Union Theological Seminary of New York is an independent, progressive, ecumenical seminary with a deep commitment to interreligious engagement and reflecting the cooperative cultivation of spirituality, activism, leadership, and social justice. Today, UTS lives out its formative call to service by training people of all faiths and none who are called to the work of social justice in the world.

As we continue to grow, we seek a Vice President of Communications and Marketing to serve as a key member of the UTS leadership team. Through partnering with the President and Executive Team, the VP will advance the Seminary’s social justice and spiritual mission, cutting-edge reputation, and longstanding global visibility while bringing strategic and imaginative thought leadership to this dynamic and evolving historic institution. The VP will develop and lead all external and internal communications and marketing strategies and plans, with clear performance metrics. Knowledge of current social media communication tactics, particularly in progressive contexts, is critical to the success of this role.

Our ideal candidate must be agile, innovative, collaborative, proactive, highly creative, and passionately committed to the wide range of social justice issues central to UTS’s academic identity. Along with marketing and communications experience and the demonstrated ability to develop and implement effective marketing strategies, especially in the content marketing and digital content space, we require candidates to have a demonstrated commitment to anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and diversity.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

 Thought Leadership and Management

• Provide guiding leadership for the Board of Trustees’ Communications Committee and prepare agendas and presentations for the Committee and the Board.
• Advise senior management regarding strategic planning, marketing, and communications, including execution of reputation management and crisis communications, as needed.
• Work with Development leadership to identify and promote programs that drive constituency engagement and donor-development in fundraising and campaign execution.
• Lead and manage Communications Department team consisting of several full-time and part-time staff members and highly motivated student interns.
• Serve, when appropriate, as Union spokesperson

 Communications/Marketing/Branding

• Create and implement a comprehensive communications (external and internal), marketing/branding strategy and implementation plan that stretches across all platforms (marketing, media relations, social media, advertising) and aligns with Union’s academic, justice-driven mission and strategic goals.
• Lead proactive efforts to promote thought leadership of Union’s president and faculty (as one example, our recent hiring of Dr. Cornel West), by identifying and actualizing high-value media engagements or public events.
• Work with Admissions and Financial Aid Office to develop and manage metrics-driven marketing strategies to support recruitment and enrollment goals, leverage our Slate CRM platform, and evaluate effectiveness of marketing activities, including a growing digital marketing initiative for new online and in-person programs and their expanding constituent-base.
• Promote Union events, outstanding students, alumni/ae, and stellar programmatic partners such as Episcopal Divinity School at Union, and work with affiliate initiatives such as Kairos Center (Poor People’s Campaign), Center for Earth Ethics, Rise Program (for women of color in ministry), Buddhism and Activism Network, Encore Program for vocational mentoring of people over 55, Visions Arts Imitative, and more, across all communications channels.
• Advise on design, language and tone of Union branding and collateral across all departments. Ensure messaging is inclusive, diverse and equitable and reflective of Union’s social justice and multi-religious values.

Relationship Management

• Lead engagement with professional associations and peer institutions in higher education and theological education for collaboration and real-time benchmarking.
• Lead engagement with external governmental and community partners on joint initiatives that promote Seminary’s public profile.
• Manage relationships with external pr/marketing consultants, photographers, video production crews, and editors.

Editorial

• Prepare a range of written content – remarks, blog posts, media material (press releases, institutional statements, opinion pieces, etc.) print collateral, reports, presentations as needed.
• Serve as editor-in-chief of Union Collective, the Seminary’s bi-annual magazine.
• Schedule and manage stream of internal communications to the Union community.

Our ideal VP candidate can expect a salary commensurate with experience. In addition to the ability to work in a diverse community with a vision and passion for UTS’s unique educational calling, we offer generous benefits including: vacation allowance, employer contribution toward a retirement plan, group term life and AD&D insurance and dental and medical insurance plans where the cost is shared between the employee and Union.

Administrative Assistant and Board Liaison, Executive Office works directly with the President to effectively pursue the President’s agenda and manage the operations of the Executive Office. They will operate with a deep understanding of Union’s role within the community and around the globe.

The Administrative Assistant works directly with the President to effectively pursue the President’s agenda and manage the operations of the Executive Office, including:

• Organize the President’s schedule and set priorities for daily, weekly, and long-term goals.
• Manage communications and correspondence with an eye for relationships and outcomes.
• Support the President in carrying out the mission and vision of the school.
• Meet once a week to plan and prioritize the President’s agenda.
• Carry out administrative and operational functions of the Executive Office.
• Attend executive meetings and selected meetings to facilitate follow-up and action.
• In close collaboration with the Vice President of Development, cultivates and tracks the Vice President for Administration and President’s relationship with the Board of Trustees. This includes creating and updating comprehensive database files for all trustees.
• Oversees and maintains the Board’s governance calendar, including setting and enforcing deadlines for all committee meetings and full Board meetings.
• Attends all Board meetings; oversees follow-up projects related to all Board committee meetings.
• Maintains all Board minutes and related documentation including organizing all official Board records, within Union’s electronic and paper archives.
• Manages all Board governance activities, including planning and executing all Board meetings and retreats. This includes, but is not limited to, collaboratively setting agendas, securing accommodations, reserving meeting rooms, coordinating meals, assembling, and mailing all board meeting materials, communicating with trustees regarding attendance and travel, and filing all accounting paperwork for meeting expenses and reimbursements.
• In close collaboration with the Vice President of Communications and Marketing, oversees and directs all communication between the Board of Trustees and the full Union community: students, staff and faculty.
• Supports the Vice President for Administration and the Board of Trustees with Board recruitment.
• Routes incoming mail and telephone calls to appropriate offices.
• Special projects, as assigned

The person in this position will collect and analyze data related to the progress of the strategic plan and will share this data with the President and Vice President for Administration, and on direction from the President, with the Board of Directors. Monitor reports from senior staff and ensures the Board receives regular progress reports and status reports.

In summary, the three principal focus areas are: enacting the President’s agenda, supporting the work of the Board of Trustees, and implementing strategic initiatives of the school.

This person reports to the Vice President for Administration while working closely with the President to craft and implement the President’s agenda.

Requirements:
Qualifications and requirements: Must have an appreciation and understanding of the intellectual, spiritual, social and political culture of a progressive interdenominational theological school as well as a high tolerance for differences expressed with strong conviction. Must enjoy working at a high-energy, high-motivational level, and demonstrates excellent customer service skills. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables is essential. Must exhibit mature judgment and proven decision-making skills: to prioritize multiple tasks and respond to changes in scheduling with flexibility; to maintain confidentiality; to respond to sensitive information, crises or conflict situations effectively. The person selected will possess a professional and personal demeanor that elicits trust and confidence from other employees, staff and trustees.

Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, or an associate’s degree and/or combination four-years’ experience and education. Familiarity with higher education, church-related agencies or other foundation, non-profit or philanthropic organizations preferred. The capacity to manage dynamic and shifting responsibilities with flexibility and calm is crucial.

Writing skills:
Excellent planning, organization and interpersonal and communication skills are essential. Ability to write correspondence, minutes, and to present information effectively and respond to questions from groups of faculty, administrators, board members, students and the general public in person and on the telephone are necessary.

Budget skills:
The ability to maintain President’s budget accounts and perform other bookkeeping tasks, such as reports and reimbursements, is essential.

Other skills and abilities:
Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), excellent proofreading, editing of correspondence, Smartsheet and Raiser’s Edge.  Experience with Board relations and Board liaison work is preferred.

All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Position Summary:
The Major and Planned Giving Officer is a lead relationship and fund management position at Union Theological Seminary (“Union”) responsible for the planning, implementation, and execution of a strategy to attract major, planned, and legacy donors to partner with Union to fulfill their philanthropic and financial goals.

This position reports to the VP Development and Alumni/ae Relations and will work closely with the VP to expand Union’s relationships with current and prospective donors and professional advisors, educating them about Union philanthropic opportunities and charitable giving options

They will work to move current and prospective donors through the donor cycle including identifying, qualifying, engaging, evaluating, soliciting, recognizing and stewarding current and future major donors, planned giving prospects, and legacy donors.

Ideal Candidate:
Union is seeking a professional who is energized by being a critical member of a dynamic team helping to increase philanthropy at Union. The successful candidate must have the following:

• Deep commitment to philanthropy and higher education
• Proven fundraising success and 5 – 7 years of major gift and planned giving experience demonstrating initiative, self-motivation, and follow-through
• Technical and administrative self-sufficiency and high attention to detail are required  to maintain a moves management system (Raisers Edge) for identified donor prospects
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills
• Ability and willingness to manage multiple tasks and priorities
• Congenial personality, sense of humor, self-aware, flexible, resourceful, emotionally intelligent, confident, self-motivated, and results-oriented

Candidates with professional affiliations and CFP, CAP, and/or CFRE certifications preferred 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Respond to inquiries from prospects, donor representatives and professional advisors regarding major, planned, and legacy gifts.
• Work collaboratively with Union’s communication team to develop new print and online materials about charitable giving options for prospective donors and professional advisors
• Conduct professional advisor and donor research; and draft and prepare fund agreements
• Maintain a high level of expertise regarding state and federal taxes, gift and estate giving methods and the legal aspects of charitable giving
• Provide Professional Advisors Services- Solicit and schedule meetings with professional advisors to educate them about Union. This will include individual meetings, as well as small and large group meetings and presentations (they can be in person or virtual)
• Promptly and accurately respond to professional advisor requests for information about Union services and charitable giving options
• Identify new professional advisors and track contacts with advisors and client referrals Employ an effective major donor prospect management system, assuming a portfolio of prospects for cultivation and engagement with a goal of encouraging new charitable funds, the development and stewardship of legacy gifts, and support of Union and our initiatives
• Develop and implement the organizational strategy for donor, fund holder and professional advisor education and engagement in partnership with the President, EVP, and VP Development and Alumni/ae Relations
• In collaboration with the President, EVP and the VP of Finance, serve as primary contact with legal counsel on issues related to unusual or complex gifts. Update the gift acceptance policies as needed.
• Participate in recognition events for current donors and fund holders, professional advisors, and legacy donors.
• Help design and participate in targeted prospective donor and professional advisor educational programs.
• Participate in the creation of annual development department plans, goals and strategies.
• Attend staff meetings and serve on internal committees as appropriate.
• Contribute to Union publications and marketing materials by providing data, reports, content and proofreading as needed. Contribute to communications content, when appropriate, including impact reports, press releases, blog posts, op-eds, and letters to the editor.
• Represent Union at meetings and events which may occur during or outside of normal work hours.
• Participate in all aspects of the gift cycle – initiate contacts with potential leadership and major gift donors, develop appropriate cultivation strategies, move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward fund creation, and maintain stewardship contact with donors.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteer leadership, and professional advisors (attorneys, wealth advisors, accountants, and trust officers) to cultivate and expand current giving by planned gift donors.
• Oversee process of establishing new funds by assisting donors in selecting philanthropic interests that complement and enhance donors’ goals.
• Support the giving interests and practices of our donors and fund holders, creating rewarding experiences and high impact results.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate donor cultivation and stewardship events such as small gatherings, luncheons, cocktail events, and educational opportunities to build partnerships with donors.
• Maintain a broad understanding of Union Theological Seminary and use this knowledge to maintain relationships with current, new, and prospective donors and fund holders.
• Other duties as assigned.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Position Summary:

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid, the Enrollment Coordinator, Admissions and Financial Aid participates in the day-to-day operations of Union Theological Seminary’s admissions and financial aid office, which processes inquiries from prospective students to the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Sacred Theology and doctoral programs for a nationally recognized theology program with an enrollment of approximately 250 students. Responsibilities include fielding general admissions and financial inquiries from prospective and current students, following up with incomplete admission and financial aid applications, entering enrollment and financial aid data into the college’s student information system, providing administrative support to the admissions, financial aid and enrollment process, and helping maintain records.

This position will be full time.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Admissions Operations

• Provide student-centered, excellent customer service, welcoming students, faculty, and staff in person and through telephone and email
• Respond to daily mail, e-mail, telephone, and in-person requests from prospective students. Provide prospective students with guidance on completing admission, financial aid, and other related enrollment paperwork by assessing needs and asking appropriate questions.
• Receive enrollment documents submitted by students (applications, transcripts, test scores, financial aid supporting documents, etc.) in the student information system, evaluate for completion and forward to counterparts in the Registrar’s or Academic Office as needed.
• Communicate with all applicants that have started the application process about application components, timelines, and procedures and update them on what components we have received.
• Manage process to upload enrolled student data into the student information system and generate university identification numbers for all incoming students in a timely manner
• Prepare complete admissions applications for distribution to faculty admissions committee members.

Financial Aid Operations

• In conjunction with the Director of Financial Aid and Business Operations, process institutional scholarships, service positions, work study positions, teaching positions, awards, and stipends through PowerFAIDS for approximately 250 enrolled students.
• Collect, review, correct, and verify financial aid information. Research and resolve related problems. Track and maintain all financial aid records, including student loan promissory notes
• Advise current and prospective students on the financial aid process and matters concerning the cost of attending and available resources (application, eligibility, programs, etc.)
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of Federal and State financial aid programs, polices, and regulations

Administrative Support

• Provide general administrative support to the Vice President of Admissions and Financial Aid
• Assist with day-to-day administration and the school’s admissions or financial aid office.

Other responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality of student records by following FERPA regulations, carefully monitoring student records at the workstation for security, and properly store all student records
• Maintain sensitivity, understanding and respect for a diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological, religious, and ethnic backgrounds
• When needed, participate in campus visitation programs, new student orientations, campus retention programs, and commencement events

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree required. Two years of experience required. Demonstrated accuracy in handling detailed work required. Demonstrated superior customer service and interpersonal skills and excellent written and oral communication skills required. Strong organizational skills required. Must demonstrate strong computer skills. Experience with PowerFAIDS preferred; experience with Salesforce EnrollmentRx and Blackbaud preferred. Excellent proofreading/editing skills required. Must be able to work under pressure on concurrent projects with frequent interruptions and minimal supervision.

Submission of a cover letter with a current resume is required.

Hiring Policy:

Union Theological Seminary, an equal opportunity employer, seeks a racially diverse, broadly representative faculty, staff, and student body that is sensitive to cross-cultural issues. The Union Theological Seminary community is diverse not only in race, age, gender, and sexuality, but also in geography, background, perspective, denomination, and even faith traditions. Union is set in the urban environment of New York City, which is a microcosm of the world, a place where the local and the global intersect. The seminary enjoys cooperative relations with other academic, cultural and church institutions in the Morningside Heights/Harlem neighborhood, as well as in the greater New York area and elsewhere.