Senior Director of Development

About the role

The Senior Director of Development reports to the Assistant Dean for Advancement and serves as a senior frontline fundraiser for the College of Arts & Sciences.

Responsibilities

In coordination with the Assistant Dean, strategize, develop and execute individual fundraising plans to secure major and principal gifts from alumni, parents and friends with the capacity to make gifts of $100K+. Manage an assigned portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects (~80) to maximize giving potential of each donor and prospect. Discover and qualify suspects for major and principal gifts as well as solicit annual gifts at the leadership annual giving level. Focus on the College’s priorities and fundraising goals; Project management as needed. Serve as a senior leader on the advancement team. Partner closely with the Assistant Dean for Advancement and Dean to shape and advance fundraising strategy for the College. Lead efforts to build and sustain robust major gift prospect pipelines. Mentor and support frontline fundraisers to strengthen collective fundraising performance. Support the Dean’s travel and donor engagement activities as needed, including preparation of briefings, prospect strategies, and post-visit follow-up. Regularly review and assess progress to the achievement of goals via reports available in Dashboards. Represent the college and their interests/priorities across campus as needed. Project management as assigned. Support the Assistant Dean and Dean in their work with volunteer board(s) as needed. Attend and participate in college and central development office meetings, training opportunities, as well as University-wide functions. Other Duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred. Minimum of eight years of fundraising experience, preferably in Higher education. Valid driver’s license is required.

Skills and Knowledge

Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising including a record of discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors and prospects. Demonstrated ability to manage staff and volunteers. Strategic thinker able to develop and successfully execute fundraising plans. Exceptional organizational skills, ability to follow through and attention to details, manage multiple priorities. Strong verbal and written skills. Excel at building relationships internally and externally. Must be donor and goal centric. Ability to work collaboratively in a complex environment and work independently. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.