Assistant Director of the Bears Club
Location: Hickory, North Carolina
Position Summary
The assistant director of the Bears Club reports to the director of the Bears Club and is responsible for assisting with and successfully implementing Bears Club annual fundraising efforts. The assistant director will create, plan and execute innovative annual giving initiatives designed to successfully renew current members while increasing new memberships. This position is responsible for helping attain annual philanthropic targets while broadening and maximizing the base of alumni and community support. The successful candidate will assist with supporting various Bears Club events throughout the year. The assistant director of the Bears Club is a highly visible member of the Lenoir-Rhyne community as well as the greater Hickory and Unifour region.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Build and foster relationships with various LR athletics constituents.
- Shared responsibility for identification, prospecting, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of existing and prospective donors, with a primary emphasis on Bears Club general membership fundraising.
- Schedule frequent face-to-face visits with alumni, donors and prospective members.
- Implement innovative giving strategies to strengthen the base of support from alumni student-athletes, alumni, parents, past parents, friends, family and community members.
- Assist with strategic event planning and execution for all LR Athletics Bears Club and fundraising events, including but not limited to the Hanley Painter Memorial Golf Outing, Homecoming Silent Auction, Spring Raffle and Annual Social.
- Assist with the development and coordination of the general athletics annual fund plan for renewals and new solicitations.
- Oversee the membership experience for the Bears Club during events and the Membership Committee of the Bears Club Council.
- Provide support in the development and analysis of budgeting for all Bears Club operations and special events.
- Coordinate and assist with multiple Bears Club hospitality events throughout the year, including game-day experiences.
- Prepare updated monthly membership reports, sport-giving reports, and budgetary reports to be presented to the director of the Bears Club, vice president for Athletics, and Bears Club executive council and full councils.
- Utilize Raiser’s Edge (advancement database) and Give Campus and E-Teams (giving platforms).
- Work collaboratively with the Office of Advancement and the assistant vice president for LR Advancement.
- Assist with fundraising efforts for athletic facility improvements and capital projects.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Work diligently to encourage and create an atmosphere of sportsmanship, NCAA compliance, professionalism and respect among staff, coaches and student-athletes within the department.
- Excellent relationship and external networking ability.
- Demonstrated excellence with interpersonal communications (written and oral) skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced setting.
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Customer service-oriented and able to establish and maintain positive internal working relationships with staff, coaches and student-athletes.
- Must be comfortable working in a team environment with a positive attitude and sense of humor.
- Unwavering commitment to academic integrity, student-athlete welfare, and NCAA compliance.
- Successful experience in sales, fundraising, and event management preferred.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
Work Schedule
- This position requires travel and variable work hours, including nights and weekends. Other duties as assigned by the director of the Bears Club.
Behavioral Expectations
- Maintain high integrity, confidentiality and ethical standards.
- Maintain a healthy and safe environment.
- Maintain and contribute to a professional, respectful, courteous, diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment
- Treat other individuals with dignity, respect and kindness.
- Adhere to all university policies, procedures, standards, and values, and comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
Position requirements in the above mentioned role indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the job competently. Role descriptions are an overview of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of the position. Employees may be required to perform other job-related assignments as requested and acquire new skills and responsibilities. Lenoir-Rhyne University reserves the right to modify, add, remove or waive the position's responsibilities, duties, and skills required.
Application Process
While completing the application, candidates will be prompted to submit a:
- Cover letter, specifically discussing how one’s professional experiences and perspectives relate to the needs of the position.
- Resume, including the names and emails of three references. References will only be contacted for finalists, and candidates will be notified in advance.
Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good.
About Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy
Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for all members of the LR community, including, but not limited to, those who identify as transgender and gender non-conforming. To that end, LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.
To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program, activity and employment, LR has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment, and for allegations of retaliation.
LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult time for all those involved.