River Oaks Baptist School is seeking an organized, relationship-driven, and enthusiastic Development Associate to join our Advancement team.
Reporting directly to the Director of Development, this position collaborates closely with members of the Development, Enrollment Management, and Communications & Marketing teams to support the mission and growth of the school community.
The Development Associate plays a vital role in supporting Advancement initiatives through event planning, volunteer coordination, donor stewardship, and administrative and operational support. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative professional who enjoys building relationships, creating meaningful experiences, and contributing to a thriving Christian school environment.
The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, creative, adaptable, professional, and service-minded, with exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills. This role offers valuable hands-on experience in fundraising, project management, event coordination, volunteer engagement, communications, and donor database management within a supportive and mission-centered team.
Key Responsibilities:
Plan, coordinate, and execute a comprehensive calendar of Advancement and community events, including the School’s biennial gala and auction, biennial sporting clays tournament, donor cultivation events, alumni gatherings, graduation, volunteer meetings and parent engagement events.
Serve as the primary project manager for assigned events, developing timelines, managing logistics, coordinating vendors, overseeing event budgets, and ensuring all details are executed with excellence from initial planning through post-event follow-up.
Coordinate all event logistics, including venue preparation, catering, rentals, décor, signage, A/V needs, transportation, registration, guest experience, and on-site event management.
Manage event communications in close collaboration with the Communications team including invitations, event webpages, printed materials, signage, RSVP processes and post-event communications. In addition, this position will work closely with a contract graphic designer, printer and mail house.
Oversee gala and auction operations, including procurement tracking, auction software management, sponsorship fulfillment, bidder experience and coordination with volunteers and vendors to ensure a seamless event experience.
Develop and maintain detailed project plans and production schedules to ensure events remain on timeline and within budget.
Coordinate post-event responsibilities, including acknowledgements, donor stewardship, gift processing support, reconciliation of expenses, evaluation of event outcomes, and maintenance of accurate event records.
Support strategic relationship-building through events by creating meaningful experiences for new and current families, alumni, grandparents, past parents, donors, and volunteers.
Volunteer Management:
Recruit, coordinate and support volunteers for Advancement events, with a primary focus on gala committees and sporting clays host committee.
Serve as the staff liaison for gala committees, helping to organize meetings, communicate timelines and expectations, delegate responsibilities, and maintain momentum throughout the planning process.
Foster meaningful volunteer engagement by providing clear communication, guidance, training, and ongoing support to ensure volunteers feel informed, valued, and equipped for their roles.
Coordinate volunteer assignments and event-day responsibilities to ensure smooth event execution and a positive experience.
General Development Assistance:
Support the planning and execution of the School’s upcoming capital campaign through event coordination, donor engagement support and administrative project management.
Coordinate campaign-related events and gatherings, including leadership briefings and donor cultivation meetings hosted on and off campus.
Manage campaign event logistics, including invitations, RSVP tracking, meeting materials, presentation support, vendor coordination, and on-site event execution.
Assist with campaign administration by maintaining timelines, coordinating scheduling, preparing briefing materials, and supporting donor stewardship and follow-up efforts.
Partner closely with the Director of Development and campaign leadership to ensure a high level of organization and attention to detail, hospitality, communication, and constituent experience throughout all campaign-related activities.
Associated Responsibilities:
Promote ROBS mission and values; articulate the ROBS value proposition.
Collaborate with colleagues on the Development, Enrollment Management and Communications teams to contribute to the school’s strategic goals.
Willingness to engage in continuous professional development.
Attend all team, school, and relevant department meetings.
Actively participate in Advancement Council.
Assist with carpool, lunch, and/or reception desk duty, two to three times a week and as needed.
Be on campus from approximately 7:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on school days, with flexibility to work evenings and weekends for event-related activities.
Qualifications:
- A vibrant Chirstian faith and a desire to work in a Christian environment
- Bachelor’s degree required.
At least three years of fundraising events experience.
Creative and strategic thinking.
Leadership, creativity, enthusiasm, innovation, and collaborative problem—solving skills.
Possesses a strong attention to detail
The ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Strong organizational and communication skills – written, verbal, presentation, and training – that support a broad set of school employees: teachers, staff, and administration.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Highest ethical and confidentiality standards
Positive team player
Successful completion of background checks and verification
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in an independent school environment
- Experience with fundraising and event management software, including Raiser’s Edge and OneCause.
