HomeMy WebLinkAboutDevelopment SpecialistUpdated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Development Specialist
Department: Senior Center
Division: Senior Center
Supervisor: Senior Center Coordinator
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Civil Service: Yes
Pay Grade: 14
Job Number: 1416
Job Summary
Under minimal direction and in collaboration with Senior Center staff, develops and implements
a successful fundraising campaign for the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center. Implements,
evaluates and refines as necessary a comprehensive fundraising program that incorporates all
available technology. Works with the Senior Center staff, Board members of Friends of the
Senior Center, Volunteers, and Iowa City leaders to identify, develop plans to raise funds to
address priority needs that assure the short-term and long-term viability of the Senior Center.
Maintains and manages a donor database to assure accurate, complete and accessible
demographic and giving information. Produces comprehensive quarterly reports of fundraising
activities and accomplishments to the Senior Center Coordinator.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive
or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
• Works with the foundation/Friends of the Senior Center board of directors to ensure
that mission of foundation is carried out.
• Cultivates and enhances contacts with community leaders and key contributors to
increase support and raises funds for the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center
Services.
• Coordinates all fund-raising efforts, develops, prepares, and coordinates all fundraising
materials, reports and schedules general correspondence, and agendas.
• Receives and acknowledges all contributions, grants, bequests, and gifts-in-kind,
maintains accurate gift records and financial statements for foundation.
• Prepares grant applications and reports with assistance from other Senior Center staff.
• Prepares and administers Friends of Iowa City Senior Center budgets and monitors
expenditures of budget.
• Carries out established policies and procedures regarding safety and security of patrons
and fellow staff members.
• Prepares monthly reports on development activities for foundation board of directors.
• Helps plan and carries out emergency procedures.
• Conducts self in a professional manner which demonstrates courtesy and respect for all
community members and coworkers.
Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution and two years of related
experience; or six years of related experience and/or equivalent combination of
education and experience. Degree in Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, Social
Work or related.
• Must pass criminal background check.
Preferred Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution and three to five years of
related experience; or seven years of related experience and/or equivalent combination
of education and experience. Experience in fundraising.
• Certification in CPR and the use of an external automated defibrillator.
Other Requirements – Certificates/Licensures
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole
numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in
written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with people and organizations.
• Ability to compile valid and reliable reports on fundraising activities using the donor
database and other sources.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized
situations.
• Ability to objectively evaluate activities in relation to City, the Senior Center and Friends
of the Senior Center fundraising goals and modify plans when needed.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance
instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Knowledge and familiarity with the community and university resources.
• Skill in administration and fundraising.
• Skill in using computers and applicable software applications (Microsoft Office – Word,
Excel, Outlook) and use of databases.
Supervision
No supervision of direct reports.
Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform
the essential duties and responsibilities.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The
employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands
and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or
crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision
abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception
and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
duties and responsibilities.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Duties are generally performed in
an office setting with a controlled environment. The job requires sitting for extended periods of
time and the work may expose the employee to unpleasant social situations and significant
work pace pressure.
Iowa City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with
disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential
accommodations with the employer.
Reviewed/Approved by: Geoff Fruin, City Manager (4/2024)
I have read and understand the duties and requirements of this job description, and I
agree that I can perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable
accommodation.
Employee Date
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