Development Generalist

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Who We Are

At Michigan Engineering, we develop the talent and technologies that move society forward and serve our state and national interests. Through discovery and innovation, we create the foundational knowledge and practical technologies to solve not only today's most pressing challenges, but also to power industries and change lives. Our programs and community are designed to promote personal well-being and achievement, enabling everyone to unlock their potential and contribute with confidence.

Job Summary

The Development Generalist plays a key role in advancing the College of Engineering's donor engagement, stewardship, and fundraising objectives. The position has primary responsibility for assigned constituent engagement programs, stewardship processes, leadership support, and business operations, and is accountable for the planning, execution, quality, and outcomes of these areas. Other duties as assigned.

Working independently within established goals, policies, and delegated authority, the Development Generalist translates advancement priorities into actionable plans, evaluates competing demands, and resolves complex operational issues. The role requires sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to coordinate internal and external partners to fulfill donor commitments, strengthen constituent relationships, and support effective advancement leadership.

The position's decisions and execution directly affect the quality of high-value donor engagement, the fulfillment of stewardship commitments, the readiness of advancement leadership, and the reliability of departmental operations. By independently managing assigned responsibilities and coordinating complex activities across stakeholders, the Development Generalist helps sustain constituent trust and enables advancement leaders and fundraisers to focus on relationship development and philanthropic priorities.

Responsibilities*

25% Prospect and Constituent Engagement

• Serve as the primary Advancement liaison for the Pan-Asia Alumni annual event, directing coordination among participating units, internal stakeholders, and international vendors. Establish and manage timelines, invitation lists, briefing materials, guest arrangements, budgets, vendor coordination, and logistical plans.
• Independently manage the College of Engineering's football, basketball, and hockey donor ticketing programs. Own planning and execution of ticketing, donor briefings, tailgate requests, parking arrangements, and follow-up, ensuring these high-value engagement opportunities support donor relationships and advancement priorities.
• Lead assigned donor and prospect visits and engagement activities from initial planning through execution, follow-up, documentation, and assessment. Establish work plans, coordinate resources, and resolve issues within delegated authority.
• Analyze prospect research and advancement database information to develop briefing materials and recommendations that inform engagement strategies and prepare leadership and advancement staff for constituent interactions.
• Assess engagement outcomes, identify operational risks and opportunities, and implement or recommend improvements that strengthen the donor experience and support fundraising goals.
• Direct and coordinate the internal and external resources necessary to deliver assigned activities accurately, on schedule, and within established parameters.

25% Stewardship

• Independently own assigned stewardship processes, including gift acknowledgments, dean acknowledgments, donor communications, donor reports, and recognition activities. Maintain accountability for accuracy, timeliness, consistency, and fulfillment of commitments.
• Establish timelines, monitoring practices, and process controls to track stewardship obligations. Coordinate with internal partners to ensure commitments are fulfilled accurately and on schedule.
• Interpret gift and constituent information, investigate and resolve discrepancies, and determine appropriate action or escalation based on the nature and significance of the issue.
• Evaluate stewardship practices and implement process improvements within delegated authority. Recommend approaches that strengthen stewardship quality, consistency, and the donor experience.
• Conduct appropriate outreach to donors, prospects, volunteers, and other constituents to support engagement and relationship development.

10% Marketing Coordination

• Serve as an Advancement coordinator with Communications & Marketing for mailings, donor reports, marketing materials, and donor-recognition content.
• Independently define project requirements, establish timelines, coordinate source materials and approvals, and monitor deliverables. Resolve issues that could affect accuracy, quality, or deadlines.
• Identify donor recognition opportunities and provide content and context for social media and other communications to support advancement objectives.
• Review materials for factual accuracy, consistency, audience appropriateness, and alignment with advancement priorities.

20% Strategic and Administrative Support for the Assistant Executive Director and Senior Director of Advancement for Major and Planned Gifts

• Provide comprehensive administrative and decision support, including complex scheduling, meeting preparation, research, travel coordination, expense processing, reports, and special projects.
• Anticipate leadership needs, assess competing priorities, and independently determine appropriate approaches to scheduling, preparation, follow-up, and information routing within delegated authority.
• Synthesize background information, prepare briefing materials and recommendations, and identify action items that support informed leadership decisions.
• Act on behalf of leadership when authorized, exercising discretion and sound judgment in responding to highly sensitive and confidential inquiries. Determine appropriate action, referral, or escalation.
• Monitor leadership commitments and deadlines, coordinate stakeholders, and ensure timely completion of follow-up activities.

20% Business Operations and General Administration

• Own assigned day-to-day administrative operations and independently resolve issues that have a significant effect on advancement activities and service.
• Review and process departmental expenses, coordinate required approvals, investigate and resolve payment issues, and track transactions through completion in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
• Serve as a knowledgeable point of contact for the department, campus community, and external constituents. Evaluate inquiries, independently resolve matters within delegated authority, and direct or escalate matters requiring additional expertise or approval.
• Contribute to program planning and development, evaluating operational needs and recommending approaches that improve execution and service.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Two to three years of administrative support experience, preferably in development, fundraising, higher education, or a similarly complex environment.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing programs, processes, projects, or events and making decisions within delegated authority.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer-service skills.
• Demonstrated judgment, initiative, problem-solving ability, and discretion with highly sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to establish priorities, manage multiple assignments and deadlines, coordinate diverse stakeholders, and deliver results with limited supervision.
• Strong attention to detail and proficiency in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the interpretation and communication of financial information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience with database and reporting systems is highly desired.
• Effectively use the DART development database and BusinessObjects.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively and to build productive relationships with internal and external constituents.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

The Development Generalist works independently under general direction, within established goals, policies, and delegated authority. The role requires substantive analysis and judgment - not solely execution of prescribed procedures and carries primary accountability for assigned programs, processes, projects, and deliverables.

• Exercises independent judgment: analyzes, compares, and evaluates possible courses of action; selects appropriate solutions without immediate direction; and makes decisions on matters of significance within assigned responsibilities.

• Establishes plans and priorities: determines work plans, sequencing, timelines, and coordination methods to meet advancement objectives and manage competing demands.

Resolves complex issues: anticipates needs, identifies operational risks, and addresses problems that affect donor engagement, stewardship, leadership effectiveness, and business operations. Escalates matters that exceed delegated authority or require leadership decisions.

• Coordinates people and resources: directs project and process coordination across internal units and external partners to achieve shared deliverables.

• Exercises discretion: handles sensitive donor, personnel, financial, and leadership matters with sound judgment and appropriate confidentiality.

• Is accountable for results: maintains responsibility for the accuracy, timeliness, quality, compliance, and constituent impact of assigned work.

• Improves operations: recommends and implements improvements within delegated authority that strengthen business operations, donor experience, stewardship practices, and advancement outcomes.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.