Assistant Director, Operations - McCormick

Department: Alumni Relations & Development

Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Target hiring range: $63,500-$65,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

The Assistant Director is responsible for collaborating across departments to enhance the fundraising and development operations for the McCormick School of Engineering. This role will report to the Director of Development for McCormick and will work with them to oversee annual giving, alumni engagement, stewardship and donor relations, and major gifts. The position involves significant collaboration with colleagues from Alumni Relations and Development teams and with McCormick School faculty, staff, and university leaders.

• Strategic Planning
  • Administers & maintains existing strategic plans.
  • Recommends changes & improvements to operational services strategies to better meet team needs & objectives.
• Collaboration
  • High level of collaboration with internal department partners and moderate level with University partners.
  • Innovate and improve team business processes by collaborating with internal ARD partners.
  • Liaise with the Dean’s Office to coordinate visits with alumni and donors and ensure timely briefing materials.
  • Provides oversight and support to staff within the department.
• Prospects & Gifts
  • Develop effective communications materials for priority major gift opportunities.
  • Liaise with gift officers and prospect research and management team to identify major gift prospects.
  • Support gift officer work to qualify, cultivate, and solicit top donors and prospects.
  • Enhance McCormick’s leadership giving program to develop prospect pipeline.
  • Draft and develop annual appeal and solicitation communications in partnership with Annual Giving team and Engineering departments.
• Stewardship
  • Liaise with Donor Relations team and McCormick staff for stewardship reports.
  • Develop stewardship communications, acknowledgement letter templates and cards.
  • Oversee and manage annual stewardship processes for key McCormick giving programs.
• Events and Alumni Engagement
  • Partner with Northwestern Alumni Association and McCormick partners to scale engagement opportunities.
  • Coordinate with prospect research team to identify potential board members and volunteers.
  • Ensure events and engagement opportunities are well-communicated.
  • Identify and track strategic faculty and programs for engagement events.
  • Provide on-site and planning support for events involving faculty and alumni.
• Administration
  • Complete day-to-day oversight of operational services processes.
  • Implement data integrity initiatives and quality assurance of processes.
  • Compile & analyze data; prepare reports; share results and recommendations.
  • Review processes and systems and recommend changes to incorporate state-of-the-art processes and technology.
  • Identify service improvement opportunities.
  • Create and maintain documentation, procedures, standards, and policies.
  • Research best practices and recommend enhancements.
• Supervisory
  • Supervise part-time, temporary, and/or work/study employees.
• Miscellaneous
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

• Successful completion of a 4-year college or university degree or appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 3 years of operations, administration, development or equivalent experience.

• Collaboration – build trust, foster strong relationships, manage stakeholder interests, communicate clearly and respectfully.
• Analytical thinking & Problem solving – adapt to new systems, analyze complex issues, develop practical solutions.
• Creativity and Innovation – exhibit curiosity, think creatively, bring fresh perspectives.
• Reliability and Initiative – proactive self-starter, takes ownership, follows through with minimal supervision.
• Time Management & Organizational Skills – manage multiple priorities, adapt to change, maintain focus and organization.

• Experience with in higher education, collaborating with faculty, staff, and academic departments.

• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Project…