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Employer Name: University of New Haven

Director of Strategic Operations and Initiatives Who we are: The University of New Haven, founded on the Yale campus in 1920, is a private, coeducational university that has been recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report for academic excellence. Located between New York City and Boston in the shoreline city of West Haven, the University is a diverse and vibrant community of nearly 10,000 students from across the globe. Within its five colleges, students immerse themselves in a transformative, career-focused education across the liberal arts and sciences, fine arts, business, engineering, public safety and public service. More than 100 academic programs are offered, all grounded in a long-standing commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary, project-based learning. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement (VP), the Director of Strategic Operations and Initiatives (Director) will oversee and support the Advancement Office's strategic communication efforts. The Director will provide some administrative support to the VP to further the work with top prospects, donors, and the President's office. The Director will work collaboratively with the VP to plan and implement long-range initiatives and priorities for the advancement office. The Director will be responsible for independently researching, drafting, and preparing a variety of high level written, print, and digital publications and correspondence on behalf of the university and its leadership, inclusive of the Office of the President. This role supports the advancement office's overall fundraising strategies. Responsibilities include operational oversight and coordination of university board events and related activities to ensure optimal execution. The successful director will be a skilled relationship builder who inspires trust and collaboration with senior leadership, colleagues, donors, faculty, staff, alumni, and other key members of the school community. You will: Serve as a member of the Advancement Office's leadership team. Support the VP and AVP for Principal Gifts with overseeing the University President's portfolio of top prospects to execute fundraising and alumni relations strategies. Provide support to the VP as needed, including, but not limited to, PowerPoint presentations, meeting preparations, and long-range strategic planning. Review and edit as necessary all briefings and documentation being presented to the President's Office. Work with leadership team to propose and pilot new programs to enhance university fundraising efforts and revenue. Monitor and evaluate progress toward goals for the department, provide ongoing statistical reports for analysis and suggest appropriate research to expand the efforts as needed. Prepare strategic communications for top stakeholders of the university. May support the writing of presidential remarks and communication pieces for events, including meeting briefings. Establish agendas and various analysis reports for presentation to the Board of Governors, as well as to the senior management team of the university. Create the event planning strategy for social engagements involving presidential donors, annual Board of Governors meetings and retreats, in collaboration and consultation with the VP and others as needed. Work to maintain budgets, resources, and deadlines for events. Work effectively with multiple internal and external stakeholders to define project objectives, create project plans, secure resources, negotiate contracts, and oversee quality control throughout the entire project. Act as a liaison between the Board of Governors and the VP. Collaborate with senior leaders and the Office of the President to develop board agendas and other event-related content to ensure alignment with university objectives. Other duties as assigned You need: Bachelor's degree with 5 years of experience in a fundraising or educational field preferred, or a combination of experience and skills to be able to fulfill the duties of the position Strong written and verbal communication skills Strong organizational and analytical aptitude, with demonstrated ability to assess complex situations and facilitate solutions in a collaborative manner Sound project management skills, with keen attention to detail Demonstrated ability to adhere to a budget and make decisions based on available budget Occasional evening or weekend event attendance/work may be necessary (approximately 2-3 weekends per year). Ability to handle sensitive information and to maintain the strictest confidentiality