Donor Relations and Stewardship Specialist (Finance)
Special Instructions to Applicants :
All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.
About Rice:
Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.
Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.
Position Summary:
The Donor Relations and Stewardship Specialist is responsible for the administrative operations of the Donor Relations and Stewardship team in the Development and Alumni Relations Division at Rice University. Typical duties include but are not limited to: managing the day-to-day functions of the Donor Relations and Stewardship team; donor communication; producing reports and managing data within OwlConnect, Rice University's advancement system; and managing multiple individual travel and program budgets.
The ideal candidate must be extremely organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment. They should also have demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail.
Workplace Requirements:
This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's Degree
- 1+ years of related professional experience in an administrative position
- In lieu of the education/experience requirement, additional related education and/or experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
Skills:
- Ability to prioritize work and multi-task
- Excellent organizational skills
- Ability to take initiative and ownership of projects
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in making decisions
- Relevant subject matter knowledge
Preferences:
- 2+ years of administrative experience working in non-profit/higher education settings
- Experience using Blackbaud CRM or similar alumni/donor database system
- Experience in a PC/Windows environment using Microsoft Office
- Strong organizational, problem solving, time management and project management skills
- Ability to manage many concurrent tasks with varying priorities with minimal oversight
- Ability to work well in a team environment
- Displays good judgment in dynamic situations
- Strong attention to detail
- Knowledge of fundraising database concepts and related programs
Essential Functions:
- Implements, administers and evaluates day-to-day business and administrative activities of the Donor Relations and Stewardship team
- Provides input on the budget, budget planning and other financial matters
- Assists in managing unit budgets and monitors expenditures
- Organizes, manages and completes special projects
- Collects and analyzes data, creates reports, reviews and explains trends; formulates and evaluates alternative solutions and recommendations to achieve the goals of the program or function
- Analyzes and interprets policies; develops, revises and implements procedures
- Plans and implements outreach activities that may include communications, events, and training
- Performs all other duties as assigned
Additional Functions:
- Communicates with alumni, parents and friends of the university via email, phone, or in person
- Works closely with other teams and departments within Development and Alumni Relations and the University to advance projects
- Manages data input, maintains files, and works within the OwlConnect system to manage volunteer and donor information, including running reports
- Works with outside vendors as needed
- Has frequent contact with division staff and other university offices
- Open office environment
Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits-overview
Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University
Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support .
If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
