Director, Foundation Initiatives and President's Office Liaison

Reporting to the Vice President, Administration & Chief of Staff, the Director, Foundation Initiatives and President’s Office Liaison, will oversee the Foundation Initiatives team and will serve as the primary point of coordination between the Rutgers University Foundation (Foundation) and the Rutgers University Office of the President. They will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and staffing local and regional meetings and events attended by the University President on the Foundation’s behalf and will ensure that the University President is thoroughly briefed, strategically supported, and logistically covered for all engagements.

Essential Functions

• Lead the Foundation Initiatives team, which provides project management support for key presidential and cross-functional initiatives, including aspects of Regional Advancement activities that serve and ultimately assist in achieving the organization’s fundraising and engagement goals.
• Provide strategic direction, mentorship, and performance oversight to ensure timely and high-quality project delivery.
• Deploy and model strong organizational and planning skills, efficient time management, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Coordinate with diverse groups of individuals and units within Rutgers University, and with Foundation Executive Leadership Team members and department leads as appropriate, to advance initiatives.
• Serve as the central coordinator for all meetings and events involving the University President and external Foundation stakeholders (e.g., donors, alumni, corporate, and foundation contacts).
• Collaborate closely with the University Office of the President to schedule, confirm, and manage presidential engagements.
• Oversee and execute the preparation of comprehensive briefing materials for the University President, Foundation President, and senior leadership in advance of all meetings and events.
• Greet and receive the University President and the Foundation President at events; ensure they are briefed and appropriately staffed during attendance, utilizing strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt quickly and effectively to dynamic situations.
• Coordinate with internal departments (e.g., Foundation Events, Alumni Engagement, Communications, Athletics, Facilities, Security) with a proactive approach to identifying potential issues to ensure seamless execution of all University President engagement events involving the Foundation.
• Lead directly or have oversight with the Foundation Initiatives team on presidential initiatives involving the Foundation.
• Other Duties as Assigned
  
  

Competency Aptitudes

Leadership

• Lead a comprehensive strategy for a department/project/program.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully manage and lead a team in a way that maximizes the potential of each team member.
  
  

Autonomy

• Manage an implementation team and projects/program with moderate supervision from leadership.
• Set goals, manage budgets, and meet deadlines for themselves and the team.
• Contribute to initiatives or projects that span multiple organizations or units.
  
  

Complexity

• Development of high-level communications.
• Partner with other peer directors and department leads across the organization.
• Effectively managing your supervisor and University partners across the enterprise.
• Impact organization-wide outcomes by influencing at all levels to include University/Foundation executive leadership.
• Able to devise and execute increasingly complex projects.
• Set department/project/program direction and approach in partnership with leadership.
• Able to adapt to changing situations and different fundraising partners.
• Responsible for a pan-University philanthropic initiative.
• Lead operations for a department/program.
  
  

Strategy

• Define and oversee strategy for department/project/program.
• Demonstrate the ability to set priorities and determine strategy for department/project/program, including staffing and budgets.
  
  

Education And/or Experience

Bachelor's degree and/or 7+ years of professional experience in project management, fundraising, alumni relations, nonprofit organizations, event planning, higher education, or related fields. Experience in staffing leadership and an understanding of university presidential protocols, including communications and confidentiality. Strong writing, editing/proofing skills, and an ability to pay attention to details.

Working Conditions

This position requires clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort. Will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet organizational commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituent schedules. This position also requires travel.

Workplace Arrangements

This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a University or Foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions. The expectation is that the Director, Foundation Initiatives and President’s Office Liaison, will need to be in the office three to four days most weeks and days of the week will vary based on events and meetings on the calendar.

Compensation And Benefits

The position is budgeted at a starting salary of $100,000/ year. Final offers are based on various factors such as the candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and other job-related reasons for the role. In addition to salary, Rutgers University Foundation offers:

• Office-centric hybrid work schedule
• Comprehensive medical
• Comprehensive no cost dental, and no cost vision insurance for employee and dependents
• 403(b) plan with matching employer contribution
• Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days and fifteen sick days per year
• Nine holidays, as well as four floating holidays
• Significant tuition reductions
• Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression.
• $40 monthly cell phone reimbursement
  
  

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all its employees and applicants. The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal, and/or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination.