Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is seeking to hire a Senior Director of Philanthropy assigned to the College of Engineering at the Daytona Beach campus.  The Senior Director will be assigned by the University’s central development enterprise to support a particular academic or administrative unit, in this case the College of Engineering.  

The Senior Director is responsible for managing and coordinating fund-raising for both that unit and general institutional priorities. The Senior Director works closely the the leaders of the assigned unit and senior staff of the central development enterprise to establish philanthropic priorities, and develops both long-term strategies and tactics for addressing them. When fundraising for the assigned unit, the Senior Director shall place special emphasis on securing funds for the priorities of that unit, as determined by the unit leaders with the approval of the appropriate University officer(s).

The Senior Director is expected to actively engage and collaborate with their assigned unit, supporting that unit leaders and designed faculty or staff in their efforts to secure philanthropic gifts for that unit. The Senior Director is expected to develop a rapport with the personnel in the unit and to master the needs, opportunities, challenges, strategic plans, and points of pride for that unit. The Senior Director shall routinely attend planning and leadership meetings to which they are invited by the unit leaders. The Senior Director shall be also actively engaged with the central development enterprise, attending required meetings and fulfilling all organizational and supervisory obligations, such as maintaining their training level.

The ideal candidate will be proactive, self-motivated, high-energy, and an outstanding listener and communicator, with proven experience in successfully engaging high-net worth prospects, foundations, and corporations to secure philanthropic support for the assigned unit and the University.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Major Gifts: The Senior Director shall be assigned a portfolio of from 75 to 150 major gift prospects, conduct discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with this portfolio; engage current and prospective donors through print or electronic correspondence, calls, encounters at events, and, most importantly, individual face-to-face visits; and travel extensively for those meetings. The Sr. Director’s primary objective is to secure gifts for the assigned unit, though other opportunities may be pursued as well in order to optimize overall giving to the University. A major gift is defined as $50,000+.
• Develop Major Gift Strategies: Develop long-term strategies and tactics for each prospect, implement them, and collaborate with colleagues in the Division to achieve unit and institutional donor engagement and stewardship goals. The Sr. Director’s primary responsibility is to develop strategies for the prospects assigned to them for the unit.
• Unit Liaison: Engage with and coordinate development activities within assigned unit. Participate in leadership meetings at their assigned unit, in order to better understand the unit’s needs, challenges, and opportunities.  Help coordinate central advancement efforts in the areas of annual giving, advancement communications, data acquisition, planned giving programming, donor relations and donor impact reporting associated with the unit.  Build lasting, effective relationships with administrators, faculty and staff associated with their unit and across campus to best engage them in the process of philanthropy.  Advise the unit leader on the institution’s philanthropic policies, practices, schedules and strategies, as well as on general best practices in philanthropy. Operate within the framework of the MOU governing the position within the unit and ensure a strong and healthy relationship exists between their assigned unit, other units, and the central administration of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement (PAE) and the University.  Effectively deploy the unit leader and their personnel to achieve philanthropic goals.
• Support Central Development: Observe institutional development policies, participate actively in obligatory meetings held by central development, and maintain a satisfactory level of training and knowledge of best practices. The Senior Director’s main emphasis is to secure funds for their assigned unit.  However, the Senior Director shall also be donor-centric.  Thus, as necessary or as assigned, the Senior Director shall assist the central development enterprise in achieving its broader objectives.  This may entail transferring or sharing assigned prospects based on their interests in other units. Conduct discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship in accordance with those assignments. Engage current and prospective donors through print or electronic correspondence, calls, encounters at events and, most importantly, individual, face-to-face visits.  Complete timely, accurate, concise and complete contact reports and enter them into the Division’s enterprise system(s).

Qualifications: 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and four years of experience as a successful, professional face-to-face solicitor of philanthropic gifts of $25,000 or more

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience in a higher education advancement setting is strongly preferred
• Professional experience in the aviation or aerospace environments are a plus

Knowledge

• Development and alumni relations best practices, especially in the area of major giving strategy and solicitation
• Proper business correspondence
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Use of general office equipment and computer
• Use of the internet as a productivity or research tool
• Business and professional etiquette
• Development and alumni relations best practices
• Basic understanding of research

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Problem-solving skills, emphasizing a solutions-oriented mentality
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong analytical skills
• Basic budgeting and cost-estimating
• Customer relations skills
• Comprehend, analyze and synthesize prospect reports, maps, tables, graphs and other technical information

Abilities

• Successfully conduct face-to-face major gift solicitations
• Use mobile devices to enhance professional productivity
• Energetic and self-motivated, well-prepared, with routinely robust follow through
• Demonstrate strong character, emphasizing integrity, caring and honesty, as well as loyalty to the institution
• Develop proficiency with University’s fundraising database/software
• Maintain positive and respectful engagement with colleagues and clients
• Effectively prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Adaptable and resilient when confronted with challenges and changing priorities
• Manage and meet deadlines
• Adhere to divisional and University policies and procedures
• Compile expense reports
• Plan and appropriately execute social engagement activities
• Read and generate prospect reports, maps, and other technical information associated with giving and engagement
• Work effectively in a multi-faceted organization and develop cooperative and mutually respectful relationships with stakeholders at all levels, as well as diverse individuals and communities
• Manage sensitive and confidential information
• Demonstrate an authentic and enthusiastic interest in the mission of the university
• Optimize travel planning and execution
• Work frequently on evenings and weekends
• Maintain a valid driver’s license and possess the ability to safely and effectively drive