POSITION: Director of Development

POSITION SUMMARY

Western Reserve Academy has an immediate opening for a highly skilled development professional to serve as the Director of Development. In this newly created position, the Director of Development will report to the Assistant Head of School for Advancement, manage the day-to-day operation of the Alumni & Development Office, oversee the Annual Fund staff and Raiser's Edge administrator, carry a portfolio of leadership gift prospects, and participate in planning and implementing a comprehensive campaign plan. The Director of Development will be a senior member of the school's advancement leadership team that includes the Assistant Head of School for Advancement, the Director of Constituency Relations, the Director of Leadership & Planned Gifts and the Director of Communications.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Western Reserve Academy strives to find the right balance of duties and responsibilities for each staff member. Specific areas of responsibility for this position include:

Alumni & Development Office Management

• Create and/or strengthen office systems to support all development projects and operations
• Devise, coordinate and apply a broad range of research activities with primary focus on the Annual Fund
• Supervise donor and gift record-keeping
• Oversee the management of databases and all records, files and gift processing
• Manage the pledge reminder and acknowledgement programs
• Manage the advancement budgets, including operations and campaign

Staff Management & Coordination

• Work in close partnership with the Director of Constituency Relations, Director of Leadership & Planned Gifts and Director of Communications
• Oversee the Annual Fund staff responsible for alumni, reunion alumni, current parent, parent of alumni and grandparent gifts, and the Raiser's Edge systems administrator

Volunteer Management

• Identify, recruit, manage and support a team of peer leaders and volunteers from each of the key constituencies

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The ideal candidate possesses most or all of the following qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years professional fundraising experience, preferably in a boarding school, independent day school, small college or small professional school with strong cultures of alumni loyalty and engagement
• Proven experience in devising, implementing and managing an annual fund program that attracts new donors, retains past donors and develops reliable patterns of repetitive giving year after year
• Demonstrated ability in managing and motivating staff
• Sound judgment and effective interpersonal skills
• Proven skills in budget development and management
• Demonstrated planning, implementation and time-management skills for completing tasks and achieving goals within defined periods of time
• Demonstrated record for developing and maintaining productive working relationships with donors, trustees, constituent volunteers, alumni board members, parents, administrators and faculty
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of Raiser's Edge fundraising software or a similar database
• Ability to work as a leader and as part of a team
• Highly motivated for success
• A bachelor's degree is required; a master's degree is preferred
• Willing to work nights and weekends, when necessary
• Ability to travel

TO APPLY:

Send letter of interest, résumé/CV and writing sample via e-mail attachment to James A. "Jay" Gundy III, assistant head of school for advancement, at gundyj@wra.net. All inquiries and applications are considered most confidential.

For more information about Western Reserve Academy and Hudson, Ohio, please visit www.wra.net and www.hudsonohio.com.

POSITION: Development Database Administrator, Alumni & Development Office

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Assistant Head of School for Advancement and the Director of the Annual Fund, the Raiser's Edge Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Raiser's Edge database and how it relates to all fundraising and constituency relations programs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

Database Management, Analysis and Reporting:

• Responsible for the management and integrity of the data in Western Reserve Academy's Raisers Edge database
• Respond to requests for queries, reports, exports and mailing lists for internal and external use
• Create customized Crystal Reports for specialized advancement reports
• Maintain constituent information; establish routines with development team to assure accuracy in donor records

Gift Entry, Acceptance and Acknowledgement:

• Ensure timely and accurate gift entry based on CASE management and reporting standards, as well as the generation of all acknowledgment letters
• Work with other office personnel to guarantee a seamless process for the effective and timely entry of constituent data and the recording of gifts, including pledge reminders
• Evaluate and continuously improve gift input procedures; follow standard routine for checking accuracy and completeness of data. Includes monthly reconciliation with the Business Office.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• A bachelor's degree is required
• Three years of experience using Blackbaud's Raiser's Edge fundraising and relational database or similar database systems are required
• Proficiency with PC applications, Microsoft Word, Excel and presentation graphics required
• Strong analytical and time management skills required
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with directors and co-workers

TO APPLY

E-mail your résumé along with a cover letter including your qualifications, salary requirements, and a clear description of your database management experience to Director of Alumni Relations & Development Ray Murphy '81 at murphyr@wra.net. Include "Raiser's Edge Administrator" in the subject line of your e-mail and complete the online application found on our website. The position will stay open until filled.

Western Reserve Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin.

Western Reserve Academy

Western Reserve Academy is a non-sectarian, independent college preparatory boarding school. Founded in 1826 as a preparatory school for Western Reserve College, Western Reserve Academy is one of the oldest boarding schools in the nation and the premier school of its kind in the Midwest. A WRA education emphasizes the importance of a lifelong engagement with the world. WRA offers a challenging curriculum that prepares our 390 students for future academic success -- and for purposeful, fulfilling lives. WRA strives to graduate citizens who can think critically, discuss important matters articulately, write persuasively and act responsibly.

Student Profile

A Western Reserve Academy education offers a transformational experience where students strive for excellence, live with integrity and act with compassion. We have a diverse body of motivated and well-rounded students who study and live in a supportive, inclusive academic community where they learn about independence and responsibility -- traditional values that help them achieve success at higher rates than private day and public school students, in the classroom and beyond.

Hudson, Ohio

Western Reserve Academy's campus, listed on the U.S. Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places, is ideally situated just a few blocks from downtown Hudson, which offers a variety of shopping and dining opportunities. Modeled on a traditional New England square, Hudson's historic main street features charming brick and clapboard store and shop fronts. These blend perfectly with a beautifully designed, new shopping district that comprises an additional three blocks. With Akron and Cleveland within 30 miles, our employees and their families can take advantage of many cultural and educational opportunities.

Employment Application: Please click the link to fill out an application for employment online. Click "Submit Form" after you have completed the form to e-mail it to Human Resources. You may also click "Print Form" to print and mail. Mail your completed application to: