Interim Associate Vice President of University Development (Administrator IV, Range 1) - Development Office

About the role

The Interim Associate Vice President for Development is responsible for continuity in planning and implementing San Francisco State’s fundraising goals through strategic management and supporting solicitation of major individual donors, as well as corporate and foundation, and planned giving prospects. This position offers an opportunity to lead and work with an exceptional team that shares a commitment to the transformative importance of mission-driven public higher education.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight of a motivated and diverse team consisting of major gift officers; development staff in corporate and foundation relations and planned giving; as well as teams focused on development communications and donor relations, prospect research, and administrative support.
• Maintain a strong collaborative and collegial culture across Development, championing an ethos of equity and inclusion, mutual respect, cooperation, cultural competency, and shared commitment to successful outcomes.
• Direct and manage all major gift fundraising, programs, and campaigns.
• Steward a limited portfolio of prospects and attain annual portfolio fundraising goals.
• Serve as a resource and role model to staff on matters of prospect strategy and offer new approaches and techniques; seek to provide creative solutions to complex solicitations; rely on past experience in the field and remain current with evolving trends in philanthropy.
• Work with the Vice President of University Advancement to coordinate SF State Foundation board directors, define development priorities, and actively engage in development-related activities.
• Support relationships with existing donors in an effort to increase both current and planned gifts.
• Carefully coordinate an effective program for donor recognition, involvement, and stewardship.
• Support effective marketing programs to maximize outreach and engender further interest in annual, major, capital and planned gift campaigns.
• Manage productive relationships with other University Advancement units, including Strategic Marketing Communications, University Engagement and Alumni Relations, and Advancement Services & Operations.
• Oversee prospect and portfolio management processes that ensure maximum results by development officers, in particular in relation to the campaign prospect pipeline.
• Serve as a primary partner to the VP of Advancement regarding the campaign’s vision, execution plan, and overall structure.
• Oversee the strategy and execution of the prospecting strategy outlined in the campaign plan, ensuring that new prospective donors are screened and entered fundraisers’ portfolios in a timely and effective manner.
• Manage the hiring of campaign-specific positions, including five additional recommended positions for the Development team, and consult closely with Alumni Relations on the addition of a position to that team.
• Serve as a primary contributor to all collateral campaigns, and oversee its development by the Senior Director of Development for Development Communications, which reports directly to this position.

• Qualifications

  • A minimum of 8-10 years of experience in major gifts or fundraising or a similar background is required.
  • Experience in higher education is strongly preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing a prospect management and tracking system to ensure productivity and accountability.
  • Prominent track record in stewarding major gift donors.
  • Prominent success in leadership, management, and talent retention.
  • Extensive knowledge of the corporate and foundation community.
  • The ability to provide strong and innovative leadership in developing and implementing programs.
  • Ability to persuade and motivate others, and to earn the respect and partnership of SFSU leadership and influential volunteers.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Technical knowledge in a variety of fundraising areas, especially planned giving.
  • Function effectively as a member of a team; commitment to participating in activities and assignments that will benefit other members of the team or will contribute to the accomplishment of team objectives.
  • Experience in the management of writing and editing persuasive materials, including grant proposals, information brochures, and letters.
  • Computer literate and knowledge of university development databases/spreadsheets, including formulas and functions.
  • A bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in experience is required.