Advancement Operations Specialist - Systems

Start Date: April 15th, 2021

Work Schedule: Full-time, 12 Months

Reports to: Director of Advancement Operations

About George Fox University:

• Our Vision: To be the Christian University of choice known for empowering students to achieve exceptional life outcomes.
• Our Mission: To prepare students spiritually, academically and professionally to think with clarity, act with integrity and serve with passion.
• Our Values:Students first. Christ in everything. Innovation to improve outcomes.
• As Oregon's premier Christian University, George Fox offers a wide variety of opportunities to serve in a Christian community that delivers the promise that each student will Be Known - personally, academically and spiritually.

Position Summary: The Advancement Operations Specialist Systems leads the quantitative arm of frontline Advancement Operations. This person is a vital member to the Advancement Team, considered the key asset to efficient gift processing, reporting, process automation, and system administration. The AOS Systems reports to the Director of Advancement Operations and fulfills critical functions for the Advancement Office. The ideal candidate will build working relationships with internal team members, as well as work closely with outside departments such as Finance, to ensure accurate donation management and innovation. This person will also demonstrate commitment to delivering quality work with a passion for details and process improvement, as well as accurate and timely gift entry and reports.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Manage all parts of the gift entry life cycle, using the university database, PeopleSoft, with efficiency and accuracy. This includes all gift entry including pledge commitments, outright gifts, and planned giving, as well as future gift types not yet used by the University.
• Create all acknowledgement letters, tax receipts, tribute letters for donations
• Coordinate within Advancement to track and maintain grant records in PeopleSoft
• Coordinate with Finance for reconciliations and gift/pledge processes
• Review and update planned giving historical records and migrate to PeopleSoft
• Create new constituents as needed; research and maintain donor giving data
• Work with senior student employee(s) who will assist with gift entry as needed
• Assist with the department's understanding of its constituents and work collaboratively with staff to develop strategies to identify quantity metrics for the advancement of the organization's goals
• Support the development and maintenance of daily, monthly, and annual audits to ensure complete accuracy in processing and data integrity
• Maintain the accuracy of the campus database with daily updates of address and biographical information for all constituents except employees and students (e.g. alumni, foundations, donors, etc.)
• Follow department policies and procedures; adhere to industry best practices and IRS regulations
• Maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to donor privacy requests and FERPA compliance at all times.
• Provide customer service to both internal stakeholders and donors to enhance the giving experience; communicate effectively and courteously with others, including employees, students, donors, and the public.
• Continuously improve efficiency to reduce financial costs to the University and improve the overall donor gift process and donor identification through various types of automation

• By actions, words and lifestyle, be a Christian role model to students, whether through casual contact or in a formal supervisory role

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Backup for creating, querying, and exporting mailing lists for membership, major gifts, grants, events, annual programs, and campaigns
• A willingness to cross-train with the AOS Services, when appropriate

• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 1 year of successful work experience in gift processing and/or advancement functions; or equivalent combination of University education and work experience

• Discretion with confidential materials
• Curiosity and willingness to learn & grow
• Excellent ability to identify and solve problems efficiently
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Exceptional ability to work independently yet collaborate effectively on cross-functional projects

• Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to connect with a wide spectrum of people. Has an attitude and spirit of teamwork, respect, and customer service.

• Effective interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills

• Outstanding computer literacy and data management skills
• An Evangelical Christian commitment and lifestyle consistent with the University's mission and goals, including a signed agreement with the GFU Statement of Faith and Community Lifestyle Statement.

• Appreciation for an inclusive environment that values diversity, engages in global concerns, and connects culturally

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with book-keeping or accounting
• Experience working with PeopleSoft software or another non-profit database
• Working knowledge of non-profit fundraising

Current Openings for Advancement Operations Specialist Systems Jobs at George Fox University - Staff and Administrator