Direct Response Marketing Manager

The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) strives to positively impact the lives of American Indians by supporting their higher education and career objectives. College Fund team members believe education is the answer and collectively we raise funds, provide scholarships, and holistically support students in achieving their goals.

Programming, research, and enhancing the capacities of tribal colleges and universities are also integral elements of our mission. This position will help achieve the goals of the Office of Resource Development.

Professional writing/communication skills, the ability and desire to take initiative, and expert knowledge and proven results in effective fundraising and engagement through written words are essential to the success of this position and the entire organization.

The work environment is both dynamic and fast-paced; and the organizational culture is one that focuses on accountability, teamwork, and a strong passion for our mission. This position will have the opportunity to work with individuals across the organization, along with other business partners and donors of the College Fund.

Essential Job Functions

1. Designs and innovates the College Fund’s direct response fundraising programs and team (including multiple agency partners), including strategic direction and implementation of direct mail (acquisition, renewal, retention, cultivation), telemarketing, and person-to-person individual fundraising.

2. Participates in development and oversight of overarching donor communications strategy, including copywriting and editing, developing a cohesive “donor experience”.

3. Responsible for development and management of all direct response (AG) budgets (revenue of $20M+ and expenses of $10M+), including reporting for Executive Leadership.

4. Leverages and supervises work of multiple external agency partners supporting direct response strategies (identifying top talent to create innovative, leading-edge approaches to direct response fundraising).

5. Knowledge of CRM/eCRM tools and how they best support marketing-based fundraising, including data in, reporting, analysis, function enhancements, etc.

This job description is not inclusive of all responsibilities and other duties may arise not described in this document.

Job Requirements

Competencies

• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to condense complex thoughts into concise, compelling, relevant, engaging messaging.
• Knowledge and expertise in national direct response strategy (generating 15M+ communications annually) and implementation, including understanding metrics, managing to goals, and development and analysis of KPIs, including demonstrated ability to achieve continual and consistent year-over-year growth.
• Clear understanding and approach to relationship-first decision-making and strategy development and implementation.
• Entrepreneurial approach to advance strategies and successfully define the direction, space and resources required in continuing to create new directions and use leading edge tools to develop trend-setting strategies.
• Strong knowledge of donor/customer relationship management database software and sophisticated marketing-based analytics/reporting.
• Experience in national market research (including quantitative and qualitative) and data interpretation and application.
• Experience in budget preparation, budget management and budget tracking for budgets generating $20M+ and expenses exceeding $10M+.
• Experience building and managing teams with different but related functions.
• Accuracy and attention to detail a must.
• Must be able to work independently, managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong project management skills and ability to demonstrate high performance and success working with consultants and agency partners, including choosing partners and evaluating/elevating performance.
• Ability to work well within a diverse team and across departments.
• Flexibility to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills via all channels.
• Personal characteristics sought include initiative, discretion, mature judgment, positive behavior, and performance.
• Knowledge of or interest in learning about American Indian higher education.

Required Education/Experience

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience with above qualifications
• Minimum 5 years of solid donor-centric brand expression experience
• Minimum 7 years of experience managing staff/team and multiple diverse agency/vendor partners.
• Experience in budgeting/budget management for expense budget of $5,000,000+ and revenue of $15,000,000+.
• Experience in marketing-based fundraising methods and approach.
• Knowledge/experience in digital communications and relationship building and blending with traditional communications methods.
• Knowledge/experience with national CRM/E-CRM tools Work Environment

Up to 30% travel may be required.