Associate Director, Donor Relations

• Lead a team to develop and deliver strategic stewardship and donor engagement for the University
• Join a growing team that fosters collaboration and a culture of inclusion
• Brilliant benefits and a flexible hybrid work environment!

About the Role
The Associate Director of Donor Relations will play a pivotal role in leading a team focused on major and principal gift stewardship, aligning with the institution's fundraising priorities. With a strong emphasis on strategic relationship development, this role will contribute to overall strategy development to strengthen connections with donors and enhance stewardship planning.
Collaborating closely with Advancement, Communications, and Marketing leadership, the Associate Director will negotiate and execute annual plans for donor engagement initiatives, aiming to foster meaningful engagement, donor loyalty, and retention in line with strategic fundraising goals. Additionally, the Associate Director will oversee high-profile donor communications and recognition initiatives while managing a portfolio of significant donors.
Who we are looking for
You'll have outstanding written communication and interpersonal skills, essential for engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and friends of the University. You'll also have strong negotiation abilities and influence to foster positive relationships both internally and externally. A commitment to reliability and integrity in donor interactions, coupled with a creative and innovative approach to donor engagement emphasizing personalisation and impact, is crucial. Finally, a proactive mindset, coupled with the ability to generate and execute ideas effectively while managing multiple tasks with competing deadlines, is essential for success in this role.
You will also have:

• Substantial experience in leading the strategic development and delivery of a donor / stakeholder / customer relations program in a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated experience in providing leadership, fostering positive team culture and guiding teams towards achieving key objectives and goals that contribute to the overall success of the division and organisation.
• Demonstrable record of operating successfully in a large, complex organisation and navigating complexity and ambiguity to effect positive outcomes and advance organisational objectives.

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements please refer to the attached PD.
To ensure the University continues to provide a safe environment for everyone, this position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check.
This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.
Your new team - Advancement
The Advancement Office at the University of Melbourne facilitates relationships between the institution and its alumni, friends, and benefactors. It manages programs related to alumni and fundraising, collaborating with faculties and other administrative areas. The office led the Believe Campaign, which concluded in 2021 after 14 years. The campaign engaged over 100,000 alumni and raised $1.17 billion, making it one of Australia's largest philanthropic endeavors. These funds will support 34 professorial chairs, with 25 of them being long-term investments. Following the Believe Campaign's success, the university is now launching an eight-year program to further invest in Advancement efforts.
What we offer you!
In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services, and discounts on graduate courses. For more information check out page!
The University of Melbourne
We're tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via and stay connected with our stories and people on .
Be yourself
The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities, and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality, and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit page.
We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact Kim Groizard at , with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture, and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.
For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -
Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience, and including the following 4 selection criteria in your cover letter:
• Substantial experience in leading the strategic development and delivery of a donor / stakeholder / customer relations program in a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated experience in providing leadership, fostering positive team culture and guiding teams towards achieving key objectives and goals that contribute to the overall success of the division and organisation.
• Outstanding written communication and interpersonal skills, appropriate to dealing with stakeholders and supporters including donors, volunteers and friends of the University.
• Demonstrable record of operating successfully in a large, complex organisation and navigating complexity and ambiguity to effect positive outcomes and advance organisational objectives.

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Susan Bradley via email at , ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.
Advertised: 04 Mar 2024 12:05 AM AUS Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 17 Mar 2024 11:55 PM AUS Eastern Daylight Time