Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives, Medical Advancement - University Advancement

Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives plays a pivotal role in advancing the work of the Vice Chancellor for Medical Advancement by supporting high-priority projects, overseeing executive communications, portfolio management, and coordinating efforts with key donors and partners. This position blends writing, systems management, and project execution—helping to ensure that the Vice Chancellor’s and the Dean of WashU Medicine’s priorities are advanced efficiently and effectively.

This role offers a unique professional development opportunity for a high-potential advancement professional seeking to deepen experience in executive-level operations, strategy, project management and donor engagement within a leading academic medical center. The Associate Director works closely with the Vice Chancellor, Medical Advancement Senior Leadership team, and the Principal Gifts team to manage communications, track next steps from key meetings, and maintain alignment across strategic initiatives and donor portfolios.

Job Description

Executive and Advancement Communications

• Draft and edit correspondence, remarks, and email communications on behalf of the Vice Chancellor for Medical Advancement and Dean of WashU Medicine, as it relates to communications with donors, faculty members and other VIP constituents.
• Coordinate follow-up communications and contact reports related to high-level donor interactions and strategic initiatives.
• Participate in and support Principal Gifts meetings with the Vice Chancellor; join debrief calls following those meetings to capture key actions and ensure next steps are executed.
• Prepare and review meeting materials and briefings to ensure completeness, accuracy, and timeliness; tactfully follow up or push back when materials are incomplete or do not meet expected standards.
• Manage processes for documenting and tracking follow-up from meetings and donor touchpoints in collaboration with the Principal Gifts team, Directors of Strategic Initiatives and Directors of Engagement.
• Prepare Vice Chancellor slide deck presentations for audiences including the WashU Medicine Executive Faculty, WashU Medicine National Council, University Advancement Senior Cabinet, and Medical Advancement Senior Leadership Team.

Systems and Process Implementation

• Lead and manage the Vice Chancellor’s workflow, ensuring seamless tracking of projects, communications, and follow-up actions within the project management platform ClickUp as well as Salesforce, the donor CRM database
• In concert with the Executive Director of Strategy and Operations, oversee ClickUp-based tracking for external communications involving the Dean of WashU Medicine and their support staff to ensure communications are delivered to key external constituents in an accurate, polished, and timely manner.
• Develop and manage efficient systems to support the Vice Chancellor’s priorities, coordinating input from advancement leaders and staff to maintain up-to-date records, timelines, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with operations and data colleagues to refine processes that enhance efficiency, visibility, and collaboration across teams.
• Ensure meeting materials, deliverables, and reports are submitted in a complete, organized, and timely manner.

Strategic Project and Portfolio Coordination

• Spearhead selected projects and initiatives assigned by the Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Strategy and Operations—ranging from operational improvements to special communications.
• In partnership with the Portfolio Management team within Business Intelligence, help coordinate the Vice Chancellor’s portfolio of key donor and institutional relationships.
• Manage and enter opportunities/proposals for Vice Chancellor and Dean of WashU Medicine in Salesforce
• Support tracking and reporting of progress on strategic initiatives, identifying potential barriers and proposing solutions.

Team Collaboration and General Support

• Contribute to planning and execution of internal advancement meetings and retreats led by the Strategy & Operations team.
• Participate as an active, trusted collaborator within the Strategic Initiatives team, demonstrating adaptability, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Provide responsive support for emerging priorities and high-impact tasks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor and Executive Director.

Working Conditions:

Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment

• Ability to travel to various on- and off-campus locations

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at a desk or table

• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement

Equipment

• Office equipment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Relevant Experience (3 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to tactfully and professionally uphold standards and deadlines.
• Commitment to professional growth and leadership development.

This position is located in St. Louis, MO and the targeted hiring range for this position is

$58,400 - $66,000. 

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills:

Adaptability, Communication, Confidentiality, CRM Databases, Detail-Oriented, Donor Engagement, Donor Relations, Emotional Intelligence, External Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Meeting Planning, Operational Process Improvements, Operations Administration, Oral Communications, Organizational Awareness, Organizational Strategy, Organizing, Professional Development, Professional Etiquette, Project Management, Proofreading, Strategic Initiative, Timely Reporting, Time Management, Written Communication

Grade

G12

Salary Range

$58,400.00 - $99,700.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Washington University is dedicated to building a community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.