Program Manager, Parent & Family Giving and Student Experiences

Internal Notice Identified Candidate

This position is being posted in accordance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The University is currently considering an internal candidate Shelby Gillingham for this role. This notice is provided to inform all employees of the opportunity prior to any employment decision.

About the University of Denver
The University of Denver (DU) a private university is the oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain region with approximately 12000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. DU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University.

At the University of Denver were doing higher education our way: authentic to the Rocky Mountain Wests confident optimism and pragmatic independence. It sets us apart. Were preparing young people to be the solutions in their own stories empowering them to face uncertainty with confidence and uncommon sense.

Were fiercely ambitious and forward-thinking surpassing all expectations to redefine success and how to achieve it. And were true to our mission as a top-tier private R-1 institution dedicated to making the world a better place contributing to our communities and making positive change in the world.

About DU Advancement
The Denver Difference campaign is our most ambitious campaign yet. It marks a dramatic shift in conventional thinking about what the university experience can and should be. DU is setting the bar with our approach to higher education developing and preparing students to be successful in life in every way. The University of Denver is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence and innovation of our great institution. Inclusive of alumni engagement development operations and campaign leadership DU Advancement is building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our bold vision.

Position Summary

The University of Denver is seeking a talented professional to join our development team as the Program Manager for the Parent & Family Giving and Student Experience team. The Program Manager plays a key role in supporting work that generates philanthropic support for student success initiatives that are a critical component of The Denver Difference campaign. This role reports directly to the Senior Director of Development Parent & Family Giving and Student Experience.

The Program Manager manages several business functions including project management for departmental communications meetings and events oversees several departmental administrative functions and donor engagement activities. Additionally the Program Manager also leads two cross-functional working groups on behalf of the team and partners with the Senior Director of Development in efficiently and effectively managing their portfolio of responsibility.

This employee must be able to prioritize many competing deadlines and timelines. Attention to detail commitment to quality and ability to take initiative are essential to success in this position. The Program Manager must also be an effective professional and diplomatic liaison to a variety of audiences including University leadership advancement staff campus colleagues donors alumni parents vendors and other constituents.

Essential Functions

Project Management Events and Communications

• Oversees the implementation of Parent Leadership Council meetings departmental VIP receptions and occasional regional events.
• This includes working collaboratively with applicable partners across advancement to develop a shared vision and goals for the program overseeing project calendars and budget managing invitations and RSVP lists coordinating data requests manipulating spreadsheet data and creating run of shows and briefing materials.
• Oversees the teams marketing of 1Day4DU to the parent population including working collaboratively with campus and advancement partners overseeing project calendars and budget coordinating data requests manipulating spreadsheet data and developing and executing a robust communications plan.
• Coordinate departmental communications to various external groups often in collaboration with colleagues across Advancement.
• This includes solicitations impact reports and individualized donor stewardship communications ensuring timely high-quality engagement that further advances each relationship.
• For all projects effectively troubleshoot unexpected issues as they arise with the support of the Senior Director ensuring effective decision making and implementation of necessary resolutions. Compile reports to evaluate successes and identify strategies and ideas for enhancements.

Project Management Internal Processes

• Oversees the Qual Pool Parent Cohort process including working collaboratively with advancement partners overseeing project calendar coordinating data manipulating spreadsheet data and developing and executing an ongoing internal communications plan and toolkit.
• Facilitates the success of the cross-functional parent data working group convening regular meetings building consensus on priorities for continuous improvement in processes and procedures and driving timely completion of meeting tasks and follow up items thus ensuring smooth workflow related to incoming parent data timely updates to existing parent records and effective management of the parent giving qualification pool.
• Liaises with admissions staff on behalf of the Advancement team ensuring that Advancement colleagues are kept apprised of admission decisions as relevant to relationships with top donors.
• For all projects effectively troubleshoot unexpected issues as they arise with the support of the Senior Director ensuring effective decision making and implementation of necessary resolutions. Compile reports to evaluate successes and identify strategies and ideas for enhancements.

Donor Engagement

• Personally conduct initial qualification conversations with a determined list of parent prospects each year.
• Support the cultivation of high-capacity donors and prospects indirectly through drafting individual outreach preparing briefings etc.
• Provide the highest level of customer service directly to Parent Leadership Council families and other donors through direct interaction.
• Develop and oversee a system that drives consistent personal touchpoints for donors including birthday/holiday greetings celebration of student/personal/professional milestones.

Administrative Tasks

• Tracks the programs operating budget including pulling budget reports monitoring transactions and assisting in budget modeling and forecasting processes.
• Purchase and track distribution of stock of DU branded gear on behalf of the team.
• Serves as a knowledgeable resource for applicable purchasing policies and procedures.
• Oversee timely and consistent updates of data related to constituents prospects and proposal pipelines.
• Create high-quality professional reports presentations and other documents for internal and external audiences (for example: budget-to-actual reports pipeline reports prospect briefings meeting slide decks).
• Schedules internal team meetings as well as those with prospects donors campus colleagues and others.
• Monitor departmental email accounts and provide timely and accurate correspondence and follow up to constituents.

University Citizenship

• Serves as a strong liaison and provides excellent customer service to University leadership Advancement staff campus colleagues alumni parents donors and others.
• Serves as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based advancement functions and campus colleagues to foster strategic effective and collaborative advancement practices.
• Model One DU thinking

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Expert user Microsoft Word Outlook Excel.
• Knowledge of database software platforms; high level of technological proficiency required. Must be able to maintain large quantities of data accurately and efficiently.
• Excellent project management skills and ability to communicate strategy task details deadlines and other deliverables with a range of campus and vendor partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including verbal written and organizational skills.
• Exceptional attention to details high level of organization and commitment to quality.
• Highly ethical and able to maintain confidential information.
• Adept at problem-solving critical thinking and using judgment in situations that that require sensitivity and tact.
• High level customer service skills and customer service ethic.
• Must be able to manage time well particularly while managing competing priorities.
• Strong critical thinking skills and ability to recognize opportunities for improvement in the completion of tasks and projects.
• Ability to anticipate recognize and address threats to budget and deadlines.
• Willingness to take initiative keep a positive attitude and maintain a professional demeanor.
• An understanding and attitude of customer service; ability to be very flexible and adapt to change.
• Willingness to commit to event days and potentially work weekends or night hours.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for the degree qualification).
• 2 years of experience in development/alumni or parent relations/advancement events working with sophisticated donors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a higher education and/or a similarly complex non-profit environment (e.g. healthcare).
• Experience working as or with professionals in development engagement sales or a similar external-facing business function.
• Experience working with philanthropic volunteers including volunteer boards/committees.

Working Environment

• Standard open office environment
• Noise level is quiet to moderate

Physical Activities

• Ability to use a computer for an extended period
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 nights and weekends as accordance with the Universitys flexible work policy this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline
For consideration please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) February 13 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 9.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $58000-$68000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate departmental budget availability internal salary equity considerations and available market information but not based on a candidates sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits including medical dental retirement paid time off tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family or parental status pregnancy or related conditions national origin disability or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color national origin ancestry age religion creed disability sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family and parental status pregnancy genetic information military enlistment or veteran status and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal state or local law regulation or ordinance in any of the Universitys educational programs and activities and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights (POWR) Act; and any other federal state and local laws regulations or ordinances that prohibit discrimination harassment and/or retaliation. For more information please see the University of Denvers NonDiscriminationStatement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.