Senior Director of Development

Belmont University

Apply

Job Summary

A highly motivated fundraising professional will fill the role of Senior Director of Development to expand and oversee a metrics-based and donor-centric team of fundraising professionals primarily focused on gifts at the major and leadership annual giving levels. The Sr. Director will help hire, train, and manage a team of fundraisers in addition to managing their own portfolio of major gift prospects.

 

The Senior Director will join Belmont during an exciting and pivotal time. In 2021, Belmont University welcomed its largest enrollment class and exceeded the goal for the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the University’s history.  The ideal candidate will have experience managing a team of development officers, preferably at a higher education institution, and an understanding of the relationship between academic administration, development, alumni relations, events, annual giving and external relations functions.

 

Position Description:  The Senior Director of Development reports to the Associate Vice President of Development. The Sr. Director is responsible for overseeing and managing a team of fundraisers and works in consultation with the AVP of Development to establish goals and strategy to secure major gifts and leadership annual gifts.  The Sr. Director and Gift Officers work closely with academic deans to achieve individual and collective goals related to strategic engagement and fundraising and assume regional travel assignments designed to secure major gifts from donors outside of Middle Tennessee. In addition to leadership responsibilities, the Sr. Director will develop and cultivate relationships with a portfolio of major gift prospects and may carry a liaison assignment with a college and/or regional assignment.

Job Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions

 

Leadership

• Report to the Associate Vice President of Development and work closely Development and Engagement Leadership on the continued creation, implementation, and management of a strategic approach to major gift fundraising, college-based engagement and fundraising, and regional fundraising.
• As a member of the Prospect Management Team, offer insights to enhance tools and reports to keep gift officers and their corresponding deans informed of gifts and stewardship opportunities.
• Support colleagues across Development, Engagement, and Advancement Operations as part of an integrated division with shared goals and objectives.

Management

• Lead, coach, and support a team of Development professionals to accomplish individual and team goals.  Set clear expectations, promote high levels of accountability, and support staff in optimal achievement.

• In collaboration with the AVP, set challenging fundraising goals for the Development staff and determine appropriate metrics to ensure attainment of goals.
• Leverage Engagement, Advancement Operations, and other college-based and Development colleagues to implement strategies needed to increase donor engagement, involvement, and philanthropic support.
• Celebrate success and recognize excellent work to encourage and reward striving toward aspirational goals.
• Ensure gift officers maintain accurate and timely information within portfolios, keep all biographical information up to date and enter contact reports and other notes in the database on a daily or weekly basis. Focus on constituent data integrity in all facets of work.
  

Training and Development

• Serve on the training and professional development team for the Office of Development.
• Identify speakers, curate a library of resources and coordinate ongoing training and professional development.

Personal fundraising

• Meet personal metric goals including visits and significant contacts, proposals delivered, and dollars raised. Implement strategic engagement and moves management within a portfolio with approximately 100 prospects and donors capable of making major gifts.
• Collaborate with colleagues to help align donors’ philanthropic interests with various priorities across campus.

The above statements describe the job’s essential responsibilities and requirements. They are not an exhaustive list of duties that may be assigned to job incumbents.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Belmont University seeks to attract and retain highly qualified faculty and staff that share the University’s values and will contribute to its mission and vision to be a leader among teaching universities bringing together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christ-centered, student-focused community of learning and service.

• An inspiring, persuasive, and dedicated leader able to nurture a sense of team spirit and common purpose maintaining an environment where mutual respect, collaboration, collegiality, and diversity are valued.
• Demonstrated success leading and managing a team of fundraisers to achieve individual and collective goals.
• Demonstrated success in face-to-face fundraising.
• Knowledge of best practices in advancement at private universities is highly desired.
• Highly motivated and able to thrive in an environment of hard work.
• Experience building positive working relationships internally and across all levels of the organization as well as alliances and partnerships externally by fostering trust, collaboration, and teamwork.
• Demonstrates sensitivity and openness to others’ views and is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Serves as a role model for others by exemplifying the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, ethics, and honesty.

• Demonstrates strong and effective interpersonal and communication skills, influence strategies, and compelling messages to inspire and motivate others to excel.
• Serves as a role model for others by exemplifying the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, ethics, and honesty.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, an advancement CRM and Zoom.

Required education

Qualified applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Master’s degree preferred.

Required experience

Experience managing people is required. A minimum of three years of professional fundraising experience is required, preferably in higher education.  Must have excellent interpersonal communication, writing and computer skills.

Additional Information

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply through Belmont’s career portal at: https://belmont.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?site=10&id=2308

Details

• Date Posted: March 23, 2022
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Fundraising / Revenue Development
• Service Area: Education