Department
ADV PME
About the Department
The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) development team secures gifts and grants from individuals and organizations to support PME priorities and objectives set by the PME Dean and Director of Development, while fostering increased engagement with the school. The team aims to significantly increase philanthropic support over the next three to five years through in-person meetings, carefully curated cultivation and stewardship events, and other forms of donor engagement. The team collaborates with colleagues across University Advancement to strengthen connections between PME and the University of Chicago’s alumni and friends.
Job Summary
Responsibilities
- Provides strategic and administrative support to division leadership and team initiatives. Drafts and edits presentations, correspondence, briefing materials, and strategic collateral for the Dean and Senior Director in support of leadership meetings, donor engagement activities, strategic events, and PME priorities.
- Coordinates and supports the Division’s alumni relations and development initiatives, including donor relations, stewardship, event strategy and execution, database management, and communications directed toward alumni, volunteers, donors, and friends of PME.
- Leads the planning, coordination, and execution of semi-annual PME Advisory Council meetings and other strategic engagement events, in partnership with the Senior Director of Development.
- Oversees stewardship and acknowledgment activities across all giving levels, including the development and coordination of comprehensive annual endowed fund reports in partnership with Advancement’s Donor Relations team.
- Serves as the division’s database power user and internal resource, with a strong emphasis on extracting, analyzing, and interpreting data from the Phoenix system. Maintains accurate records and develops custom reports, dashboards, spreadsheets, graphs, and charts to support strategic decision-making and operational needs.
- Manages annual fund operations in collaboration with Advancement and Annual Giving partners, supporting strategies to strengthen philanthropic participation and donor engagement.
- Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
- Has a moderate/high level of authority in drafting informational and marketing materials for review for assigned programs. Assists in developing support materials for specific fundraising activities.
- Cultivates and maintains relationships with donors and volunteers. Establishes and maintains donor records and accounts.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of two years of professional work experience in fundraising, development, alumni relations, donor relations, nonprofit management, research, marketing, communications, sales, or similar field.
- Managing complex cross-team projects with multiple stakeholders.
- Background in fundraising, contact management or other database software.
- Background working with volunteers.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management System.
- Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
Preferred Competencies
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
- Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
- Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
- Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
- Self-motivated and take initiative.
- Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
- Demonstrated experience in planning and managing programs.
Working Conditions
- This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
- Standard office environment.
- Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
- Work evenings and weekends as needed.
- This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.
- This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)
The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Role Impact
Scheduled Weekly Hours
Drug Test Required
Health Screen Required
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
Pay Rate Type
FLSA Status
Pay Range
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
Skills Required
- College or university degree in a related field
- 2-5 years of relevant work experience
- Experience in fundraising, development, alumni relations, donor relations, nonprofit management, research, marketing, communications, or sales
- Experience managing complex cross-team projects with multiple stakeholders
- Experience with fundraising, contact management, or other database software
- Experience working with volunteers
- Demonstrated skill with or ability to learn the Phoenix donor relationship management system
- Proficiency in Microsoft Windows environment, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access
- Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism
- Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
What We Do
The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to rigorous inquiry and intellectual freedom draws pathbreaking scholars to our global campuses, where field-defining ideas are born that challenge and change the world. The University of Chicago has its main campus on Chicago's South Side and seven international campuses and centers throughout the world. Students can choose from 53 majors and 47 minors in the undergraduate College, with four divisions and seven professional schools for graduate study.
