Executive Director of Advancement, School of Law

The Executive Director of Advancement, School of Law works collaboratively to develop and implement a goal-oriented and budget-conscious plan for increasing private support for the School of Law programs / initiatives, including scholarship support.

Reporting to the Dean of the School of Law with a dotted line to the Vice President of University Advancement, the Executive Director will lead a small team, currently including professionals responsible for major gifts, marketing / communications, and alumni relations, as well as an administrative assistant.

The Executive Director will have a portfolio of 50-75 major / planned / principal gift prospects. The Executive Director is directly involved in the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major / planned / principal gift prospects.

The Executive Director effectively communicates the mission and values of the University. The Executive Director has a working knowledge of current best practices in all aspects of fundraising and collaborates with colleagues in University Advancement and across all the campuses, including serving as the Law School lead point of contact for the Division of University Advancement.

The Executive Director will bring 7+ years of experience in advancement or a related field, preferably in higher education, and be passionate about building relationships with donors, alumni, parents, and friends.

The Executive Director will have a track record of solid fundraising results and demonstrated success soliciting and closing major gifts, especially in collaboration with senior leaders of an organization.

The Executive Director will have experience leading volunteer boards or committees comprising key volunteers and alumni who are being cultivated for major / principal gift support.

Duties and Responsibilities :

1. Develop and execute effective fundraising strategies for engaging and soliciting major / planned / principal gift prospects to support Seton Hall’s programmatic and philanthropic priorities.

Work with the VP to establish annual qualitative and quantitative goals, objectives and key accountabilities to increase donors and dollars raised for the University.

2. In consultation with the VP of Advancement, AVP-Development, AVP Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy, the Dean of the School of Law, and other university leadership, lead the development and execution of fundraising plans for law school and university projects and initiatives, including (but not limited to) building the endowment for scholarships, professorships, and programmatic support.

Manage a personal portfolio of prospects by qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major / planned / principal gift prospects for university priorities.

3. Manage the School of Law advancement team and budget within the School of Law structures and in compliance with University policies.

4. Serve as a valued source of fundraising expertise and guidance to Dean of the School of Law, faculty, volunteer board and committee members and partners in the UA division.

Seton Hall School of Law and University Advancement are partnering with Boyden Executive Search to fill this position. Interested applicants may contact Lisa Vuona at

Required Qualifications :

Bachelor's Degree; The successful candidate for this role will be intellectually curious, possess a passion for the value of Catholic higher education, and be able to translate the priorities of academic leadership into a compelling philanthropic vision.

The successful candidate must also be able to balance leadership of the team with expectations as an individual fundraising contributor.

Other key competencies of the successful candidate for this position include :

• Excellence in written and verbal communication
• Social intelligence and cultural awareness
• Emotional and interpersonal intelligence
• Ability to learn and adapt to new concepts / ideas
• Inclusiveness and a commitment to inclusion
• Integrity and ethical decision-making
• An understanding of conflict and change management
• Patience balanced with persistence
• The position requires the following : 1) demonstrated success guiding teams to achieving fundraising goals, including a history of being a strategic thinker, a details planner, an effective delegator and motivator, and a positive, optimistic leader;
• 2) demonstrated understanding of and success in fundraising, its best practices and in raising financial support for a variety of causes and capital campaigns;
• 3) a high level of integrity, trustworthiness, a record of working collaboratively across organizations to meet shared goals;

and 4) an ability to inspire staff and volunteers to achieve and surpass fundraising goals and other objectives.

Desired Qualifications :

Juris Doctorate

Licenses and Certificates :

Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable auto for travel related to position accountabilities.

Salary Grade :

AD220 - Administrative

Exempt / Nonexempt : Exempt

Physical Demands : General Office Environment

Special Instructions to Applicants :

Seton Hall School of Law and University Advancement are partnering with Boyden Executive Search to fill this position. Interested applicants may contact Lisa Vuona at

Seton Hall University is committed to programs of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the principles of affirmative action.