Director of Development, School of Arts and Sciences

Job Details

Description

The Rutgers University Foundation seeks a strategic, resourceful, and relationship-oriented development professional to serve as Director of Development (DOD) for the division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS). The DOD serves as the liaison to the divisional dean for MPS, which includes the following departments : Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Computer Science, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, and Statistics. This is an exceptional opportunity to join the overarching Rutgers University Foundation (RUF) as strategic growth plans are underway for the next multibillion-dollar comprehensive campaign.

The DOD will cultivate prospects and donors rated at the leadership and major gift level, actively soliciting prospects and donors but also developing a meaningful stewardship strategy to ensure continued engagement and giving. The DOD will play a critically important role in fully building out the fundraising portfolio for MPS, focusing on relationship-driven donor cultivation while also seeking new opportunities for philanthropic support and identifying new prospects through community interaction (internal and external).

The ideal candidate brings a minimum of five years of fundraising experience with a track record of success in identifying donors and establishing partnerships with individuals, corporations, and foundations. The incoming DOD thinks strategically and creatively in their efforts to build pipelines and relationships with cultural fluency, empathy, and high emotional intelligence. The candidate is a natural business builder with an approach that believes there are no dead ends but only new avenues to pursue; offers an authentic and collaborative approach that builds trust; and the professional maturity, respect, and intellectual curiosity to partner with multiple deans, faculty, and colleagues. They must be a self-starter and be able to handle complex organizational details while multitasking.

Essential Functions

• In partnership with the Senior Director of Development and Dean, contribute to the design and execution of a strategic development plan that results in increased philanthropic support for the division of MPS, both in the near term and for future support.
• Meet with current and prospective donors with the capacity to make gifts up to $100,000+; hold 75-100 unique meetings with prospects / donors annually; shepherd donors / prospects through every step of the donor solicitation cycle (identify-qualify-engage-solicit-steward).
• Increase engagement and identify additional capacity from existing donors while simultaneously discovering, identifying, and soliciting new donors.
• Strategically organize the Dean's time and resources to achieve advancement priorities. Staff the Dean appropriately in School / University leadership meetings and conversations, at donor solicitations, and special events.
• Support the Dean and faculty in organizing and facilitating donor / prospect meetings, managing logistics for these meetings, and drafting briefing materials, follow-up reports, documents, and other external correspondence.
• Maintain information about donors / prospects in the development database; prepare meeting briefing memos for the dean and other campus partners; draft meeting call reports for the University’s files.
• Attend school, alumni, and campus functions to develop a strong understanding of the culture of the university, school, and alumni base.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

Consistency

Contributions

Competencies

Leadership

Education / Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising as both a manager and major gifts officer. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in higher education. Master's degree preferred.

Mental Demands

Clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines.

Working Conditions

This position will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet resource-raising commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires a flexible schedule including early morning, late evenings, and occasional travel.

Workplace Arrangements

This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.

Benefits

Rutgers University Foundation

Founded in 1973, Rutgers University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization whose sole mission is to advance Rutgers’ pursuit of excellence in education, research, and public service. By providing the bridge between donors and the schools and programs, faculty, and students that make up the university, RUF inspires philanthropic support, fosters connections with alumni and friends, and empowers Rutgers to better the world.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and / or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff or termination.