Career Center

The University of Washington Tacoma is an anchor institution that is deeply invested in its local communities and in student success. As one of three campuses of a world-class university, UW Tacoma is dedicated to interdisciplinary and innovative teaching and scholarship and to engaging the community in mutually beneficial partnerships. UW Tacoma’s commitment to access and diversity is central to an environment where students, staff, faculty and South Sound residents find abundant opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth. More information about UW Tacoma and its strategic plan can be found here.

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

For the University of Washington (UW) to be the greatest public university in the world as measured by our impact, the UW and University Advancement (UA) must weave equity and anti-racism into everything we do. Becoming a more equitable organization starts with us, and focusing on groups that have been excluded and under-engaged will lead to better outcomes for our whole community. Ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are natural outcomes of our activities will require us to state our values, live by those values and work toward our vision every day. To sustain our efforts, we have defined a path forward with our values clearly articulated and shared throughout the organization. We invite you, our community, to walk with us, share feedback and engage as we do our part in the University-wide effort to create a more just and equitable world.

https://www.washington.edu/advancement/ua-dei-visions-values-and-actions/

The University of Washington Tacoma is an urban-serving university that fosters a thriving and equitable society by educating diverse learners and expanding knowledge through partnership and collaboration with all our communities. As one of three campuses of a world-class university, UW Tacoma is dedicated to interdisciplinary and innovative teaching and scholarship and to engaging the community in mutually beneficial partnerships. UW Tacoma's commitment to diversity is central to an environment where students, staff, faculty and South Sound residents find abundant opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth.

Position Purpose

Advancement at UW Tacoma strives to build relationships and create engagement opportunities both internally and externally that emphasize access to higher education, holistically support students and their social and economic mobility, strengthen community and economic development and foster pride, advocacy and both public and private support for the University of Washington Tacoma. The Corporate & Foundation Relations Officer reports jointly to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement to develop strategic and compelling written materials that support high-level fundraising and resource development, including the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of top, campus-wide donors and prospects—primarily in the corporate, foundation and organizational sector.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Writing and Donor/Partner Impact Tracking and Analysis

Writes a range of strategic documents—including briefings, correspondence, pre-proposals, proposals, concept papers, gift agreements, stewardship materials, letters, and progress reports—important to corporate, foundation and organizational campus-wide donors, partners and prospects.

Gathers, analyzes, and synthesizes information on institutional priorities (to include the infusion of community partnerships into those priorities) across the campus, helping to articulate opportunities, needs, and goals while attending closely to the interests and priorities of donors and partners.

Coordinates with the Office of Research and other campus entities to ensure corporate, foundation and organizational contributions of all kinds are properly captured as gifts, grants, contracts, in-kind support and/or other sources of revenue.

Drafts compelling case statements for interdisciplinary and collaborative projects and university priorities to appeal to individual donors as well as foundations, corporations, and other organizations.

Translates and articulates information for key audiences as well as for the general public.

Advises Advancement Leadership in preparing for strategy meetings with the Chancellor and other university leaders regarding UW Tacoma’s top contributors and donors, helping to craft key background information and strategy recommendations toward the goal of effective coordination of campus-wide approaches to those donors and partners.

Supports the development of internal briefing and presentation materials for meetings and site visits with individual donors and organizational representatives.

Drafts letters, thank-you notes, and other correspondence from academic and institutional leaders.

Develops and edits fundraising and stewardship materials, including proposals, gift agreements, case statements, concept papers, periodicals, annual reports, brochures, newsletters, and fact sheets.

Project Management

Serves as project manager in the development of materials, devising and tracking project and deadline schedules and components and coordinating the timely participation of a range of content-providers.

Works with academic leaders and other members of the UW Tacoma Advancement team, including frontline fundraisers, and team members responsible for marketing, creative services, stewardship, sponsorship and external relations. Advises and works collaboratively with these team members to design and create polished materials that complement content and enhance effectiveness aligned with the UW Tacoma brand and the overall marketing and communication plan and strategies.

Conceives and creates templates for proposals, cases, reports, and other materials that are accessible to Advancement and campus-wide colleagues—working in concert with the Marketing, Communications and Creative Services Team to ensure brand alignment.

Other duties as assigned.

Key Competencies

Core
Effective communications:  Expresses oneself clearly and empathetically in interactions with others in all forms of communication, i.e., verbal and written, one-on-one and group, etc.

Interpersonal Awareness:  Builds and maintains positive relationships and actively contributes as a member of working teams to achieve results.

Professional Credibility:  Takes responsibility for meeting goals, objectives, obligations, and solving problems while representing the mission, vision and values of the organization.

Critical Thinking:  Obtains, analyzes and evaluates information effectively in the face of ambiguity.  Makes appropriate decisions based on relevant information and experience.

Ethics and Trust:  Models and upholds the values of candor, openness, inclusiveness and honesty despite internal and external pressures.  Acts consistently with Washington State ethical guidelines and organizational core values and beliefs.

Valuing Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness:  Respects, values and contributes to the UW’s commitment to equity, inclusiveness and diversity.

Functional Expertise
Strategic Agility:  Anticipates emerging trends; can articulate a clear sense of goals that align with organization’s mission, vision, and values.
Organizational Acumen:  Sizes up a situation, balances reason and the interest of others, and acts in a decisive, timely and appropriate manner that is congruent with the organization's values, goals and mission to achieve success.

Donor Focused:  Establishes, cultivates and stewards strong relationships with donors and friends to build and maintain lifelong partnerships and trust with UW.

Planning & Implementing:  Ability to develop strategies, measures for success and feasible timelines for successful project implementation and execution.

Managing Conflict:  Recognizes and addresses conflicts and disagreements in a safe and respectful environment, manages conflicts collaboratively, and builds consensus with the best interests of the organization in mind.

Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in writing or related field and three years’ experience in professional writing, preferably in a non-profit setting, grant writing or related field. Equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills may substitute for degree.

Ability to build both external and internal relationships in connecting campus priorities to funding opportunities—and to be creative about finding synergies between programs and/or “packaging” similar programs/initiatives to create broader, more comprehensive and flexible cases for support.

Thorough knowledge of and experience with written communications, including crafting clear and persuasive arguments; ability to make complex information accessible and engaging for multiple audiences; sensitivity to nuance; ability to organize writing to be clear and readable; mastery of grammar, syntax, style, and punctuation.

Demonstrated strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and various Advancement communications digital and social media platforms for correspondence, special reports, spreadsheets, databases, forms, etc.

Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Strong, deadline-driven project-management skills.

Desired Qualifications
Knowledge of alumni relations/development/advancement principles—and of how the field is evolving to broaden the view of resource development opportunities and enhance philanthropic access and inclusivity.

Conditions of Employment
Ability to work evening and weekend hours, as necessary, on short or limited notice.

Must have regular and reliable transportation for local travel and willing to travel when necessary.

Some travel (local, regional, national) expected.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.