Assistant Director, Development & Stewardship

About Us

Great universities inspire the very best in us. They nurture new ideas, fresh perspectives, and creative problem-solving. They challenge students to discover their passions - and to turn those passions into thriving careers that improve our world.

Columbus State University is exactly that kind of place. With exceptional facilities, ideal class sizes, and unique field experiences, our students have room to create. Here, every faculty and staff member is part of the educational process, actively mentoring students and championing each new step in their journey.

Located just 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, CSU is part of the University System of Georgia and offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees. Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays (if applicable). Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program. Consider applying with us today!

Department Information

University Advancement

Job Summary

Produces assigned operational reports and data analyses and coordinates data-quality improvements as the primary focus of the position. Provides secondary support for complex-gift documentation, audits, and reconciliation research. Supports operational and stewardship continuity through cross-training and temporary coverage. The role requires strong data skills, accuracy, dependable follow-through, and sound judgment; specialized advancement processes are developed through training.

Responsibilities

Significant Duties and Responsibilities include:

Primary responsibility- Data reporting and quality

• Produce and maintain assigned operational reports, dashboards, recurring lists, exports, and analyses using approved definitions and documented validation checks.
• Review data for duplicate, incomplete, or inconsistent records; coordinate approved corrections and track resolution of issues affecting gifts, reporting, and stewardship.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of institutional reporting requirements, Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) reporting schedules, essential queries, segmentation, and prospect research.
• Conduct assigned research and prepare portfolio information using shared research and data standards; identify operational trends and recommend improvements to the Director.

Secondary responsibility- Complex gifts and audit support

• Coordinate documentation for securities, gifts-in-kind, unusual wires and ACH gifts, estates, planned gifts, donor-advised-fund payments, sponsorships, and other unusual arrangements after training.
• Assemble processing instructions, supporting records, restrictions, benefits, and required approvals; refer valuation, acceptance, legal, policy, and donor-intent questions to the Director.
• Prepare complete transactions for gift processing and confirm that supporting documentation and approved coding are retained.
• Coordinate assigned audit schedules, supporting records, reconciliation research, and month-end and year-end documentation with Accounting and the Director.

Backup coverage- Operational and stewardship continuity

• Provide backup for routine gift, online, and event transaction processing during peak periods and absences after training and within established review procedures.
• Cover assigned acknowledgment, endowment-reporting, chair-letter, agreement-routing, recognition, and donor-event duties during team member absences.
• Provide ongoing backup for agreement tracking and routing. Fund setup documentation remains assigned to the stewardship role; any temporary assistance is directed by the Director.

Project responsibility

• Manage assigned projects within delegated authority and established priorities. Confirm scope, deliverables, deadlines, and approvals with the Director; track outstanding items, coordinate follow-up, and communicate barriers early. Projects may include a report or dashboard, data cleanup, an audit documentation package, or a complex-gift file.

Decision authority and coordination

• Own assigned reporting, data-quality, documentation, and coverage tasks. Prepare complex gifts for approval and processing without independently determining valuation, acceptance, or legal treatment. Protect confidential donor, prospect, and financial information. Escalate unresolved matters to the Director and follow existing approval requirements during leave coverage. Confirm priorities with the Director when secondary assignments or coverage affect reporting deadlines.

Required Qualifications

Required Qualifications include: Bachelors degree or equivalent relevant experience.; at least three years in advancement services, reporting, database operations, gift administration, or related work.; Demonstrated ability to use Excel and database queries, validate data, and maintain clear documentation.; Ability to communicate clearly and work cooperatively with colleagues.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications include: Experience with Raisers Edge/Raisers Edge NXT, Financial Edge, GiveCampus, advancement reporting, complex-gift documentation, audit support, or stewardship is preferred.; Specialized knowledge of gift arrangements, CASE reporting standards, institutional gift policies, and stewardship workflows may be developed through training and supervised assignments.; Willingness to learn and respond constructively to feedback is expected.

Proposed Salary

The proposed annualized salary for this position is $46,842 and includes full benefits.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Priority professional qualities

• Accuracy: Checks work before submission, identifies inconsistencies, and investigates discrepancies to produce reliable reports and complete documentation.
• Reporting skills: Uses spreadsheets and database queries to produce and validate useful reports; explains results and asks questions when definitions or source data are unclear.
• Follow-through: Tracks assignments and outstanding information, follows up with appropriate partners, meets agreed deadlines, and promptly communicates barriers or competing priorities.
• Judgment and discretion: Protects confidential information, follows approved procedures, and recognizes when a decision or exception requires guidance or approval.

Initial projects and deliverables

• Assume assigned reporting responsibilities; document and validate priority outputs with the Directors guidance.
• Establish a data-quality issue log and track approved corrections through resolution.
• Train on complex-gift documentation, audit schedules, and processing backup before taking on independent assignments in those areas.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact Regina Steele Travis, Hiring Manager, via email at travis_regina@columbusstate.edu.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Institutional Values

• Excellence: Actively engaging outstanding methods in teaching, academic discovery, creative pursuits, student success, cultural enrichment and the overall campus community.
• Creativity: Pursuing distinction through inquiry and innovation, challenging convention and focusing on solutions.
• Engagement: Dynamic civic involvement and participation of students, faculty, staff and alumni in the university experience.
• Sustainability: Advancing fiscal responsibility, well-being, innovation, lifelong learning and environmental stewardship.
• Inclusion: Cultivating and championing a campus environment that welcomes diverse backgrounds, ideas, perspectives and practices.
• Servant Leadership: Leading through ethical empowerment and service.

Conditions of Employment

All selected candidates are required to submit and successfully pass a background investigation to include reference checks and verification of academic credentials (if applicable). Other additional requirements may be required based upon specific position duties:

• A credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage;

• Pre-employment drug testing for positions with high-risk responsibilities.

• Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive a Columbus State University fleet vehicle or other vehicle designated as a fleet vehicle. A successful drug screening will be required as a condition of employment a randomly thereafter.

• Applicants for positions of trust may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. *

For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.

All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond. Additionally, all members of the USG community must adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values must also be aware of and comply with the Board of Regents policies on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Columbus State University is proud to be an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity institution. It is the policy of our institution to recruit, hire, train, promote and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnical origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws.

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.

This position has financial responsibilities.

This position will not be required to drive.

This role is considered a position of trust.

This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).

Background Check

• Position of Trust + Credit

Special Applicant Instructions

Visit Columbus State Universitys online Careers portal to drive your career with us! The online applicant system provides you with the ability to review job opportunities and apply to those that you are interested in and feel qualified for. Each job posting has a summary description of the position and required qualifications. All job applications must be submitted through the online portal system.