Development Officer

About Colorado Mountain College

Imagine working at a college that welcomes everyone — students, faculty, staff, and community members — regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or traditions. An institution that is also integrally connected to, appreciated by, and supported by those same communities.

Envision yourself at a dynamic, innovative, forward-leaning college that has a highly entrepreneurial spirit and deep commitment to every learner – from first-generation college students and new-traditional and adult learners to academically motivated students seeking a more traditional liberal arts education – all within a robust and highly personalized learning environment.

Visualize applying your energy and skills for an organization that respects and cares about its employees enough to offer competitive compensation and benefits while encouraging every team member to renew and recharge in places of inspiration, reflection, and world-class outdoor recreation.

Welcome to Colorado Mountain College and its eleven campus locations sprinkled across a spectacular region of Colorado’s central Rocky Mountains.

Our vision

Colorado Mountain College aspires to be the most inclusive and innovative student-centered college in the nation, elevating the economic, social, cultural, and environmental vitality of its beautiful Rocky Mountain communities.

The college

CMC is a comprehensive, public, open-access dual-mission institution offering 136 academic programs ranging from specialized certificates to associate and bachelor’s degrees, a wide range of online, non-credit and lifelong learning courses, as well as extensive concurrent enrollment opportunities in close partnership with neighboring school districts.

Over 15,000 students attend CMC annually, and 40% of degree-seeking students earn a certificate or degree every year. The college’s Latinx enrollment has doubled in six years to 28%, making CMC a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). CMC courses are highly personal and many are highly experiential by design, each with a maximum registration of 25 students.

Colorado Mountain College campuses are located in Aspen, Carbondale, Breckenridge, Dillon, Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs, Glenwood Springs-Spring Valley, Leadville, Rifle, the Vail Valley, and Salida. Of these locations, three are residential—Spring Valley, Leadville, and Steamboat Springs — and students in Breckenridge have access to college-owned off-campus housing. CMC campuses are close-knit communities, on average serving between 1,000 – 2,000 students.

The majority of the college’s financial support comes from local property taxes, not tuition or state revenues.  Consequently, CMC is uniquely positioned to be entrepreneurial, nimble, mission-focused, and responsive to community and workforce needs. The college’s Central Services administrative office, which provides administrative support to all campus locations, is located in historic downtown Glenwood Springs, the town from which CMC originally launched in 1965.

Colorado Mountain College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and authorized by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. For general information about CMC, its programs, locations, students, faculty, and offerings, go to: www.coloradomtn.edu.

Our commitment to an environment where everyone belongs

Our college and beloved mountain communities are enriched by a variety of voices and experiences.

At Colorado Mountain College, we continually work to improve learning and working environments that welcome everyone.  We are deeply committed to promoting a free and open exchange of ideas, improving critical thinking, deepening mutual empathy and respect, and ensuring that every learner and team member has equal opportunities for personal and professional success.

The college prioritizes the recruitment, hiring and retaining of a highly engaged workforce that reflects and supports the backgrounds, characteristics and aspirations of the students enrolled at the college.  CMC therefore values applicants who demonstrate prior accomplishments, training, and a commitment to the concepts of inclusive and equitable practices, as well as an understanding of historic and current social issues that impact groups of different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

CMC employees enjoy regular opportunities to raise their awareness about pressing societal issues, develop individual critical thinking skills, and expand their understanding of and empathy toward others regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or other factors. Our goal is to deliver highly personalized teaching methods and effective student support services that enable students to achieve their goals, regardless of academic or financial barriers.

Applicants to Colorado Mountain College must demonstrate a commitment and competence to work effectively with students, employees, and community members of all backgrounds.

For more information about CMC, go to: www.coloradomtn.edu.

The position

Under the direction of the Director of Development and working in close partnership with the Vice President for Advancement & Foundation CEO, the Development Officer contributes significantly to the identification, solicitation, and stewardship of donors to the CMC Foundation in support of Colorado Mountain College students, programs, and campuses. This role is responsible for leading the organization’s annual fund, directing donor recognition and stewardship activity for all giving clubs (inclusive of planned giving) and serving as the events coordinator.

The Development Officer works collaboratively college-wide with Regional Development Officers and the Alumni Association Coordinator on annual fund activity, inclusive of directing and managing annual appeal solicitations (inclusive of making personal asks); directs “Team Fund”, the employee-giving campaign, develops and oversees giving level stewardship activities; supports staff members on regional events and serves as lead on select college-wide events. A close working partnership with the Foundation Database Coordinator and Marketing and Communications Coordinator on reporting and donor communication is required. This role has significant responsibility for overseeing complex projects and is accountable for achieving specific funding goals laid out in the strategic plan.

Ability to close major gifts and establish/have collaborative relationships and coordinate with external community partners is essential.  The successful candidate will be self-motivated, flexible, high-energy and a creative problem-solver.

This position is based at Central Services and works collaboratively with the Foundation Central and Regional fundraising team. This position has significant interaction with donors via email, phone and in person for donor solicitation and stewardship; and requires daily, strategic use of the Foundation’s donor base to be effective.

Pre-requisites for Position (Qualifications Standards)

Education and experience sufficient for the rigors of the position. Examples may include a Bachelor’s Degree and five years related experience, or equivalent education and experience that will provide the necessary knowledge, skill and abilities to perform the functions of the position.

Minimum of five years sales and/or fundraising experience required. Proven experience in developing strategies for donor retention growth and recapture and proven success with complex requests preferred.

Special Skills or abilities directly applicable to the position: demonstrated success as a fundraiser (4-5+ figure gifts) with proven experience in developing strategies for donor identification, retention, and growth. Ability to relate well and work effectively with multiple constituencies and audiences. Excellent verbal and written skills. Knowledge of office systems: MS-Office preferred and fundraising database systems (e.g., Donor Perfect, Raiser’s Edge). A team player committed to developing and working within a collaborative environment and to ensuring the highest customer service orientation. Position requires occasional travel throughout the college district.

Ability to build and sustain helpful working relationships with staff and vendors in a fast-paced environment while remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful, and efficient; maintaining a high level of professionalism, integrity/ethics and confidentiality is critical to this  role.

Highly organized and detail-oriented; has initiative and follow-thru to execute projects from initial stage through completion. Demonstrated ability to prioritize efficiently, be flexible and work on multiple projects simultaneously, both as an individual and as part of the team. Strong administrative, written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

Welcoming. Innovative. Focused on Student Success. These principles reflect the soul of CMC. They guide us in building our teams, cultivating leaders, and expanding our approaches and mindset. They guide us to be an institution of higher education that’s the right fit for every faculty member, staff, student, and community member in its trust. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to working effectively with students, employees, and community members of all backgrounds.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) or conversational language abilities preferred.

To Apply: Please submit the required letter of interest, resume, and list of three professional references. CMC is an EOE committed to diversifying its workforce.

Apply online at: https://coloradomtn.edu/contact-departments/human-resources/employment-full-time-staff/