Associate Director

Job Summary The Associate Director for Annual Giving for Campaigns and Donor Experience is responsible for the strategic planning, execution, and evaluation of annual giving campaigns and donor communications. The Associate Director leads the development and implementation of multi-channel solicitation strategies and ensures a cohesive, donor-centered approach to messaging and engagement. The Associate Director oversees the annual appeal calendar, manages the creation of all donor-facing content, and ensures consistency and quality across print, email, and digital communications. The role plays a central part in shaping the donor experience by leading stewardship, retention, and re‑engagement strategies designed to increase donor loyalty and lifetime value. In addition, the position manages key programmatic campaigns, including faculty/staff giving, senior class gift, and parent giving initiatives, and is responsible for promoting matching gift opportunities to maximize donor impact. The incumbent exercises independent judgment in campaign planning, messaging development, and donor engagement strategy, and collaborates closely with digital engagement and data staff to ensure effective targeting, execution, and performance analysis. Key Responsibilities Develop and implement comprehensive annual giving campaign strategies across direct mail, email, digital, and crowdfunding channels Create, maintain, and manage a detailed annual appeal calendar, coordinating multiple solicitations across audiences and channels to ensure appropriate timing, frequency, and alignment Determine campaign strategies, including audience targeting, segmentation approach, messaging themes, and solicitation timing Integrate Day of Giving and other major campaign initiatives into the overall annual giving strategy, ensuring alignment with broader goals and priorities Coordinate campaign execution across internal stakeholders to ensure consistency and effectiveness Monitor campaign performance metrics and recommend adjustments to improve donor participation, retention, and revenue outcomes Lead development of all donor‑facing communications, including solicitations, stewardship messaging, campaign narratives, and digital content Write, edit, and proof content for print, email, crowdfunding, and digital platforms, ensuring clarity, consistency, and effectiveness Develop and execute messaging strategies for major campaigns, including Day of Giving, ensuring cohesive and compelling communications across channels Design and produce digital assets such as email graphics, campaign visuals, and basic marketing materials using appropriate tools Coordinate with Strategic Communications and Marketing to ensure alignment with university branding and messaging standards Manage production timelines and deliverables for print and digital materials, including coordination with external vendors Develop and implement donor stewardship strategies, including acknowledgment communications, recognition efforts, and impact messaging Design and execute retention and re‑engagement campaigns targeting key donor segments, including LYBUNT, SYBUNT, and multi‑year loyal donors Support development of recurring giving and donor upgrade strategies to increase donor lifetime value Ensure that all campaigns, including Day of Giving, reflect a consistent and donor‑centered experience across all touchpoints Monitor donor engagement trends and recommend enhancements to improve satisfaction and long‑term engagement Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Working knowledge of, or the ability to develop proficiency in, the appropriate and ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), in higher education and administrative contexts Ability to apply emerging technologies to support operational effectiveness, data‑informed decision‑making, and service delivery to students, faculty, and staff Demonstrated ability to support continuous improvement and organizational learning through the responsible application of technology within assigned areas of responsibility Ability to evaluate potential applications, promote responsible, ethical, and equitable use, and ensure alignment with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and strategic priorities Comprehensive knowledge of annual giving strategies, including direct marketing, email, and digital fundraising campaigns Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills for donor communications across multiple channels Knowledge of donor stewardship, retention, and engagement best practices Working knowledge of donor segmentation strategies, including the ability to develop audience targeting approaches based on donor behavior, giving history, and engagement patterns Understanding of segmentation frameworks such as first‑time donors, LYBUNT, SYBUNT, anniversary giving, and multi‑year loyal donors Ability to collaborate with data staff to translate campaign strategy into actionable segmentation and targeting plans Working knowledge of graphic design principles, including layout, visual hierarchy, and design for digital and print communications Demonstrated ability to create and edit visual assets using tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar platforms Ability to develop cohesive campaign messaging and translate it into effective written and visual communications Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage timelines, vendors, and multiple concurrent campaigns Ability to analyze campaign performance data and apply insights to improve outcomes Strong organizational skills and attention to detail Ability to work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams and campus partners Familiarity with fundraising platforms and donor CRM systems used to support campaign execution and audience targeting Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 3–5 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, communications, or a related field Strong writing and editing experience, including development of donor- or customer-facing communications across multiple channels Experience creating visual campaign materials using graphic design tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar platforms Experience managing multiple projects, deadlines, and targeted communications in a fast-paced environment Preferred Qualifications At least one consecutive year of experience in annual giving or higher education fundraising Experience working with fundraising platforms such as GiveCampus and/or donor CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge NXT (RE/NXT) or comparable databases Experience developing or applying audience segmentation strategies for fundraising or marketing campaigns Experience managing print and mail vendors Compensation Classification: Administrator I Anticipated Hiring Range: $7,350/month - $7,667/month CSU Salary Range: $5,053/month - $16,221/month The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience. SanJosé State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. Background Check Requirement Satisfactory completion of a background check, including criminal records, employment, and education verification, is required for employment. The selected candidate will receive a contingent offer of employment contingent upon a satisfactory background check. Equal Employment Statement SanJosé State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all SanJosé State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. SanJosé State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr