, creating project plans with timelines, deliverables, and assignments in the project management platform, communicating with internal team leads and external project leads, tracking deadlines and providing regular reporting.
- Create detailed project plans for events and marketing and communications projects related to advancement initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and deadlines.
- Ensure project requirements, outcomes, and measures of success are documented and communicated with the internal team and Advancement partners
- Create new and refine existing processes to ensure efficient and effective project workflow from request to completion.
- Manage Advancement-wide events and marketing and communications calendars, create structures for efficient and effective document management, and manage content and updates on the campaigns team section of the advancement intranet (Wiki).
- Ensure the team project management platform (Asana) is being effectively and fully utilized and updated regularly
Stakeholder & Partner Management
- Meet independently with partners across campus to provide strategic leadership, clarify goals and objectives, and establish deliverables, responsibilities, and ideal timelines.
- Work with internal team members and external vendors to ensure projects are in production queues with appropriate timelines and deadlines, communicating shifts in project elements when necessary.
- Provide a high level of communication and status reporting with internal and external stakeholders
- Resource & Budget Management
- Develop, track, and manage budgets, contracts, and invoicing, ensuring efficient resource use and adherence to budget parameters and financial guidelines.
- Collaborate with the Advancement Operations team to track contract workflow and execution, communicating with vendors and external partners to meet contract deadlines.
Problem Solving, Tracking & Reporting
- Identify potential risks and issues affecting project timelines or deliverables, adapt deadlines and delivery dates in response to unforeseen interruptions to existing project timelines.
- Prepare regular status reports on project progress, key achievements, milestones, and upcoming deadlines to share with the Campaigns Team and campus partners.
- Lead and manage outcomes reporting, including establishing standardized reports, debriefs to ensure completion of final reporting by project partners, and assessing successes based on defined objectives and measures of success.
Collaboration
- Work closely with leaders in events, creative development, digital communications, print and design, engagement, fundraising and stewardship to ensure projects are being prioritized appropriately based on capacity and overall Advancement goals and objectives.
- Work closely with the events, creative, and digital communications teams to lead all marketing and communications elements in event development.
- Compile email and digital marketing reports throughout projects to identify opportunities to improve or shift strategy if needed.
- Work with the team to develop compelling content for various channels, including newsletters, social media, print materials, and more, to support The Denver Difference campaign while managing day-to-day projects.
University Citizenship
- Serve as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based advancement functions and campus colleagues to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative advancement practices.
- Model “One DU” leadership.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Proven ability to manage multiple projects at a time with a high level of detail, oversight and communication, including resource allocation, budgeting, and scheduling.
Strong ability to engage, communicate, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, from senior leadership to external vendors.
Skilled in identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks to ensure smooth execution.
Strong work ethic with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Experience with budget and contract management
Ability to lead on-schedule and on-budget creative projects involving a variety of stakeholders from start to finish including external vendor management when needed.
Experience working within a project management platform (preferably Asana) and the ability to adapt to new platforms when necessary
Experience leading all aspects of project management including designing and streamlining processes, setting and reporting on metrics and objectives, building timelines, assigning tasks based on category, collecting stakeholder feedback and working with team to find solutions when a project is stalled or at risk.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate project goals and progress to all stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
We welcome applications from all candidates, including first-generation applicants and individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as veterans, those with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. If you meet the minimum requirements listed below and are enthusiastic about the work, we strongly encourage you to apply.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for the degree qualification)
- 3 years of experience in marketing and communications project management and/or events project management
- Experience working in project management and CRM software
- Experience creating project progress and outcomes reports for internal and external stakeholders
- Experience in a partner-facing role
Preferred Qualifications
- Project management experience in higher education or a similar complex non-profit organization
- Advanced Asana project management experience
- Certification or advanced degree in project management or a related field
Working Environment
- Standard open office environment
- Noise level is quiet to moderate
Physical Activities
- Ability to use a computer for an extended period
- Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance
Work Schedule
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; some nights and weekends as required. In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.
Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) January 13, 2024.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 11.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $70,000 – $80,000.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.
Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
