Development Associate

Development Associate

About the Opportunity

This position sustains the mission of the Corporate & Foundation Advancement team, to identify, develop and foster productive relationships between Northeastern and its foundation and corporate prospects and partners. The Development Associate will support a team of three officers focused on fundraising for engineering, social sciences and the humanities, including law, business, and arts, media, and design. This role calls for skills in office and operational support, database management and report generation, research, large and small event facilitation, meeting scheduling, as well as internal and external communications. The position requires strong interpersonal skills, systems thinking, and a strong work ethic. The individual must be self-motivated, able to prioritize and manage several projects at the same time, and detail-oriented. Challenges include managing multiple responsibilities in a busy environment, and mastering Advancement and University-wide processes.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Operational Support (30% of total effort): Create, manage and support systems that contribute to productive, high quality corporate and foundation relationships. Activities may include: staffing internal meetings, focused on best practices; prospect research and recommending promising funding sources; generating activity and pipeline reports and helping prioritize strategic prospect activities; supporting meeting logistics, including travel plans, and/or campus visits by corporate and foundation representatives; generating meeting briefings, agendas, and donor acknowledgement letters.
2. Gift Processing (30% of total effort): Assist with various aspects of the management of gifts to Northeastern for timely and accurate financial records. Activities may include: preparing and submitting documents related to gift processing; data entry and ensuring database integrity; coordination between Advancement Services and other university departments; preparing invoices, tracking payments, and helping with grant stewardship.
3. Day-to-Day Activities and Communications (20% of total effort): Manage day-to-day functionality of the corporate and foundation relations team. Work may include: data entry, managing receipts, assisting with calendars, mailing documents, and other general office duties, as assigned; periodically, assisting with initiatives originating from senior Advancement management; helping maintain team processes with internal stakeholders (Advancement staff, administrators in other departments, and faculty). This position is in direct contact with corporations and foundations regarding appointments, campus visits, and ongoing relationships.
4. Support Solicitations and Reporting (10% of total effort): Assist with preparing and submitting proposals and reports as directed by supervisor and other members of the team. Activities may include: research, drafting materials, gathering materials (including working with departments outside of Advancement to do so); supporting proposal development and report submission including budgets and expenditure reports; assisting with compliance processes within Advancement and across University.

The candidate will also be required to assist with other duties as assigned by Senior Director. Customer Service is at the core of every aspect of this position. The Development Associate serves the needs of the internal and external community in building and maintaining relationships with university foundation and corporate partners.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree and one to three (1-3) years of demonstrated success in a comparable position, preferably in development, or equivalent years of professional experience required. Candidate must be a mature professional who can manage and facilitate a fluctuating and, at times, intense workload, and produce quality results in a fast-paced environment. Must be able to manage multiple priority projects at once with ease and efficiency. Must be a self-starter who is highly motivated, can think independently and analytically, is organized, and detail oriented. Must be proactive, anticipate problems, and be resourceful to find workable solutions, and should work well with others at all levels. The ideal candidate has direct experience in building and managing corporate and foundation relationships, possesses strong written and verbal skills, and has solid communication and writing skills. Experience working with databases essential.

Position Type: Advancement

Additional Information:

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit for more information.

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see .

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