Director of Parent and Family Relations

JOB SUMMARY: 

The Alumni Relations & Development (ARD) department at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Lab) is recruiting talented and energetic advancement professionals in preparation for the schools’ next campaign. During the University’s Inquiry & Impact campaign and the Lab+ Campaign,  the schools secured more than $97 million in philanthropy.

The Director of Parent & Family Relations (DPFR) at Lab will be responsible for the management and execution of Lab’s ARD-based parent and family relations programs, including leadership-level annual giving and parent volunteer leadership. These programs are designed to strengthen parent and family engagement with, and philanthropic support for Lab Schools. The DPFR, who reports to the Associate Director of Schools for ARD, will coordinate parent events and assist with parent communications across all four divisions within Lab Schools.

The DPFR is a key Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) resource officer that helps ensure that the Lab Schools’ annual and multi-year philanthropic revenue goals are met and exceeded.

The DPFR will manage a portfolio of donor parent prospects with $10,000 and $25,000 annual giving capacity and participate in planning and departmental meetings, accept assignments, and perform other ARD duties as assigned.

The DPFR will plan and execute Lab activities and events that are grounded in the culture of Lab Schools with an end goal of philanthropic and other engagement in the life of the organization.  The successful candidate will interact and coordinate with administrators of the schools, faculty, and staff. The DPFR’s constituents will include students, parents/guardians, grandparents, and alumni parents.

The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial, curious, enthusiastic, and will help build a broad understanding of Lab’s philanthropic value to donors and prospective donors.

Responsibilities:

Serve as the key liaison to the Parents Association and the Parents Association Board. Actively assist volunteers with the recruitment of other parents/guardians for PA participation.
Lead and manage the Parents Development Committee (PDC) and the new PDC Leadership Family program as part of the Fund for Lab. Solicit and close Fund for Lab gifts at the $10,000 and $25,000 level. Donors should include Affiliated and Unaffiliated families in all four divisions of Lab.
Lead, in collaboration with ARD fundraising colleagues, the Senior Parent/Senior Class Gift program.
Collaborate with the U-High Dean of Students the Maroon Keys program and coordinate student fundraising efforts.
In coordination with the Director of Special Events, provide leadership on parent-focused events including Connections, Dewey Dance, new family events, parent social and educational engagement events as well as activities for grandparents of students.
Serve as a liaison between ARD and the Lab Communications office and other departments to convey information related to non-academic ARD-centric programming.
Collaborate with Lab’s major gifts team to ensure appropriate interactions with parent major gift prospects.
Collaborate with Lab’s Director of Alumni Relations & Giving to create interaction between current Lab parents and Lab alumni.
Create an Alumni Parents program
Collaborate with University ARD to ensure shared services are tapped.
Participate in and is visible in the life of Lab Schools.
Manage and/or supervise Parent and Family Relations program budget in Lab ARD.
Performs other related work as needed.
Acts as a principal contact and liaison for alumni within a specific region and coordinates regional activities with other areas of development and assures that no conflict occurs.
Establishes and maintains metrics of success and makes sure those are present in departmental strategic plans, goals setting, and the annual budget.
Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Competencies:

Effectiveness (team building and collaboration)
Efficiency (time and money spent)
Meeting and exceeding Lab Schools ARD strategic goals, including parent/family philanthropic revenue goals
Excellent short and long-range planning skills.
Proficiency with databases and network-based environments.
Commitment to the values of the University of Chicago Lab Schools and champion its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs via parent engagement.
Proven desire for continuing education to acquire the latest in industry best practices.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills required.
Proven ability to analyze processes and plan improvement initiatives required.
Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills required.
Ability to work on own initiative, develop rapport, and work well with others required.
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and accurately under deadlines required.
Experience with fundraising databases and reporting tools such as Blackbaud products or Salesforce required.
Willingness and ability to travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for Lab Schools business required.
Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends on occasion for ARD events and activities.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree required.

Experience:

A minimum of five years or more in schools, non-profit organizations, or businesses with high levels of relationship-building and customer service.

Working Conditions:

Standard office environment

REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTATION:

Resume (required)
Cover Letter (required)
Three professional writing samples (required)
Three Professional References (required)