"Development Operations Specialist"

Position Summary:

Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy is seeking well-qualified candidates for the position of Development Operations Specialist to assist with the organization and management of the Institute's fundraising activities. Reporting to the Director of Development, the position supports the development team and provides administrative and operational support for all development activities. The Development Operations Specialist plays a key role by efficiently managing administrative functions of the department, ensuring smooth operations and effective communication within the team and with external stakeholders.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, attentive to detail, and have previous experience working closely with donors and/or other constituent groups for a nonprofit organization or in a higher education setting.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is primarily on-site, requiring most duties to be performed in person. Limited remote work arrangements may be possible to provide flexibility. Occasional evening work is required for donor events. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Proposed Hiring Range:

$56,000 - $65,000 per year

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.*

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree
  + In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• 2 years of related work experience
  + In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong client service orientation
• Strong data analysis and organizational skills with attention to detail

Preferences:

• Prior experience with constituent database software, especially Blackbaud CRM
• Experience working in development or member relations in a nonprofit or higher education setting

Essential Functions:

• Manages all gift processing and reporting for the Baker Institute by creating gift memos, generating membership renewals and invoices, and processing and monitoring financial transactions, including resolution of membership discrepancies
• Maintains paper and digital donor records and files
• Produces and distributes routine fundraising communications and appeals
• Serves as the administrative liaison for the Institute's Roundtable membership groups, including answering membership inquiries, drafting correspondence, and supporting member events
• Compiles data to produce reports on donor inquiries, renewals, acknowledgments, and turnover
• Assists in the planning and execution of donor-related stewardship and recognition events, including attending key donor events
• Coordinates with the events team and Institute staff on administration of events, including post-event expense reconciliation

Additional Functions:

• Assists the development and communications teams to keep fundraising and membership web content updated
• Manages donor recognition activities, including updating lists of donors for the Institute's annual report, print publications, website, and public spaces within Baker Hall
• Creates and maintains donor information using the university's constituent management system, Blackbaud Customer Relationship Management
• Liaises with Rice Development and Alumni Relations Office on gift processing, database maintenance, and donor communications
• Plans and schedules meetings and events, resolves scheduling conflicts, and arranges travel as needed
• Performs all other duties as assigned

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