Director, Writing Services

Director of Writing Services

The ASU Foundation (ASUF) fosters partnerships between ASU and like-minded individuals, corporations and foundations who believe in ASU's mission and provide resources for ASU to manifest its charter into meaningful impact.

The Director of Writing Services leads a team of writing professionals and is responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing strategies with ASU Foundation (ASUF) and Arizona State University (ASU) colleagues across a broad range of disciplines to maximize philanthropic support.

In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter explaining why you are a great fit for this role.

What you'll do:

• Provides strategic leadership and innovative approaches for the creation, development, execution, and continual improvement and efficiency of writing services

• Works collaboratively with ASU leadership, faculty, staff, and development colleagues to write, edit, review, and prepare proposals, case statements, concept notes, and pitch decks for submission to philanthropic funders

• Develops effective and compelling proposals, case statements, pitch decks, conceptual plans, letters of inquiry, acknowledgement letters, and other development communications

• Leads a team of writing professionals in building compelling messaging to support units, programs, and initiatives across the university

• Manage a bench of consultant writers, coordinating their availability and skills to match the requirements of bespoke assignments on an ad hoc basis.

• Builds an effective and focused writing team, forging an environment of strong team chemistry and morale, including hiring and retention of staff through coaching and professional development

• Delegates both routine and important tasks and decisions while assuming final responsibility for writing services logistics through effective team management

• Partners with ASUF leadership to develop and implement strategies pertaining to narrative development in support of ASU units, programs, and initiatives

• Works with sponsored research administration, faculty, and development staff to develop budgets and budget narratives as needed

• Develops, writes, and submits email inquiries, letters of inquiry, formal proposals, and/or other requests in collaboration with faculty and development staff

• Develops and maintains working relationships with ASUF colleagues and ASU schools, departments and others to generate narrative ideas and gather information for ongoing efforts

• Develops and maintains an archive of written materials that can be used as a resource by ASUF development staff for future proposals

• Works with colleagues to refine and implement fundraising strategies for ASU funding priorities

What you'll need:

• Exceptional writing and communication skills as reflected in proposals, oral presentations, and strategic plans

• Excellent leadership and management qualities; able to effectively manage and guide group efforts, and provide an appropriate level of feedback concerning group progress

• An entrepreneurial and pro-active leadership style with a proven ability to create opportunities

• Ability to assess programs and identify those with a strong potential for charitable funding

• Ability to learn appropriate levels of information about a broad range of academic disciplines and interdisciplinary areas

• Knowledge of all facets of the development process, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship

• Knowledge of all facets of the foundation proposal development process, including prospect and project research, proposal creation/editing

• Understanding of major issues in philanthropy and ability to learn ASU issues quickly

• Working knowledge of development software for prospect management and basic financial software for fund management

• Excellent organization and prioritization skills, able to balance multiple issues in a fast-paced environment, with a high attention to detail and thoroughness in completing assigned tasks

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; possesses a high degree of discretion, judgement, tact, and poise

• Deadline driven individual able to work independently and handle multiple high priority tasks in a fast-paced and fluid environment

• Executive-level presentation, verbal and written communication skills coupled with the ability to handle high-level internal and external constituent interactions

• Advanced computer skills in a variety of Windows-based computer programs and technical proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Relevant qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree

• Minimum seven (7) years of grant writing experience, with three (3) years of experience leading a team

Preferred education and experience:

• Advanced degree

• Extensive philanthropic proposal and grant writing experience in higher education

Benefits:

• Hybrid work schedule. We work from home two days a week!

• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) plan with matching employer contribution

• 22 days of vacation time

• 11 holidays, including your birthday

• Parental leave

• Significant tuition reductions

• Professional development is highly valued at ASU Enterprise Partners, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization and nurture new areas of interest

• $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement

At ASU Enterprise Partners:

We serve.

We serve the faculty and staff of ASU to bring them resources so they can do all the great things that they do.

We innovate.

We're always looking for new ideas, new solutions, new approaches and new ways to address the challenges facing ASU.

We engage.

We engage our donors, philanthropists, investors and partners, connecting them to ASU and helping them share their time, talent and treasure.

We care.

When we serve, innovate and engage, it shows that we care - about faculty, staff, donors, fellow employees and other partners as we bring resources to ASU.

ASU Enterprise Partners and its subsidiaries is an equal opportunity employer that is firmly committed to promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within our organization and throughout our sphere of influence. Because we embrace a spirit of innovation and achievement, we will endeavor to maximize the talent and potential of all employees, directors, and volunteers through bold and strategic action aimed at building success and a sense of belonging. All employees are expected to act in good faith to support these actions and to not impede the efforts of others to build a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization.

ASU Enterprise Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer