Assistant Director of Donor Relations

Primary Purpose The Assistant Director of Donor Relations plays a vital role in strengthening meaningful relationships between the university and its donors. As a strategic partner within the development division, this position designs and leads innovative recognition, engagement, and retention programs that celebrate generosity and demonstrate impact.

This role is ideal for a mission-driven professional who thrives on collaboration, creativity, and storytelling—someone who can connect with donors across generations and communicate how philanthropy transforms student lives and advances the university’s mission.

Whether early in your career or bringing years of experience, you will help shape a culture of gratitude and belonging. This position offers opportunities to innovate, lead projects, build relationships, leverage technology, and create memorable experiences that resonate with diverse donor communities. Essential Functions

• Oversees three donor recognition societies: Heritage Society, 1851 Society, and Pacific Loyal. Manages all aspects of program administration, including new member welcome processes; membership roster maintenance; design and execution of annual programming calendar; and consistent evaluation of donor experience and needs.
• Manages first-time donor recognition, ensuring routine timely completion of first year stewardship touchpoints. Refreshes and adapts programming as needed.
• Collaborates to design and execute annual giving day stewardship plan.
• Serves as creative lead for special recognition projects. Develops, manages, and executes project activities and timelines.
• Liaises with annual giving to ensure well-coordinated solicitation and stewardship plans for recognition society members and other annual giving donors.
• Collaborates on broad-based impact reporting. Participates in developing messaging and creative concepts to convey the impact of gifts through various channels and mediums.
• Plans and executes student gratitude events. Will curate grateful student content (videos, thank-you notes, etc.), and build a roster of students interested in generating such content. and philanthropy education programs.
• Works with division partners to plan and staff donor events. Participates in program planning, coaches student participants, and prepares supporting materials as needed.
• Responds to special needs and requests from donors and from the VP Development.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

University of the Pacific recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to the success of our valued students and employees. We prioritize policy and decision-making that demonstrates awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ways socio-cultural forces related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, socio-economic status, etc. impede or propel students, faculty, and staff. Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Three (3) years of experience in fundraising, marketing or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success administering donor stewardship programs and enhancing stewardship practices
• Working knowledge of fundraising principles and experience integrating stewardship at appropriate stages and levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional customer service focus and orientation (event planning experience a plus)
• Strong organizational, project management and time management skills
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Microsoft Excel proficiency and an aptitude for handling large quantities of data
• Experience using CRM systems. Raiser’s Edge NXT experience a plus
• Strong interpersonal skills: tact, self-confidence, diplomacy, teamwork, good judgment, and confidentiality
• A strong collaborator and self-starter, comfortable working independently and in teams and forging relationships with various constituencies.
• Positive attitude, proven ability to work successfully with diverse populations and demonstrated commitment to promote and enhance diversity and inclusion.
• Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting.
• Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.

Physical Requirements The physical demands described here are representative but not definitive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requires extended periods of sitting and repetitive hand/wrist motion while using computer keyboard and phone. Occasional standing, walking across campus and climbing stairs, bending, stooping and reaching. Occasional lifting up to 35 pounds.

Work Environment/Work Week/Travel:
Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment with use of computer and phone. Work generally performed during standard business hours, night and/or additional hours may be required to meet business needs or deadlines.

Valid driver’s license required. Incumbent must also be able to meet the University’s fleet rules and be eligible to drive for University business. The University and its insurance carrier reserves the right to exclude applicants based on their driving record. Hiring Range $70,304.00 - $86,273.00 per year. We consider factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s qualifications, internal equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer Background Check Statement All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment are required to execute a release and authorization for a background screening.

AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: University of the Pacific complies with California Assembly Bill 810, requiring candidates accepting conditional job offers to disclose any final administrative or judicial findings, ongoing proceedings, allegations, resignations under investigation, or appeals related to sexual harassment or misconduct within the past seven years.

Anti-Discrimination/EEO Policy Statement University of the Pacific is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to workforce diversity across backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. Pacific does not unlawfully discriminate in its hiring of faculty and staff, or in the provision of its employment benefits to its faculty and staff on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, sex/gender, marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, or mental or physical disability, or other legally protected characteristics or combination of such characteristics. While we strive to attract a broad and representative pool of candidates, all hiring decisions are made based on merit, selecting the most qualified individual for each position.