State Title: Associate Director
Bargaining Unit: Non-Unit
Employment Type: 35 hours per week/Full-time
Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000
NON-UNION POSITIONS: For non-unit positions, salary commensurate with experience and is accompanied by a competitive benefits package.
About TCNJ
Founded in 1855, TCNJ offers a highly personalized and collaborative liberal arts education with over 7,400 undergraduates and 700 graduate students. The college is consistently ranked among the top comprehensive colleges in the nation, offering small classes, a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, and an immersive living-learning experience. With a 4-year graduation rate ranked #1 in New Jersey and #9 among U.S. public institutions, TCNJ is a model for public higher education.
Position Overview:
The Associate Director of Campaign Initiatives plays a central role in advancing TCNJ’s campaign priorities by managing complex, high-impact fundraising initiatives, developing strategic major gift proposal materials, strengthening campaign volunteer engagement, and supporting operational processes that drive major gift fundraising success. This position requires specialized experience in advancement, campaign project management, donor-facing communications, and cross-functional coordination. Working closely with the Chief Development Officer, development staff, deans, campaign volunteers, and campus partners, the Associate Director ensures that campaign initiatives are executed with a high degree of strategy, professionalism, and alignment with institutional fundraising priorities.
Responsibilities:
- Campaign Strategy & Proposal Development
- Develop and manage compelling, high-quality, donor-facing proposal materials for major gift solicitations, including proposals for gifts of $50,000 and above.
- Translate institutional priorities, academic initiatives, and campaign goals into customized, high-touch written materials for major gift prospects, donors, and volunteer leaders.
- Partner with academic and administrative leaders to align funding opportunities with institutional objectives and campaign messaging.
- Ensure proposals are strategic, polished, personalized, and reflective of TCNJ’s mission, campaign priorities, and donor engagement strategy. - Campaign Coordination & Execution
- Manage the planning, coordination, and execution of specialized campaign initiatives and fundraising projects that support major gift activity and campaign progress.
- Coordinate campaign-related communications, timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder engagement to ensure consistency in messaging across print, digital, and in-person donor interactions.
- Support the planning and execution of high-level donor cultivation experiences, campaign milestone events, and public phase activities.
- Oversee tracking, reporting, and follow-through for campaign activities, including fundraising progress, volunteer engagement, and initiative-specific outcomes. - Volunteer & Leadership Engagement
- Support and help manage campaign volunteer fundraising initiatives, including the Campaign Committee, Heritage Society, and other volunteer leadership groups.
- Serve as a key liaison for campaign committee volunteers and other donor leaders, many of whom are major gift donors or prospects, ensuring that they receive timely, strategic, and high-touch engagement.
- Coordinate volunteer communications, meeting preparation, briefing materials, follow-up, and stewardship in partnership with advancement operations and development staff.
- Track volunteer activity and provide insights to strengthen participation, accountability, donor engagement, and overall campaign impact. - Campaign Initiatives & Major Gift Operations
- Partner with deans, campus leaders, annual fund staff, and major gift officers to support key campaign initiatives and specialized fundraising efforts at the major gift level, including advisory boards, affiliated groups, and other priority constituencies.
- Develop strategies, materials, timelines, and operational processes that strengthen fundraising activity for academic units and campaign priorities. In collaboration with the Chief Development Officer and Director of Annual Giving, ensure alignment between annual giving strategies, major gift activity, and broader campaign objectives.
- Identify opportunities to improve campaign workflows, proposal development processes, volunteer engagement systems, and internal coordination for the major gift team.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, advancement, campaign management, donor relations, advancement communications, project management, or a related field.
- Experience developing donor-facing proposals, campaign communications, briefing materials, or other high-touch advancement materials for major gift prospects or donors.
- Experience managing complex projects, timelines, stakeholders, and deliverables in a fundraising, nonprofit, higher education, or campaign environment.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex fundraising, campaign, or advancement projects involving multiple stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables.
- Strong writing, editing, and communication skills, particularly in developing high-quality donor-facing proposals, briefings, stewardship materials, and campaign communications.
- Knowledge of major gift fundraising, campaign operations, donor engagement, and volunteer leadership structures.
- Ability to work professionally and strategically with senior leaders, academic partners, major gift donors, prospective donors, and campaign volunteers.
- High level of organization, discretion, attention to detail, independent judgment, and strategic thinking.
Preferred:
- Advanced degree preferred.
- Experience working with nonprofit or college volunteers, boards, campaign committees, donor leaders, or other externally facing constituent groups preferred.
- Experience supporting major gift fundraising, campaign initiatives, or principal/leadership-level donor engagement preferred.
Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations in order to perform the essential functions of the position. If the requested accommodation(s) cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, the applicant may not be eligible for the position.
Employer Qualifications
Employment at TCNJ is contingent upon the successful completion of an applicable background check, reference checks, and verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States (Form I-9).
Accommodation: Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview should contact [email protected].
Employee Benefits
As a member of The College of New Jersey Community, you will be a part of an exciting and rewarding public college career. Eligible full-time employees will be able to take advantage of a generous benefits package that includes health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including:
- Comprehensive benefit plans covering medical, dental and prescription plans
- Generous leave entitlements program and Energy Savings Program
- Employee and dependent Tuition Waiver and Reimbursement Program
- Pension, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, group life insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Employee affinity groups
- New Jersey State Employee Discount Program (Pet insurance, cell phone plan discounts, discounted amusement park tickets, etc.)
- Access to extensive learning opportunities
To view a comprehensive list of benefits available to employees, visit our Health Benefits Plans and Programs page to learn more!
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should apply online and submit a letter of interest, resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be considered until a viable finalist has been found.
The College is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus community that respects and uplifts individuals from all backgrounds. We value the varied perspectives, experiences, and talents of all members of our community and strive to create an environment where everyone has equitable access to opportunities for success. As an equal opportunity employer, we comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. We encourage applications from individuals whose lived experiences and professional interests align with our institutional mission of academic excellence, access, and integrity.