Position Function: Assist the Senior Director of Gift Planning with the planned giving program of the university and to manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects in order to optimize fund-raising potential and to reach fund-raising goals of the university.

Salary Grade : 16

Please see for salary ranges.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Develop an understanding of the marketing plan that seeks to identify, inform, cultivate and close planned gifts, including various kinds of trusts and bequests 2. Consult with fund-raising staff and selected donors regarding the tax implementations of certain types of current gift methodologies 3. Maintain a list of planned giving donors and prospects 4. Target and solicit prospects for bequests (The Old Main Society) 5. Maintain detailed files on planned gift prospects and gift expectancies 6. Maintain relationships with legal, financial and planned giving professionals who can assist with providing legal, accounting and tax information to prospects, fund-raising staff, Foundation board members, and other volunteers 7. Provide appropriate reports to university officials and Foundation board members 8. Ensure that gift arrangements are properly documented and executed; oversee arrangements with attorneys, trust departments, etc. 9. Stay apprised of legal and technical developments in the areas of estate planning and charitable giving 10. Assist all members of the development staff in fund-raising activities 11. Provide weekly contact reports to the Senior Director of Gift Planning 12. Perform related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in a related field - Two years experience in fund-raising, estate planning, trust management, tax planning or related field - Position requires occasional travel. A valid driver's license is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Direct experience in fund-raising or advancement in a higher education setting, preferably in Educational fund-raising.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills • Strong organizational, motivational and leadership skills • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with university officials, faculty, prominent alumni and friends of Mississippi State University, , multiple and varied constituencies • Basic computer skills • Ability to meet travel requirements of position

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment • No or very limited exposure to physical risk • No or very limited physical effort required