Associate Director of Advancement - Libraries

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Location (Full Address):

300 East River Rd, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14623

Opening:

Worker Subtype:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Department:

100006 Ofc Sr Vice Pres Advancement

Work Shift:

UR - Day (United States of America)

Range:

UR URG 112

Compensation Range:

$70,600.00 - $105,800.00

Responsibilities:

The Associate Director of Advancement for University Libraries is a key fundraising partner advancing philanthropic support for the University Libraries priorities, strengthening programs that support research excellence, access to knowledge, digital scholarship, and special collections across the institution. Working closely with the University Libraries leadership and the University Librarian, the Associate Director helps translate institutional priorities into compelling opportunities for donor engagement and investment that strengthen research excellence, access to scholarly resources, and academic opportunity.

Managing a portfolio of approximately 125 prospects, the Associate Director is a 70% gift officer, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors in support of initiatives that advance the University’s mission and aspiration to make the world ever better. Through strategic collaboration with advancement colleagues, Libraries staff and institutional leadership, the Associate Director plays an important role in expanding Rochester’s philanthropic pipeline and advancing campaign priorities.

Operating within a matrixed Advancement model, the Associate Director collaborates across central and unit-based teams to align prospect strategy, coordinate moves management across shared portfolios, and maximize philanthropic outcomes for University Libraries.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Major Gift Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of 125 major gift prospects, advancing donors through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 and above.
• Develop comprehensive donor strategies aligned with University Libraries priorities and institutional campaign goals.
• Identify, qualify, and shape new opportunities in collaboration with Advancement partners to optimize portfolio composition and institutional impact.
• Achieve performance metrics with emphasis on qualifications, pipeline growth, proposal volume, and stage progression. Specific metrics are set by the Executive Director of Advancement – Libraries.

Libraries Campaign Development & Donor Pipeline Growth

• Strengthen the philanthropic pipeline supporting University Libraries by identifying, cultivating, and advancing prospects capable of transformational support.
• Identify and qualify new prospects capable of major and leadership-level philanthropic support.
• Work with Marketing Communications & Donor Engagement to translate University Libraries initiatives into compelling philanthropic opportunities aligned with campaign priorities
• Build and maintain a dynamic pipeline of prospects supporting programs that enhance research excellence, access to scholarly resources, digital scholarship, and special collections.

Strategic Partnerships & Campus Liaison Engagement

• Serve as a key advancement partner to University Libraries leadership to advance philanthropic priorities.
• Serve as a primary liaison to assigned Libraries and departments, developing deep knowledge of priorities, research, and funding needs.
• Support the education and training of Libraries staff to support Advancement philanthropic and engagement efforts, building a culture of philanthropy and engagement across the libraries system.
• Liaise with leadership across the University Libraries system to identify philanthropic opportunities and advance donor cultivation strategies.
• Serve as a partner on University Libraries planned events to:
  • strategically engage current donors and prospects in program development and/or attendance
  • ensure events engaging alumni and current/prospective donors are recorded in the Advancement CRM to support prospect pipeline development and broader engagement with and support for University Libraries.
• Liaise with Advancement partners to provide event support for select Libraries events that have strategically aligned Advancement priorities, goals and outcomes. 

Strategic Initiatives, Programs & Volunteer Engagement

• Lead initiatives that advance fundraising priority projects and engage volunteers and donors in meaningful ways.
• Develop and execute fundraising strategies for priority programs, initiatives, and strategic projects within University Libraries.
• Build prospect pipelines aligned with emerging Libraries initiatives and institutional priorities.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward prospects through intentional events and engagement opportunities
• Partner with colleagues and volunteer leaders to champion the Libraries, broadening prospect pipelines.

Annual Giving Strategy & Advancement Operations

• Support coordinated fundraising efforts across the advancement enterprise.
• Partner with annual giving colleagues to align annual fund and major gift strategies supporting Libraries initiatives.
• Execute prospect strategies in close coordination with Advancement partners, ensuring timely and consistent follow-through.
• Ensure accurate and strategic use of CRM systems (Ascend, Oasis) to document moves, track progress, and maintain visibility across shared portfolios.
• Prepare donor briefings and engagement materials to support leadership and advancement partners.
• Contribute to a collaborative, high-performing Advancement culture aligned with campaign goals.

Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree and 3 years of fundraising experience required
• Master's Degree preferred
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Evidence of ability to work effectively with faculty/staff and distinguished major prospects strongly preferred.
• Excellent skills in written and oral communication strongly preferred. 
• Strong collaborative skills strongly preferred. 
• Sufficiently well-organized to deal effectively with donor stewardship issues and “moves” to advance donors according to a plan strongly preferred. 
• Experience fundraising for an academic, library, cultural, or research institution strongly preferred.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.