Senior Director of Development

University of Georgia - Athens, GA

Full-time

Athens, GA

Educational Services

About the position

The Senior Director of Development serves as a liaison between the School of Medicine and University Development. As the School of Medicine's chief development officer, this position is responsible for establishing a team raising major gifts ($25,000+) to enable the unit to fulfill its mission and implement its programs and initiatives. In addition to major and principal gifts, the position is also responsible for providing strategy, leadership, direction, coordination, and management of all aspects of giving for the School of Medicine, including major giving, annual gifts, stewardship, and alumni relations. To fulfill the college's mission and implement its programs and initiatives, the Senior Director of Development collaborates closely with the Dean to develop fundraising priorities, create a development plan, implement the plan, and secure major gifts, while also managing the development and alumni relations team. In this role, the employee is responsible for communication, collaboration and coordination between School of Medicine and the University Development office, as well as creating productive partnerships with all other UGA school, college, and unit fundraising programs. The University Development office sets four objectives for Senior Directors of Development: number of annual visits, number of gift proposals, unit fundraising goal and personal fundraising goal. Each of these goals is discussed with the Senior Director and customized for the School of Medicine. In addition, the Senior Director is required to attend the division and development meetings as well as individual monthly strategy meetings at the University Development office with the Senior Director of Development for Constituent Programs.

Responsibilities

• Direct all fundraising efforts (principal, leadership, major, annual, and planned giving) and provide overall leadership to alumni relations and development functions.
• Collaborate with the Dean to design and implement fundraising strategies to meet the school's annual and long-term needs.
• Establish, manage, direct, and provide leadership to advancement professionals for the school.
• Manage a portfolio of top prospective donors focusing on soliciting gifts, presenting proposals, making an annually established goal of face-to-face meetings with prospects and donors monthly.
• Serve as the liaison between the School of Medicine and University Development ensuring all UGA policies and procedures are followed by the school.
• Attend division and development staff meetings, monthly strategy meetings with the Senior Director of Development for Constituent Based Programs, as well as training and prospect management meetings as needed.
• Work collaboratively with all offices of the Development and Alumni Relations division including financial services, gift and estate planning, business engagement, regional program, etc.
• Develop and oversee a comprehensive short and long-term strategic plan for fundraising.
• Prepare timely, accurate, and relevant proposals, presentations, and other fundraising materials for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

Requirements

• Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field.
• Advanced degree preferred or bachelor's degree and at least 7 years of related higher education experience.
• Significant experience developing fundraising strategies while providing leadership and direction for implementation of a comprehensive development plan.
• Experience in medical fundraising.
• Experience building a team of advancement professionals.
• Management experience.
• Knowledge and experience using Blackbaud CRM system.

Nice-to-haves

• Progressively responsible fundraising or related experience and leadership experience, including work in all functional areas of development and leadership in a major capital campaign.
• Demonstrated supervisory, organization, time management, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop trust and strong collaborative working relationships.
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and ability to manage and work collaboratively.
• Demonstrated track record of successful frontline fundraising, including principal gift experience.
• Strength in developing and executing strategic and comprehensive fundraising plans to achieve goals.
• Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Exemplary communications skills (both written and verbal); Active listening.
• Detail oriented, excellent memory for details, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to prioritize, work with, and complete multiple tasks simultaneously under deadlines.