Assistant Director Executive Strategy, Planning & Engagement- AZ- Development and Alumni Relations

Midwestern University•Glendale, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Executive Strategy, Planning & Engagement reports directly to the Vice President for University Advancement and serves as a strategic advisor, project manager, and operational partner. The role supports the Vice President’s strategic vision, executive priorities, philanthropic engagement, and the execution of University Advancement’s highest-impact initiatives. It coordinates executive operations, leads complex project planning, manages strategic initiatives, and keeps divisional priorities organized, aligned, and progressing. The position partners with leaders across Development, Alumni Relations, Advancement Services, and Marketing & Communications, and works with the President, Cabinet members, Deans, faculty leaders, trustees, volunteers, donors, alumni, and external partners. The position supports executive strategy and planning by managing the Vice President’s strategic project portfolio, developing project plans and planning tools, preparing executive materials, coordinating meetings and cross-functional initiatives, and monitoring deadlines and deliverables. It also supports executive philanthropy and leadership engagement by coordinating donor strategies and visits, preparing briefings and communications, and working with Development Officers and Advancement Services to maintain accurate fundraising records and follow-through. The role supports signature University events and executive initiatives, including commencements, Board meetings, donor recognition events, alumni programs, campaign activities, and leadership forums. It develops reports, dashboards, presentations, and analyses to support fundraising, engagement, communications, and organizational effectiveness. The position requires strong communication, organizational, project management, analytical, and relationship-building skills, as well as regular, predictable, in-person attendance and a constant state of alertness and safe manner.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, project management, signature event engagement, donor relations, and execution required; higher education or corporate experience is preferred.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated success supporting executive leadership, managing complex initiatives, coordinating strategic projects, and driving organizational priorities to completion.
Exceptional organizational, presentation, interpersonal, and project management skills.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint and Excel, including developing executive presentations, reports, dashboards, and planning tools.
Ability to analyze complex information, prioritize competing initiatives, exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and manage multiple high-level priorities simultaneously.
Ability to build collaborative relationships with executive leadership, trustees, Deans, faculty, donors, alumni, volunteers, and external partners.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Fundraising database experience required.
Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and maintain regular, predictable, in-person attendance.
Occasional standing, walking, handling or feeling, reaching, and lifting or moving up to 10 pounds; frequent sitting, talking, and hearing.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred; preferred fields include Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
One to two years of supervisory experience preferred.
Experience supporting executive leadership within higher education, healthcare, academic medicine, or nonprofit organizations.
Experience with CRM systems, Power BI, Tableau, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or comparable project management and reporting platforms.
Experience supporting comprehensive fundraising campaigns, executive communications, presidential engagement, donor relations, campaign management, volunteer leadership, or institutional strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

Anticipate executive priorities and support the Vice President’s strategic initiatives and planning efforts.
Manage the Vice President’s strategic project portfolio and develop project plans with objectives, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and follow-up strategies.
Coordinate strategic planning meetings, project work sessions, cross-functional initiatives, volunteer initiatives, campaign planning, executive meetings, partnerships, and special projects.
Prepare agendas, executive briefings, presentations, research, decision summaries, and action plans.
Maintain annual planning calendars, project trackers, executive dashboards, and organizational systems.
Monitor deadlines, commitments, approvals, and deliverables; identify issues requiring executive attention and recommend solutions.
Partner with University leaders to manage executive donor portfolios and develop donor engagement strategies aligned with fundraising and institutional goals.
Coordinate and monitor donor touchpoints, including discovery visits, cultivation meetings, solicitations, stewardship activities, proposals, and follow-up actions.
Ensure executive prospects have documented engagement strategies, next steps, and coordinated stewardship plans, with the Vice President’s guidance.
Coordinate presidential and vice-presidential donor visits, briefings, volunteer meetings, campus tours, and other engagement opportunities.
Prepare donor profiles, itineraries, presentations, talking points, correspondence, and follow-up communications.
Coordinate executive meetings with University leaders, trustees, donors, alumni leaders, corporate executives, foundation representatives, elected officials, and community partners.
Partner with Development Officers and Advancement Services to keep CRM records, contact reports, proposals, assignments, and portfolio activity current and accurate.
Identify opportunities to connect donors with University leadership, faculty, students, research, and institutional priorities.
Support planning and coordination of signature engagement opportunities and major University events, including inaugurations, commencements, Board meetings, donor events, alumni programs, campaign activities, community initiatives, and leadership forums.
Coordinate executive event participation, planning timelines, communications, hospitality, logistics, briefings, agendas, presentations, and post-event follow-up with campus partners.
Support fundraising campaigns, campaign leadership activities, executive volunteer engagement, campaign planning meetings, and strategic implementation.
Monitor campaign milestones, executive assignments, fundraising priorities, and institutional initiatives.
Develop executive dashboards, reports, planning tools, presentations, and progress updates.
Monitor fundraising performance, executive engagement, campaign activity, volunteer leadership, and organizational priorities; identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Analyze information and provide recommendations and executive decision support through research, benchmarking, and data analysis.
Collaborate across University Advancement and with campus partners to improve communication, organizational effectiveness, and execution of divisional priorities.
Recommend approaches to strengthen fundraising, executive engagement, communications, project management, and operational effectiveness.
Foster collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and a culture of excellence throughout University Advancement.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission, vision, and goals of Midwestern University and University Advancement.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Pet insurance
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care
Paid holidays
Sick/flex days
Personal days
Vacation days
403(b) retirement plan
Tuition reimbursement
Child care subsidy reimbursement program
Identity theft protection
Employee assistance program
On-site wellness facility with a fully equipped fitness facility
Competitive time-off package