Development & Communications Specialist

Job Summary: Do you enjoy digging into details, strategizing and finding engaging ways to connect people with mission-driven work? Are you also interested in the science of well-being? If so, check out the Development & Communications Specialist role at the Center for Healthy Minds!
CHM is a global leader in research on emotional well-being, and also runs programs for student flourishing and environmental resilience building. CHM's mission is to cultivate well-being and relieve suffering through a scientific understanding of the mind, with a vision of a kinder, wiser, more compassionate world.
The Development & Communications Specialist is part of a small "Engagement" department of four, including the Director of Communications & Marketing, Digital Content Editor and Multimedia Designer. Our group shares news about CHM activities with the world and engages people in events, campaigns and materials we create together based on strategic goals, including increasing CHM's reach and donor base.
Specifically, the Development & Communications Specialist focuses on donor cultivation, acknowledgement and stewardship for CHM. Some tasks include detailed project management work like processing gifts, running and analyzing reports in a software system and coordinating all the details of donor events. We provide training for the systems and processes we use. The work also includes marketing and communications tasks like collaborating on overarching strategy and planning, writing and disseminating donor communications.
Our work is both independent and collaborative. In addition to staff and faculty at CHM, we work closely on philanthropy with Directors of Development at Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association, who focus on cultivating major gifts of $1K+ for both CHM and our affiliated non-profit, Healthy Minds Innovations.
The scope of work at CHM is wide and fast-paced, and our department has the opportunity to engage and work with many people of different cultural and professional backgrounds, internally and externally. We strive to provide a grounding, encouraging and fulfilling environment to land in the midst of all the activity. We also contribute collectively to define goals and strategies, discuss challenges and encourage individual professional development.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Healthy Minds (CHM) is a leader in conducting science - in and out of the lab - on how to nurture emotional well-being in daily life, considering the complexity of our human experience. Because of societal inequities in science and academia, as well as the disproportionate harm that marginalized members of our society experience - such as Black, Indigenous, People of color (BIPOC), people from poor and working-class backgrounds, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ and non-binary identities, etc.- we believe these identities must be centered in our work in order to fulfill a vision of a kinder, wiser, more compassionate world.
We look forward to learning about you!
Responsibilities: Assists in the planning, promotion and execution of development events, leads the creation and updating of informational materials, interacts with stakeholder groups to cultivate and maintain relationships, and leads reporting efforts on the effectiveness of development activities of the unit. 20% Assists with the development of strategic planning initiatives and objectives, program budgets, and monitors activity to ensure adherence to established guidelines 20% Collects, prepares, and analyzes donor information and event data and provides subsequent recommendations for improvement and enhancement 20% Schedules logistics and secures resources for event and program activities, facilities, participants, and vendors adhering to established timelines and expectations 25% Assists with the design, development, and delivery of marketing and communication materials and other event publications to promote development events and programs 5% Serves as a point of contact for internal and external stakeholders at meetings and activities to advocate for and promote the interests of the unit 5% Develops collaborative relationships with campus/community partners and outside vendors to source and create general marketing campaign materials 5% Serves as a primary point of contact for marketing software administration and collaborates with purchasing via phone, in person, and through other communication mediums Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion
Education: Required
H.S. Diploma

Qualifications: Required
- Minimum 2 years professional experience in a relevant field (such as philanthropy, communications, marketing, sales or non-profit work), that included managing projects and working with people
Preferred
- Experience coordinating and managing events
- Ability to collaborate and communicate with a variety of stakeholders while working toward shared goals
- Willingness to learn philanthropy best practices
- Willingness to learn email marketing, project managements and database software
- Experience marketing or communicating to culturally diverse audiences
Work Type: Full or Part Time: 75% - 100%
This position will require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
Appointment Type, Duration: Ongoing/Renewable

Salary: Minimum $57,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The minimum starting annual salary for the position is $57,000 but is negotiable based on qualifications and experience. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and saving accounts; and retirement benefits.
Learn more:

Additional Information: Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

How to Apply: Please click on the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. Applications must be submitted by 11:55pm on May 13, 2024.
You will be asked to upload a current resume/CV and a cover letter describing your qualifications and experience as it relates to this role. We rely on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews. Please note that your application materials may be used as a writing sample.
Don't meet every single qualification? At CHM, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every preferred qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this role!
The search committee will review all application materials after the posted deadline. We will notify selected applicants to participate further in the selection process directly. Following phone screens, selected applicants will receive an invitation to participate in a virtual interview (via Zoom). Finalists may also be invited to an in-person interview at UW-Madison.
Contact information for at least three professional references, including current or most recent supervisor, will be requested from finalists. References will not be contacted without advance notice. All applicants will be notified after the search is complete and a candidate has been selected.

Contact: Lisa Wesley

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title: Development Specialist(AV016)

Department(s): A48-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/CTR FOR HEALTHY MINDS

Employment Class: Academic Staff-Renewable

Job Number: 297224-AS

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website:
Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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About University of Wisconsin Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been a catalyst for the extraordinary since its founding in 1848. Our students, staff, and faculty partake in world-class education and conduct prolific research that solves real-world problems. Our guiding principle is the Wisconsin Idea, a commitment to outreach that creates a better future for our state, our nation, and the world. We value the contributions of each person and recognize that diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation.
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