Associate Director, Foundation Initiatives

Rutgers University Foundation•New Brunswick, NJ

5d•Remote

About The Position

Reporting to the Director, Foundation Initiatives, the Associate Director manages a diverse portfolio of high-visibility projects, partnering with Foundation and University leadership, internal teams, and external stakeholders. This role drives initiatives from concept through execution, setting priorities, advancing strategic and revenue-generating efforts, and ensuring timely progress in a fast-paced environment. Operating with autonomy and strong judgment, the Associate Director leads collaboration, develops executive-level communications, and supports successful outcomes across complex initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 5-7 years of professional experience in fundraising, alumni relations, non-profit organizations, event planning, higher education, project management, or related fields.
Clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort.
Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information.

Nice To Haves

Leadership coaches and removes roadblocks
Set clear direction for a project
Provide feedback; develop staff and colleagues
Establish and manage guidelines/timeline for department/project/program
Perform project analysis; devise and implement process improvements to optimize outcomes
Initiate projects, strategies, and innovations within the organization
Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of department/project/program
Ability to devise strategies and execute increasingly complex projects
Manage operational components for department
Develop and submit budgets and other collateral materials as needed to advance a University initiative

Responsibilities

Assume leadership of special projects and initiatives, including the planning, establishment, and prioritization of project components and milestones, with a highly organized approach. Demonstrate expert thoroughness and special attention to detail while meeting deadlines across multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
Establish and maintain strong relationships with both internal and external partners and stakeholders.
Provide independent analysis and judgement in prioritizing situations needing attention, take steps to ensure projects are moved forward and tracked for progress through completion.
Develop and/or support business and revenue raising plans for various projects and initiatives.
Demonstrate ability to advance strategies, while proactively anticipating project needs to ensure successful outcomes for the project and project team members.
Ability to move concepts from ideation to process implementation while navigating complex environments with numerous and evolving priorities.
Lead, participate in, and/or manage meetings/engagements related to portfolio.
Operate autonomously, while demonstrating a strong collaborative style and diplomacy to manage complex situations.
Skilled, strategic communication skills applied to development and drafting of special communications and correspondence to advance projects forward, including at the executive level. Demonstrate exceptional writing skills across all mediums and for all audiences.
Develop, implement, and/or coordinate project-related strategies and manage the change process to ensure successful outcomes.
Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information.
Other duties as assigned.