Associate Director, Donor Relations Experience

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Associate Director managing Vanderbilt University’s donor recognition programs and engagement strategies. Collaborating with teams on projects to enhance donor outreach and fundraising success.

Posted 7/28/2026full-timeNashville • Tennessee • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in donor engagement strategies, effective communication, and project management within a complex academic environment. Proficient in developing data-driven insights and executing multifaceted campaigns to enhance donor recognition and support.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Donor Engagement StrategiesProject ManagementData-Driven InsightsExcellent Communication SkillsStewardship and Marketing

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Campaign ManagementData AnalysisReport DevelopmentCRM MaintenanceCreative Brief Development

Soft Skills

Interpersonal SkillsOrganizational SkillsPresentation SkillsProblem-SolvingInitiative

Tools & Technologies

DashboardsFundraising ToolsCommunication Platforms

Industry Keywords

Annual GivingAlumni RelationsStewardshipEquity and InclusionHigher Education

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support and collaborate with the Senior Director, Donor Experience by requesting and developing reports that provide data-driven insights to assist with business decisions.
Execute tactical plan of the One Vanderbilt Society including communications (web and print), recognition opportunities, and engagement opportunities (locally and across the country).
Execute tactical plan of the Sarratt Society including communications (web and print), recognition opportunities, and engagement opportunities (locally and across the country).
Work flexibly across the team and department to develop projects from pulling data to building creative briefs and executing multifaceted campaigns to engage donors.
Identify and execute creative outreach strategies and plans that engage donors through communications, content, and unexpected gifts.
Create and maintain materials and tools that are easily deployed among frontline fundraising teams to inform, solicit, and steward donors.
Partner with other teams to integrate donor recognition and giving society messaging and branding into existing efforts around fundraising campaigns, Reunions, and virtual programming.
Pull regular reports, maintain CRM updates and leverage dashboards to track and articulate the impact around leadership annual giving across the university.
Work across school and unit lines to facilitate the creation of compelling impact stories that enrich donor recognition and giving society content.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, is necessary.
Four or more years of experience, or the equivalent, in a related field with a proven track record of managing complex programs, campaigns, or development activities is required.
Relevant experience in stewardship, marketing, communications, annual giving, alumni relations, and/or events is highly preferred.
Strong understanding of development strategies and practices.
Excellent communication skills: strong writing, editing, and an interest in expressing and demonstrating impact.
Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills with the ability to provide updates to university leadership, interact with donors/prospects as needed, and comfort in leading meetings and facilitating conversation internally and externally.
Top-notch organizational skills, experience managing complex projects simultaneously, and a consistent record meeting deadlines.
Ability to work independently, take initiative, manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and adapt to ever-changing priorities.
Demonstrated success in working across teams and disciplines – facilitating solutions and driving forward priorities.
Creative curiosity; interest in brainstorming and problem-solving, but also gathering information and distilling it to actionable recommendations to build out detailed plans.
Good judgment in the handling of confidential information.
Familiarity with Vanderbilt and/or solid understanding of a major research university environment is preferred.
The capacity to perform in an intellectually rigorous and complex academic environment.
Values the importance of equity as an organizational operating principle and is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Some evening and weekend work, as needed.

Benefits

Comp & perks

hybrid work environment
opportunities for professional growth and learning