Northern Michigan University Careers

Position Title: Associate Advancement Officer, Advancement Officer or Senior Advancement Officer

Department:  NMU Foundation

Term of Assignment: Continuing

Term End Date, If Applicable:             

FLSA Status:   Exempt = not eligible for overtime

Work Schedule: Typically Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with weekend and evening work required.

Position will be filled at any of the listed levels consistent with the selected applicant's experience. Levels include: Associate Advancement Officer, Advancement Officer or Senior Advancement Officer.

Salary: Targeted salary range: $61,280-$68,900 Associate Advancement Officer; $68,100-$76,500 Advancement Officer; $72,880-$82,000 Senior Advancement Officer

Travel: 10-25%

Brief Statement of Duties

Brief Statement of Duties: Associate Advancement Officer:
Responsible for planning, managing, and executing strategies with donors who have the capacity and inclination to make philanthropic commitments of $50,000 or greater, with a goal to secure a minimum of $750,000 annually for Northern Michigan University (NMU). Work closely with major gift prospects, NMU alumni, campus partners, and leadership to cultivate relationships, elevate current donors to higher levels of giving, and build comprehensive strategies for both short- and long-term engagement.

Advancement Officer:
Responsible for planning, managing, and executing strategies with donors who have the capacity and inclination to make philanthropic commitments of $100,000 or greater, with a goal to secure a minimum of $1M annually for Northern Michigan University (NMU). Work closely with major gift prospects, NMU alumni, campus partners, and leadership to cultivate relationships, elevate current donors to higher levels of giving, and build comprehensive strategies for both short- and long-term engagement.

Senior Advancement Officer:
Responsible for planning, managing, and executing strategies with donors who have the capacity and inclination to make philanthropic commitments of $100,000 or greater, with a goal to secure a minimum of $1.5M annually for Northern Michigan University (NMU). Work closely with major gift prospects, NMU alumni, campus partners, and leadership to cultivate relationships, elevate current donors to higher levels of giving, and build comprehensive strategies for both short- and long-term engagement.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree

Discipline/Degree Area: 

Required Specialized Training/Certifications:  Associate Advancement Officer, Advancement Officer and Senior Advancement Officer:
Valid motor vehicle driver's license.

Required Minimum Work Experience:  Associate Advancement Officer:
Three years of experience in higher education fundraising. Previous work experience which interfaced with alumni or donors is preferred. Relevant nonprofit or sales experience may also be considered.

Advancement Officer:
Five years of fundraising experience in higher education, including a successful track record of two or more years of personal portfolio management securing gifts at the $100,000 or above level; relevant nonprofit or sales experience may also be considered.

Senior Advancement Officer:
Seven years of fundraising experience in higher education, including a successful track record of four or more years of personal portfolio management securing gifts at the $100,000 or above level; relevant nonprofit or sales experience may also be considered.

Associate Advancement Officer, Advancement Officer or Senior Advancement Officer:
Experience working with donor management systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce) to track and report on donor activity.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, or Attributes Required for Satisfactory Performance of the Position Duties: 

Associate Advancement Officer, Advancement Officer and Senior Advancement Officer:
Ability to work collaboratively with a team, leveraging relationships with major gift prospects, NMU alumni, campus partners, and leadership to drive fundraising success.
Excellent communicator, capable of effectively conveying the University's mission and fundraising priorities to diverse audiences.

Associate Advancement Officer:
Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.
Proven experience in working directly with donors to close major gifts.
Strong critical listening skills and ability to activate next steps based on donor needs and feedback.
Excellent time management and organizational skills with a results-driven mindset.
Ability to work with resilience, navigate complex systems, and remain adaptable.
Travel required, including overnight stays and flexible hours to accommodate donor schedules.

Advancement Officer and Senior Advancement Officer:
Proven experience securing gifts of $100,000 or greater and a familiarity with structuring pledges and developing gifts agreements and stewardship reporting.
Demonstrated experience building and managing an active donor portfolio of major gift prospects.
Strong experience developing long-term fundraising strategies.
Excellent interpersonal, critical listening, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to translate learned information into actionable next steps for donors.
Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively and adapt to changing circumstances.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, with a strong commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.
Extensive travel required, including overnight stays and flexible hours to accommodate donor schedules.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

Additional Desirable Qualifications: 

Associate Advancement Officer, Advancement Officer and Senior Advancement Officer:
Possess resilience in the face of challenges and a strong focus on results, consistently striving to meet and exceed goals.
Experience with fundraising campaigns, particularly in capital or annual campaigns, helping to drive large-scale fundraising initiatives.

Senior Advancement Officer:
Proven experience in securing philanthropic support at the $1M, or greater, level.
Experience sitting on non-profit boards and understanding the dynamics of governance, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement.

Other

Special Instructions to Applicants: Submit application, cover letter, resume and references.

Contact Information:  Erica Nelson, Human Resources Generalist, 906-227-1087

NMU is an equal opportunity employer.