Associate Director Of Major Gifts, Mccormick School (Hybrid Schedule)

Department: Alumni Relations & Development

Salary/Grade: EXS/10

About Alumni Relations and Development

Alumni Relations and Development appreciates that the collective sum of our individual differences, experiences, knowledge, and self-expression is crucial for our success. We strongly invite candidates of all backgrounds to apply and to participate fully and authentically in our workplace.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet 100% of the preferred qualifications.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Alumni Relations and Development is committed to genuine inclusion. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Elizabeth Frisch at efrisch@northwestern.edu. Consistent with its obligations under the law, Northwestern will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential job responsibilities.

Job Summary:

The Associate Director, McCormick School of Engineering is responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gift support from a prospect pool of alumni, friends, and family members. The Associate Director will build a balanced portfolio of prospects through face-to-face visits, making solicitations that align with prospects' interests and financial capacity, and stewarding current donors.

This role interfaces with colleagues from the McCormick School of Engineering including deans, faculty, staff, program directors, and other University leaders to prepare them for prospect meetings and support their alumni engagement activities.

This position also collaborates with colleagues from teams across Alumni Relations and Development (e.g. leadership and annual giving, reunions, donor relations, marketing and communications, planned giving).

For full consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Gathers data, assesses leads, and develops strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of individual prospects.

• Maintains consistent and appropriate contact with prospects.

• Facilitates or makes six and seven figure solicitations.

• Ensures effective stewardship of donors.

• Develops, plans, and implements strategies and approaches to identify, personally solicit, and consistently close major gifts of six-figures or more.

Collaboration

• Involves moderate- to-high-level of collaboration with both internal department partners and moderate level of collaboration with broader University partners to identify and integrate resources to accomplish strategic goals and objectives.

Prospects & Gifts

• Partners with other areas of development, specifically Planned Giving, Leadership Giving, Corporate Engagement, and Central/Regional Major Gifts to coordinate contacts.

• Builds and manages a portfolio of approximately 45 prospects annually by strategically moving them through the major gift pipeline.

• Collects and synthesizes information from campus partners to prepare compelling donor proposals that strategically align with donor interests and their full philanthropic capacity.

• Oversees and completes associated stewardship activities, maintains up-to-date best practices, and evaluates closed projects.

Travel

• Frequently travels to visit with alumni and donors to assigned regions within the United States.

Administration

• Gathers, records, and retrieves information about prospects and donors utilizing the University's donor and alumni tracking database, Internet, meetings with development staff, faculty, etc.

• Prepares contact reports on meetings and interactions with alumni.

• Ensures compliance with prospect management guidelines for tracking & maintenance of contact & progress reporting.

• Coordinates appointments and prepares materials used by senior management, Board & volunteers for meetings, visits, events, or phone calls made to high-profile prospects.

• Works with administrative support staff to ensure effective team success and daily operations.

Supervisory

• Provides oversight and support to staff within the department.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree.
• 4 years' development, marketing, sales, or the equivalent experience is required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: commitment to an inclusive workplace; demonstrates effective strategies to engage diverse audiences; strong understanding of complex and nuanced issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Curious and Adaptable: interest in growing and learning; ability to remain flexible and contribute where needed.

• Organized and Dependable: organization, time management, and clear communication with stakeholders.

• Collaborative and Effective Communicator: ability to connect with others and be compelling; experienced at strategically aligning efforts across teams and units; exemplary interpersonal skills.

• Driven and Goal-Oriented: proactive; demonstrates the qualities of a self-starter who is driven by success. Demonstrated ability to take initiative, follow through, and take responsibility for outcomes. Proven track-record of closing gifts, or equivalent sales experience.

• Strategic and Critical Thinking: prioritizes planning, goal-setting, and long-term vision. Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven ability to close major gifts of six-figures or more.

• Experience with development/fundraising operations (annual giving, stewardship, prospecting, board management).

• Previous experience in higher education or large complex organization.

• Driver's License

Target hiring range for this position will be between $87,900-$90,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.