Development and Customer Service Assistant

Description

• Position Summary

• Liturgical Press invites applications for the full-time, benefit eligible position of Development and Customer Service Assistant.

• Liturgical Press is internationally known as a Catholic and ecumenical publisher in prayer and spirituality, Scripture, liturgy, theology, and monastic life. Founded in 1926, the Liturgical Press is the publishing house of Saint John's Abbey, a Benedictine community located within the 3,000 acres of woods and lakes on the campus of Saint John's University in central Minnesota.

• Liturgical Press, a ministry of Saint John’s Abbey rooted in the Benedictine tradition, seeks a Development and Customer Service Assistant to support its growing development, fundraising, customer service and sales efforts.

• Reporting part-time to the Development & Fundraising Manager, this position plays a vital role in advancing the mission of Liturgical Press (LP) by supporting donor data integrity, fundraising communications, and event planning and coordination.

• Under the supervision of the Sales and Customer Service Lead, this position is responsible for inbound and in-person customer service specializing in tech-related inquiries, as well as outbound telemarketing as needed.

• The ideal candidate will help implement the Benedictine values of hospitality, stewardship, stability, and community into data systems, product orders, multimedia communications, and effective donor and customer experiences.

• The Order of Saint Benedict offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program (click the benefits tab above the position summary section to view more information).

• The posted wage represents OSB's good faith estimate of likely compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay will be dependent upon several factors, including the candidate's experience, qualifications, and skills, and may fall outside of the range indicated.

• To learn more about Liturgical Press, please visit: Lit Press

Responsibilities

A. Part-Time Support of the Development Office:

• 1. Donor Data Maintenance & Fundraising Operations

• Maintain accurate donor, prospect, and constituent records in CRM database

• Generate donor lists, queries, and standard reports to support fundraising activities.

• Assist with acknowledgment workflows, including gift receipts, thank-you letters, and tribute notifications, in coordination with the Development Manager.

• Oversee student intern in data hygiene efforts, including duplicate resolution, address updates, and segmentation for appeals and events.

• Observe strict confidentiality and ethical stewardship of donor information

• 2. Fundraising Marketing & Communications

• Assist in preparing and scheduling fundraising email campaigns using software, including appeals, event invitations, stewardship messages, and newsletters.

• Format and proof email content, ensuring accuracy, consistent branding, and alignment with LP voice, mission, and Benedictine spirituality.

• Manage email lists and segments, coordinating imports and updates as needed.

• Track and report basic email performance metrics (open rates, click-throughs, unsubscribes) to support campaign evaluation.

• Support integration of fundraising communications across platforms (email, website, social media) in coordination with the Development Manager and marketing staff.

• Assist with social media development for donor communications.

• 3. Event Planning & Coordination

• Provide logistical and administrative support for fundraising events, donor gatherings, and cultivation opportunities (in-person and virtual).

• Assist with event timelines, invitation lists, registrations, and reminder communications.

• Prepare event materials e.g. guest lists, nametags, and follow-up documentation.

• Support on-site event execution as needed, embodying Benedictine hospitality and professionalism.

• Assist with post-event follow-up, including attendance tracking, donor notes in DonorPerfect, and thank-you communications.

B. Part-Time Support of the Customer Service Team:

• Deliver exceptional inbound customer service across multiple channels (email, live chat, phone, fax, and mail), responding promptly to inquiries and orders. Resolve issues effectively by taking appropriate action to produce win-win scenarios, coordinating with relevant departments as needed.
• Provide specialized support and troubleshoot solutions for customers with tech-related inquiries, and in this capacity, serve as a resource for other CSRs as needed.
• Develop a thorough understanding of all products offered by LP and its partners to confidently guide customers and assist with purchasing decisions.
• Ensure accurate and timely entry of customer orders into the system, including editing and correcting orders, processing payments and credit charges, returns, invoicing, and, handling a variety of payment methods in compliance with best practices.
• Add new customers accounts and update existing records with precision; maintain clean data by auditing for duplicates and updating contact information.
• Check, review, and respond to e-mail and phone messages and web-site orders as needed.
• Uphold LP's Mission, Vision, and Heritage by maintaining a positive work atmosphere through communicating and behaving in a manner that promotes positive relations with customers, clients, co-workers and supervisors.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in communication, theology, business or relevant field preferred.
• 1-3 years of experience in administrative support, nonprofit development, communications, or related fields preferred.
• Experience with DonorPerfect, Constant Contact, or comparable CRM and email marketing platforms strongly preferred
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and follow-through.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to work within established messaging and brand guidelines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook); familiarity with Canva or similar tools a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Comfort working independently while collaborating closely with the Development & Fundraising Manager.
• Strong sense of discretion and respect for confidential donor and organizational information.
• Appreciation for and willingness to support the mission, values, and Benedictine identity of Liturgical Press and Saint John’s Abbey.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

• Sitting for prolonged periods of time. Extensive use of computers and keyboard.

• Additional Expectations

In keeping with the expectations of all employees of the Order of Saint Benedict and its ministries:

• Act in ways that uphold the mission and values of Liturgical Press and Saint John’s Abbey.
• Project an image of service, hospitality, and professionalism.
• Maintain a commitment to ongoing learning and personal growth.

ADDITIONAL REQUISITES: (In addition to the qualifications noted on the job description, all employees are expected to abide by the following expectations):

• Project an image of service which represents the Order of Saint Benedict and its corporate divisions.
• Actively cooperate with the character and mission of the Order of Saint Benedict and its corporate divisions.
• A willingness to maintain a high level of competence. Discreet judgment and confidentiality are expected of all employees, with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality of the Liturgical Press’s operations and related business matters.
• Help create and foster a positive, respectful, and inclusive work environment.
• The personal safety and health of each employee is of primary importance in our operation. Each employee has the responsibility to prevent accidents and injuries. The Order of Saint Benedict and its employees have the responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and departmental regulations related to safety and health.