Senior Director, Digital Engagement and Strategic Solicitations
RUF Careers Page, New Brunswick, New Jersey, us, 08933
Senior Director, Digital Engagement and Strategic Solicitations
Job Category : Alumni
Requisition Number : SENIO001438
Posted : February 10, 2026
Full-Time
Hybrid
Salary : $110,000 USD per year
Locations Showing 1 location
New Jersey New Brunswick, NJ 335 George St Suite 4000 New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
New Jersey New Brunswick, NJ 335 George St Suite 4000 New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Reporting to the Vice President for Central Engagement, the Senior Director of Digital Engagement and Strategic Solicitations leads the strategy, execution, and continuous optimization of a comprehensive, university-wide annual giving program for Rutgers University. This role is responsible for designing and delivering a high-impact, multi-channel annual giving strategy that increases donor participation, annual support, and long‑term engagement.
The Senior Director partners closely with foundation leadership, development officers, and cross‑functional teams to set and achieve ambitious goals for donor acquisition, retention, participation, and revenue. Through compelling digital engagement, strategic solicitations, and coordinated outreach, the role inspires donors, alumni, and friends to give, attend events, volunteer, and deepen their connection to Rutgers and its alumni community.
In close collaboration with the Marketing and Engagement Communications team, the Senior Director ensures cohesive, mission‑driven messaging across all channels that reflects Rutgers’ values of academic excellence, community building, and advancing the common good. The position manages the Director of Annual Giving and plays a critical leadership role in elevating strategic solicitations and strengthening a culture of engagement and philanthropy across the university.
Essential Functions
Leads the development of a comprehensive strategic plan and annual giving program budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources to maximize impact and achieve fundraising and donor engagement targets
Sets the annual solicitation calendar and messaging strategy, oversees direct marketing efforts—including digital campaigns, crowdfunding, annual appeals, and giving day—to maximize both the total number of donors and donations.
Designs and implements innovative and unique strategic solicitation initiatives to acquire new donors and re‑engage donors around active fundraising areas generating discovery data for potential larger contribution.
Utilizes data and analytics to assess the effectiveness of annual giving initiatives, generate detailed reports, and inform strategic decisions to enhance program performance.
Leads projects and initiatives across various
Manages annual giving professionals, setting clear performance goals, conducting regular evaluations, and fostering a high‑performing, collaborative work environment.
Focuses on personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to build lasting relationships with donors and increase giving levels.
Collaborates with CLUs and departments under the central engagement vertical to align annual giving strategies with broader institutional goals.
Aligns annual giving program with the Foundation's overall fundraising goals and the University values
Leadership
Lead a comprehensive strategy for annual giving
Ability to successfully manage and lead a team in a way that maximizes potential of each team member
Must be proactive and bring forward‑thinking ideas
Autonomy
Manage an implementation team and projects/program with moderate supervision from leadership
Set goals, manage budgets, and meet deadlines for themselves and the team
Contribute to initiatives or projects that span multiple organizations or units
Complexity
Partner with other peer directors and department leads across the organization
Effectively up‑manage your supervisor and University partners across the enterprise
Impact organization‑wide outcomes by influencing at all levels to include RU/RUF executive leadership
Able to devise and execute increasingly complex projects
Set department/project/program direction and approach in partnership with leadership
Able to adapt to changing situations and different fundraising partners
Responsible for a pan‑University philanthropic initiative
Lead operations for a department/program
Define and oversee strategy for department/project/program
Demonstrate the ability to set priorities and determine strategy for department/project/program, including staffing and budgets
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor's degree and/or 6+ years of professional experience in annual giving. Experience with Salesforce and/or Commerce Cloud a plus
Working Conditions
This position requires clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort. Will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet organizational commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituent’s schedules.
Workplace Arrangements
This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.
Compensation and Benefits
The position is budgeted for an annual salary of $110,000. In addition to salary, Rutgers University Foundation offers:
Comprehensive no‑cost dental and no‑cost vision insurance for employee and dependents
403(b) plan with matching employer contribution
Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days and fifteen sick days per year
Nine holidays, as well as four floating holidays
Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression.
$40 monthly cell phone reimbursement
It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants. The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and/or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination.
Qualifications
Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
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Requisition Number : SENIO001438
Posted : February 10, 2026
Full-Time
Hybrid
Salary : $110,000 USD per year
Locations Showing 1 location
New Jersey New Brunswick, NJ 335 George St Suite 4000 New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
New Jersey New Brunswick, NJ 335 George St Suite 4000 New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Reporting to the Vice President for Central Engagement, the Senior Director of Digital Engagement and Strategic Solicitations leads the strategy, execution, and continuous optimization of a comprehensive, university-wide annual giving program for Rutgers University. This role is responsible for designing and delivering a high-impact, multi-channel annual giving strategy that increases donor participation, annual support, and long‑term engagement.
The Senior Director partners closely with foundation leadership, development officers, and cross‑functional teams to set and achieve ambitious goals for donor acquisition, retention, participation, and revenue. Through compelling digital engagement, strategic solicitations, and coordinated outreach, the role inspires donors, alumni, and friends to give, attend events, volunteer, and deepen their connection to Rutgers and its alumni community.
In close collaboration with the Marketing and Engagement Communications team, the Senior Director ensures cohesive, mission‑driven messaging across all channels that reflects Rutgers’ values of academic excellence, community building, and advancing the common good. The position manages the Director of Annual Giving and plays a critical leadership role in elevating strategic solicitations and strengthening a culture of engagement and philanthropy across the university.
Essential Functions
Leads the development of a comprehensive strategic plan and annual giving program budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources to maximize impact and achieve fundraising and donor engagement targets
Sets the annual solicitation calendar and messaging strategy, oversees direct marketing efforts—including digital campaigns, crowdfunding, annual appeals, and giving day—to maximize both the total number of donors and donations.
Designs and implements innovative and unique strategic solicitation initiatives to acquire new donors and re‑engage donors around active fundraising areas generating discovery data for potential larger contribution.
Utilizes data and analytics to assess the effectiveness of annual giving initiatives, generate detailed reports, and inform strategic decisions to enhance program performance.
Leads projects and initiatives across various
Manages annual giving professionals, setting clear performance goals, conducting regular evaluations, and fostering a high‑performing, collaborative work environment.
Focuses on personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to build lasting relationships with donors and increase giving levels.
Collaborates with CLUs and departments under the central engagement vertical to align annual giving strategies with broader institutional goals.
Aligns annual giving program with the Foundation's overall fundraising goals and the University values
Leadership
Lead a comprehensive strategy for annual giving
Ability to successfully manage and lead a team in a way that maximizes potential of each team member
Must be proactive and bring forward‑thinking ideas
Autonomy
Manage an implementation team and projects/program with moderate supervision from leadership
Set goals, manage budgets, and meet deadlines for themselves and the team
Contribute to initiatives or projects that span multiple organizations or units
Complexity
Partner with other peer directors and department leads across the organization
Effectively up‑manage your supervisor and University partners across the enterprise
Impact organization‑wide outcomes by influencing at all levels to include RU/RUF executive leadership
Able to devise and execute increasingly complex projects
Set department/project/program direction and approach in partnership with leadership
Able to adapt to changing situations and different fundraising partners
Responsible for a pan‑University philanthropic initiative
Lead operations for a department/program
Define and oversee strategy for department/project/program
Demonstrate the ability to set priorities and determine strategy for department/project/program, including staffing and budgets
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor's degree and/or 6+ years of professional experience in annual giving. Experience with Salesforce and/or Commerce Cloud a plus
Working Conditions
This position requires clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort. Will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet organizational commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituent’s schedules.
Workplace Arrangements
This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.
Compensation and Benefits
The position is budgeted for an annual salary of $110,000. In addition to salary, Rutgers University Foundation offers:
Comprehensive no‑cost dental and no‑cost vision insurance for employee and dependents
403(b) plan with matching employer contribution
Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days and fifteen sick days per year
Nine holidays, as well as four floating holidays
Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression.
$40 monthly cell phone reimbursement
It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants. The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and/or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination.
Qualifications
Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
#J-18808-Ljbffr