Job Description

Department
 

ARD Sciences & Organizations

About the Department
 

Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. ARD raises $600 million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

The Global Advancement Team leads a comprehensive collaborative campus-wide program that deeply engages the international community of UChicago alumni, parents, and friends with a focus on raising significant philanthropic support for the University’s top priorities, academic units, and faculty and students across the campus ecosystem. Working closely with University and academic leadership, the UChicago Global Office, academic divisions, and colleagues across ARD, the team is responsible for developing, executing, and coordinating the university’s strategic global advancement program with a goal of building a robust and sustainable donor pipeline through curated meaningful engagement opportunities and delivering $25M - $40M or more in fundraising progress annually.

Job Summary
 

The Executive Director develops and manages programs designed to meet the University’s global advancement goals and maximize philanthropic support for the University at the principal gift ($5M+) and major gift ($100k+) levels from alumni, parents, and friends. In preparation for the University of Chicago’s next major fundraising campaign, this key leadership role will manage a team of fundraising professionals organized geographically representing Europe, Asia, India and the Middle East, and Latin America and South America. The Executive Director drives comprehensive strategies for donor engagement leading to qualification, cultivation, and solicitation activity for donors and prospects capable of making significant philanthropic investments in support of the University’s highest priorities.

This position manages a team of professional staff responsible for programs designed to meet University fundraising goals for contributed income. Manages relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations with potential to make gifts in support of the University. Develops communication strategies for projects and contributes to the development of larger advancement strategies.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes regional international fundraising and engagement strategies including annual operating plans for priority regions in collaboration with campus units and other stakeholders.
• Manages a personal portfolio high net worth donors and prospects consisting of 40+ individuals or families with a focus on those who can make gifts in excess of $5M.
• Acts as the lead resource and advisor concerning international advancement to University and ARD leadership including the President, Deans and Directors, and the Vice President of ARD, and others.
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• Manages a team of fundraising professionals and support staff. Ensures strong data-informed methods for the timely evaluation of program performance and forecasting, including comprehensive campus-wide annual operating plans for priority regions.
• Ensures that team members' prospect work is prioritized appropriately and that they build healthy sustainable portfolios and a robust pipeline with a focus on deep meaningful relationships on behalf of the University that lead to the greatest possible philanthropic outcomes.
• Works with the team to construct and implement effective individualized prospect cultivation and solicitation plans for managed prospects and to deliver regular engagement and timely and compelling communications.
• Provides leadership and regular reporting on fundraising and engagement activities to key campus stakeholders, including ARD, units and divisions, UChicago Global, and others.
• Acts as the lead strategist and liaison for unit partners to evaluate opportunities and build increased international fundraising capacity.
• Collaborates closely with alumni relations and unit colleagues to develop cohesive and coordinated international regional plans to ensure alignment between engagement and fundraising strategies.
• Prepares and accompanies key volunteers and institutional leaders for interactions that advance fundraising strategies with prospects.
• Coaches, supports, and evaluates a diverse team of professionals. Actively encourages staff members’ professional growth, development, and participation in the life of the University.
• Leads and inspires staff to meet and exceed expectations. Builds talent and fosters an environment that rewards new ideas and risk-taking, builds confidence, promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, and encourages effective partnerships and collaboration.
• Ensures that teamwork, collaboration, and innovation are expected, recognized, and rewarded; leads by example with regard to appropriate risk-taking, cross-organizational cooperation, and clear standards of conduct and performance.
• Oversees and maintains the annual budget and long-range plans and strategies for the department.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions, with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
• Recommends and implements fundraising programs and activities.
• Manages a portfolio of current and potential donors. Identifies and cultivates gift prospects and potential donors through events, visits, personalized correspondences, and phone calls.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum ten years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional work experience.
• Minimum seven years of soliciting and closing major gifts.
• Minimum four years of management experience, including staff management.
• Minimum four years of program management and oversight.
• Minimum two years of experience developing and monitoring budgets.
• Proven track record of successfully working with volunteers, faculty, senior administrators, and other key internal and external stakeholders.
• International fundraising experience.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including the University's donor relationship management system and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated foreign language skills.
• Knowledge of international fundraising methods and culture.

Preferred Competencies

• Build, lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse team, and encourage change and growth in both people and programs. A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting, fostering partnership and collaboration with colleagues and academic leaders.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Strong leadership qualities, including the ability both to delegate and execute, thereby leading by word and by example. 
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• High attention to detail and follow-up; excellent organizational skills. 
• Demonstrated success closing major and principal gifts and meeting or exceeding goals.
• Demonstrated record of organizing successful fundraising, marketing or membership programs.
• Demonstrated ability to interact comfortably with various constituent groups.
• Expertise managing a complex prospect and donor pipeline.

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends.
• Domestic and international travel.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

Job Family
 

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact
 

People Manager

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.