Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations

Pay

Salary range: $96,651 – $122,264, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Exempt employees are paid once per month on the last working day of the month.

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare
• Retirement plans (CWRU contributions begin after a one-year waiting period; waiting period waivable with 12 consecutive months of prior service at a U.S. university or research institution in a retirement-eligible position; Plan A Supplemental Contributions with tax-deferred and Roth options)
• Tuition assistance: Tuition Waiver Program for employees, spouses, and dependents; Tuition Reimbursement Program for employees
• Paid time off: 21 vacation days per year (14 hours per month)
• Sick time: 1⅔ days per month for the first year
• 11 university paid holidays plus dangling holidays for Fourth of July and Juneteenth when they fall on a Tuesday or Thursday
• Take Two Staff Appreciation: paid two hours each Friday during two summer months
• Winter Recess Staff Appreciation: paid time off between Christmas and New Year holidays
• Wellness Program and Incentives
• Relocation assistance
• Hybrid-eligible work arrangement: up to 2 days remote per week

About the role

The associate dean of development and alumni relations has primary responsibility to provide the strategic leadership of a comprehensive advancement program for the assigned school/college’s highest strategic priorities that impact the university’s future and national reputation. The associate dean is responsible for leading the national and international leadership gifts program, which includes major and principal gift strategies and opportunities. The associate dean develops overall fundraising plans for the strategic priorities in alignment with the overarching strategies of the assigned school and the university’s University Relations and Development division. As an experienced development professional, the associate dean engages in direct face-to-face cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, and collaborates with university relations and development in developing strategies for the university's fundraising, alumni, annual fund, and communications programs. The associate dean plans and implements initiatives for the school/college’s highest priorities, national and international development, major and principal gifts, alumni relations programs, and the annual giving program. The associate dean leads all development and alumni relations functions and staff at the school/college, serves as a key member of the dean's senior administrative group, advises the dean, department chairs, and faculty, and acts as a primary point of contact to the external community on the positioning of development programs.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Manage a discreet portfolio of high-capacity prospective donors to maximize gifts from the school/college’s individual and foundation constituents. (40%)
• Work in partnership with the dean and vice president to develop and execute strategies targeted at the highest-level donors and prospects for the school/college. (20%)
• Provide leadership to the school/college’s alumni relations and development staff on alumni and fundraising plans and strategies for the highest priorities. (10%)
• Collaborate with the development and alumni relations staff to formulate an annual fundraising plan that articulates prospects to be seen, solicited, and funds to be raised for the dean, vice president, and other development and alumni relations officers. (10%)
• Establish and execute identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities for the school/college’s strategic priorities to ensure lasting relationships with donors and potential donors. (10%)

Nonessential Functions

• Develop and implement a strategic plan for the national and international development program encompassing principal gifts, major gifts, annual giving, foundation relations, corporate relations, alumni relations, special events, and communications. (5%)
• Lead and manage the school/college’s leadership prospect group meetings, and develop/execute high-level strategies to advance the school/college’s major and principal gift pipeline, advising and coaching development staff. (5%)
• Perform other duties as assigned. (<1%)

Contacts

Department: Frequent contact with dean and vice president, vice deans, associate deans, department chairs, and directors. Contact with faculty, students, and staff as required.

University: Frequent collaboration with the senior vice president for university relations and development, including regular contact with the president’s office, vice presidents, deans, trustees, and alumni. Contact with directors of administrative departments, faculty, and staff as required.

External: Daily contact with donors, alumni, foundation representatives, community organizers/advocates, corporate executives, and federal, state, and local government officials. Contact with foreign visitors, healthcare officials, and academic boards and organizations as required.

Students: Contact with undergraduate, graduate, and professional students as required.

Supervisory Responsibility

Direct supervision of the development and alumni relations department staff.

Qualifications

• Experience: 10 or more years of progressive experience in development or related field with transferable skills and a corresponding record of accomplishment in closing major gifts required.
• Education/Licensing: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

Skills

• Demonstrated strategic planning and management skills to successfully develop and implement a development plan
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team-oriented and multifaceted development program
• Significant demonstrated experience in leadership-level individual giving to provide leadership for the entire program
• Tenacity in identifying new sources of philanthropic support, ability to close gifts
• High degree of energy, creativity, flexibility, and organization; ability to multi-task and work with an ever-changing schedule
• Outstanding interpersonal skills as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and show accountability for fundraising programs
• Ability to work effectively under stress
• Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisor, and customers face to face
• Strong organizational planning and management
• Ability to meet consistent attendance
• Computer proficiency (including Microsoft Office) and the ability to learn new programs
• Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest

Working Conditions

General office environment; some evening and weekend work hours required. Frequent travel required.