The Assistant Director/Director of Stewardship, reporting to the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Stewardship and Donor Engagement (AVP), directs the stewardship efforts for Utah State University’s donors, focused within the areas of acknowledgment, impact reporting, recognition, and donor experience.  This position reports to the AVP and supervises the stewardship coordinator for donor acknowledgments and impact reporting. They personally administer recognition activities such as planning and executing special gifts and unique experiences for high-level donors. They coordinate with unit stewardship personnel to train and support unit efforts, ensuring a consistently excellent giving experience for all USU’s donors.

This position manages the Donor Stewardship program under the oversight of the AVP. It administers and leads Old Main Society member’s experience; administers the donor award recognition program, including serving on the awards committee; maintains the gift store and oversees planning and purchasing of donor and employee gifts; maintains and governs the physical and digital donor walls; serves as the primary liaison with the unit stewardship coordinators; and assures donor stewardship standards are met for areas that do not have an assigned stewardship coordinator.  The ability to interact with donors in a professional manner, anticipate and solve problems, collaborate well with partners, and possess a positive attitude are requirements for this position. This position works collaboratively and provides recommendations to partners across campus to create an exceptional donor experience.  This position may provide input to the AVP to evaluate and strategize stewardship success, create and execute stewardship plans, and assure stewardship standards are met throughout the university.

The position will be hired as either an Assistant Director (Advancement Specialist I) or Director (Advancement Specialist II) based upon qualifications and duties assigned - see Qualifications section. 

Leadership and Goals – 30%

• Works closely with the AVP and makes recommendations on strategy for acknowledgments, impact reporting, recognition, and donor experience.
• Takes initiative in advancing stewardship goals by proactively identifying donor needs, anticipating concerns, and resolving issues to support positive donor relationships.
• Engages donors through strategic stewardship activities designed to deepen relationships, recognize philanthropic impact, and foster ongoing commitment.
• Supervises the stewardship coordinator, who will execute acknowledgments, impact reporting, namings, and stewardship activities tracking.

Strategic Planning and Coordination – 40%

• Makes recommendations to and receives input from the AVP on the donor stewardship program, strategy, and activities.
• Directs execution of creative and meaningful donor experiences, including mailings, gifts, gift baskets, concierge service for donors, unique recognition activities for high-level donors.
• Working with the AVP for Stewardship and Donor Engagement and the chair of the Old Main Society Board, plans and executes Old Main Society Board activities.
• Acts as liaison for the members of the Old Main Society in coordinating their Old Main Society engagement opportunities.
• Directs USU’s Old Main Society and other donor recognition societies activities, including sending timely welcome packets, accurately maintaining data, coordinating donor benefits, awards, and recognition.
• Maintains the applicable donor information in the database and on the physical and digital donor walls.
• Coordinates award recognition information and serves as a member of the awards selection committee. Assures nomination information in the database is accurate.
• Coordinates award recognition activities, including ordering awards, assembling gift baskets, etc.
• Oversees the Donor Gift Store, continually implementing new and innovative ideas, coordinating charge backs with the Financial Officer, maintaining inventory.
• Plans and coordinates employee recognition gifts.
• Assures stewardship standards are met for areas that do not have an assigned stewardship coordinator.
• Provides input and coordinates with the AVP for Stewardship and Donor Engagement to create and execute engagement plans for specific donor groups.

Partnership and Collaboration – 30%

• Acts as the liaison for the unit stewardship coordinators, including training and planning activities.
• Assists the Advancement Events Team with events, as needed.
• Works closely with the AVP for Stewardship and Donor Engagement to provide input and execute recommendations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• The position will be hired as either an Assistant Director (Advancement Specialist I) or Director (Advancement Specialist II) based upon qualifications and duties assigned:
  
  • For Assistant Director (Advancement Specialist I): Bachelor's degree in a related field plus one year of relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of education plus experience.
  • For Director (Advancement Specialist II): Bachelor's degree plus three years of relevant work experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Ability to interact with donors in a professional manner
• Ability to problem-solve
• Ability to work collaboratively with campus partners
• Ability to supervise a team

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with donor relations in higher education or community organization

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application
3. Name and contact information (including email) of three professional references to be entered at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

The Division of Advancement is a welcoming office where inclusiveness and teamwork are highly valued. Advancement staff are engaged in the meaningful work of securing private financial resources to fuel Utah State University's mission by creating gratifying gift and engagement experiences for USU's generous and passionate alumni and friends. Comprising the division are the office of the Vice President, the USU Foundation & Board, Advancement Services, the Alumni Association (Alumni Engagement), Gift Planning, Corporations and Foundations, Strategic Communications, Stewardship and Donor Engagement, the Annual Fund and ACE (Alumni Center for Engagement). Furthermore, the division coordinates all fundraising efforts across campus, including colleges, various programs, extension campuses, and USU Athletics. Through the collaboration of these units, the Division of Advancement is able to achieve significant annual fundraising goals by inspiring stakeholders to invest their time and resources in Utah State University.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

*updated 12/2025

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  OCR@ed.gov

*updated 10/2025