Assistant Director of Operations, Foundation Relations

University of Notre Dame•Notre Dame, IN

3d•$70,000•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Notre Dame seeks a detail-oriented professional with exceptional written communication skills to serve as the Assistant Director of Operations for Foundation Relations (FR) Notre Dame’s high-performing FR team cultivates strategic partnerships with private philanthropic foundations to advance the University’s mission. This new role will provide critical support in the areas of proposal development and award stewardship , ensuring that we tell the clearest, most compelling stories about the important work being accomplished on campus. They will also be responsible for overseeing operational processes and putting in place best practices – particularly around the use of AI – that elevate the work of FR and our partners across the University.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Proven experience in professional writing/editing
Exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and external partners
Proficiency in standard office software and ability to utilize basic graphic design tools for professional documents
Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
Proven experience in grant writing, proposal development, or professional writing/editing, preferably within a higher education or non-profit fundraising environment
Familiarity with foundational research processes (e.g., submission timelines, reporting, stewardship)
Demonstrated ability to develop and streamline operational processes and/or experience with project management

Responsibilities

Proposal Development and Foundation Engagement Partner on the drafting and editing of grant proposals, letters of inquiry (LOIs), and related documents to ensure quality, compelling narratives, and alignment with specific funder preferences.
Lead the creation of customized engagement materials for high-priority funders.
Provide light design and graphics support for proposals and supplementary materials as needed.
Engage closely with faculty and FR Directors to support the drafting, editing, and timely submission of high-quality reports to foundation funders.
Collaborate with the Corporate and Foundation Relations Regional Associate to maintain a robust repository of reporting templates, timelines, and best practices to ensure consistency and efficiency across all reports.
In partnership with the FR team, faculty, and Notre Dame Research (NDR) colleagues, monitor, manage, and streamline proposal submission timelines, reporting deadlines, and stewardship deliverables.
Serve as the FR liaison for Notre Dame Research’s Limited Submissions process pertaining to foundation grants.
Lead benchmarking efforts to ensure FR operations continue to align with professional best practices, particularly regarding the ethical and efficient use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in foundation relations.
Collaborate with campus partners to provide training sessions and resources for faculty and staff on foundation engagement and grant writing best practices.
Co-develop toolkits, LOI templates, faculty roadmaps, and a repository of successful proposal samples to strengthen internal grant-seeking capabilities.