Senior Prospect Researcher/Writer
This position is no longer open.
The Development Office at the Lebanese American University is currently searching for a Senior Prospect Researcher/Writer to support the fundraising initiatives held by the University.
Job Summary:
Handle the prospect research function of the university in support of LAU’s Advancement activities and undertake fundraising research including prospect identification, tracking, prospect pipeline, and all related functions to enable the administration and Development Officers to carry out fundraising efforts.
Basic Responsibilities:
- Contribute to a strategy for the prospect research that will pro-actively support the major gift fundraising activities of the university’s major fundraising campaign.
- Contribute to the assessment of the university’s prospect database of current and past donors, prospective donors and longer term potential donors. Participates in the implementation of a plan to build the database of donors to support an ambitious fundraising campaign.
- Identify and provide detailed information and analyses on current, past and potential donors, assessing their interest, their capacity, and their inclination to philanthropically support the university’s fundraising priorities.
- Identify and link prospects by common elements, i.e., interests, business, hobbies, backgrounds, affiliations, etc…
- Identify and provide detailed information and analyses on current, past and potential donors, and as required, on alumni and influential contacts. This includes biographical, historical, philanthropic, professional, and financial information, current and past contact with the university, affiliations, and memberships, and any other information that may provide a full profile of the individual or organization.
- Prepare written briefings and detailed profiles to support the active cultivation of individuals and institutions and for other purposes of the university.
- Proactively monitor daily, weekly, monthly, and annual publications such as newspapers, magazines, online communication etc. for information on donors and potential prospects.
- Proactively conduct research using myriad resources including files of the Office of University Advancement, published materials, online sources, market research, financial data, census data, staff input, directories, other sources available in the public and private sectors, and other university resources. Continuously identify new sources of information and research methodology.
- Proactively identify new prospects by keeping abreast of news publications to uncover timely information about alumni, higher education, and philanthropy and update the development officers on any related issue at sister universities in Lebanon and the Middle East.
- Implement best practice in prospect identification and research, prospect tracking and prospect management, working closely with the development officers and Assistant Vice President for Development.
- Ensure continuous professional development through international professional organizational memberships, conferences, and electronic mailing lists focusing on prospect research and fundraising issues.
- Support the Development Communications Manager in any required writing assignments.
- Provide the Development Communications Manager with potential donor profiles and news, with a view to publishing stories in LAU magazine or on the Development website in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications Department.
- Establish and develop policies and procedures for prospect research in compliance with ISO 9001:2008.
- Develop a monthly consolidated report to the AVP for Development on all the research and work done during the month.
- Perform other duties pertinent to this job as requested by the AVP for Development.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (Masters’ degree preferred).
- Minimum of two years experience in a higher education institution, NGO or business.
- A proven track record of measurable accomplishment against demanding targets.
- Experience in a fast-moving office environment.
- Significant experience in research using a wide variety of source material.
- Excellent spoken and written English.
- Strong spoken and written Arabic.
- Strong report-writing and editing skills.
- Strong familiarity with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and database software.
CVs should be emailed to vacancy9@lau.edu.lb, specifying the job title in the subject line. Please provide the exact month and year while listing your professional experience.
Closing date for applications is Sunday December 13, 2015.
No applications will be accepted after this date, and only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
The Lebanese American University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity