ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, STEWARDSHIP PROJECT MANAGEMENT, Development & Alumni Relations, Donor

Associate Director, Stewardship Project Management

Boston University Advancement is seeking an Associate Director who will serve as the operational and strategic lead for the coordination and delivery of the team's two most important reporting cycles : financial and impact reporting. This role directly supports and enhances relationships with BU's most engaged and generous donors.

The central Donor Relations & Stewardship team is responsible for the design and implementation of a strategic and integrated donor relations program for past and current donors to enhance their relationships with the University. Through collaboration with Advancement colleagues, and various offices across the University, the team creates meaningful communications and opportunities to express Boston University's gratitude to its constituents and demonstrate the impact of their philanthropy.

The Associate Director, Stewardship Project Management is an essential member of Boston University's central Stewardship & Donor Relations team. Reporting to the Director of Stewardship & Donor Communications and working alongside the Executive Director of Stewardship & Donor Relations, this role provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and expert guidance for both annual stewardship reporting cycles (financial in winter; impact in spring / summer) as well as our growing portfolio of ad hoc / off-cycle donor reporting requests.

The Associate Director will professionalize our project workflows, develop standardized processes and tools, and advise Advancement colleagues to enhance the quality, consistency, and timeliness of all stewardship communications. The Associate Director will coordinate critical stewardship communication by developing and maintaining comprehensive project schedules, workflows, and deliverables calendars. This position will partner closely with fellow Stewardship & Donor Communications team members to align scholarship stewardship with broader financial and impact reporting cycles and share best practices.

In addition, the Associate Director will collaborate across Advancement including schools / colleges / units, Business Intelligence, Advancement Communications to streamline data processes, integrate content from academic and programmatic partners, and deliver high-impact donor communications that clearly articulate the value and impact of philanthropy.

To professionalize our ad hoc and off-cycle reporting processes, the Associate Director will standardize intake and triage procedures, establish clear guidelines, and oversee request approvals. This role will also create and deliver training materials, templates, and resources to empower Advancement staff, while tracking key metrics, benchmarking against peer institutions, and recommend continuous improvements that elevate the donor experience and support BU's comprehensive fundraising goals.

This is an exciting time to join a growing and evolving Advancement team that values teamwork, transparency, mutual respect, strategic thinking, continuous improvement, and joy. The ideal candidate will be a natural relationship builder with advanced project management skills, data acumen, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent workflows. They must be proficient in using content and project management tools, possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, and demonstrate emotional intelligence to build effective working relationships.

Essential Functions :

• Strategic Communications
• Serve as the primary strategist and advisor on stewardship communications planning for schools / colleges / units and frontline fundraisers; consult on report scope, messaging, customization needs, and timing.
• Collaborate with content creators and fund stewards to develop compelling donor-focused narratives and impact stories.
• Provide editorial and project support for student profiles, scholarship letters, and other engagement pieces that support donor recognition and retention.
• Manage key stewardship communications, including email inbox triage and donor responses, in coordination with frontline fundraisers.
• Project Leadership
• Lead full-cycle project management for the annual reporting calendar, including oversight of timelines, workflows, deliverables, and cross-functional coordination.
• Design and implement an intake and approval process for ad hoc / off-cycle stewardship reports and donor communications including guidelines, intake forms, triage criteria, and escalation protocols.
• Track and enhance user experience within donor-facing platforms, including digital report delivery systems.
• Ensure quality control processes are applied to content and production workflows to uphold stewardship standards and brand alignment.
• Process Optimization & Team Enablement
• Identify and implement process improvements and best practices in project tracking, reporting workflows, and content collaboration.
• Contribute to team-wide knowledge sharing, documentation, and process guides to ensure continuity and scalability.
• Create training materials, templates, and resources for Advancement colleagues.
• Other Duties as Assigned
• Support additional stewardship initiatives and special projects as determined by department leadership.
• Participate in departmental committees or task forces focused on process excellence, technology adoption, or donor engagement strategy.
• Educate and train colleagues on policies and best practices through a variety of communication tools and vehicles including written information, meetings, presentations, and staff training.

Required Skills

Qualifications Required : Bachelor's degree. 5-8 years of progressive experience in project management, donor relations / stewardship, development operations, marketing / communications, or related fields. Demonstrated success leading complex projects with cross-functional teams and tight deadlines. Exemplary communications skills and the ability to deal effectively and professionally with a variety of individuals at all levels of management within and external to a university environment. High emotional intelligence; adept at influencing, negotiating priorities, and managing change across distributed teams. Comfort with and ability to present to senior leadership and ability to train diverse audiences. Experience with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Smartsheet, Jira, Trello). Advanced organizational and time management skills with strong attention to detail. Capacity to work in a fast-paced environment involving high-level stakeholders; ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively. Exhibit a curiosity for streamlining processes using technology to improve outcomes and accuracy. Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism. Collaborative mindset with a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement. Evening and weekend work may be required on occasion.

Preferred : Experience with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Blackbaud, or equivalent). Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent training. Experience managing program budgets or financial reconciliation. Ability to analyze metrics and recommend process improvements using donor data. Familiarity with higher education or nonprofit fundraising environments. Enthusiasm for change and growth.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.