Director of Development, Brain Health Institute

Full-time hybrid position located in New Brunswick, NJ.

About the role

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development (EDOD) for the Rutgers School of Medicine and working in close collaboration with the Director of the Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI), the Director of Development will raise significant philanthropic funds to support the BHI’s mission, programs, and research centers. The role partners with the EDOD, BHI Director, and Rutgers Foundation colleagues while operating with a high level of autonomy, utilizing all Foundation resources, tools, technology, policies, and procedures to achieve annual fundraising goals and performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Work with EDOD, BHI Director, and Foundation colleagues to develop and implement engagement and solicitation strategies for every assigned donor and prospect in the current portfolio.
• Meet with current and prospective donors with the capacity to make philanthropic gifts of $100,000+; hold 75-100 unique and substantive meetings with prospects/donors and raise a minimum of $1M in new gifts and commitments annually.
• Collaborate with the BHI communications team, Rutgers Foundation, and Rutgers Alumni associations to identify and drive prospective donors to BHI events and programs.
• Work with BHI and the Rutgers Foundation Corporate and Foundation Relations team to develop funding proposals for corporations and foundations.
• Advise and coach BHI leadership on best practices for donor relations and stewardship.
• Other development-related duties as assigned by the EDOD and BHI Director.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and/or 6+ years of professional experience in fundraising, alumni relations, non-profit organizations, event planning, higher education, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage and lead a team (and/or staff volunteers) to maximize each team member’s potential.
• Experience leading a comprehensive unit or central development department/program.
• Ability to manage an implementation team and projects/programs with moderate supervision, set goals, manage budgets, and meet deadlines.
• Experience managing a personal major gift donor/prospect portfolio with a primary focus on securing gifts at or above the $100,000 level and a personal fundraising goal of $1M.
• Ability to partner with peer directors and department leads across the organization, engage and manage relationships with supervisors and university partners, and devise and execute increasingly complex projects.
• Ability to set priorities and determine strategy for a unit, including staffing and budgets, and develop written proposals, budgets, and collateral materials for securing philanthropic investments.

Schedule

• Office-centric hybrid position requiring presence in the office 1–5 days per week, depending on role and function.
• Evenings, weekends, or odd hours required to meet resource-raising commitments.
• Some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituents’ schedules.

Pay

Annual salary of $121,000 USD.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance (no cost for employee and dependents).
• 403(b) plan with employer matching contribution.
• Three weeks of annual vacation time, five wellness days, and fifteen sick days per year.
• Nine holidays plus four floating holidays.
• Significant tuition reductions for employees.
• Professional development opportunities across the organization.
• $40 monthly cell phone reimbursement.