CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTION

Title: Development Officer III/S
Level: APSA 15
Working Title: Senior Director of Development
College of Human Medicine

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

Michigan State University seeks an energetic, strategic, and results-oriented individual to lead its College of Human Medicine advancement team as the Senior Director of Development. Based at the college’s headquarters in Grand Rapids, the Senior Director will lead a team of professional fundraisers and support staff to achieve aggressive fundraising and engagement goals that will lead to increased support for student scholarships, public health and biomedical research, endowed faculty positions, and programmatic priorities. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned advancement professional to expand and develop an already robust fundraising operation and to plan and execute the College of Human Medicine’s role in the next comprehensive campaign for MSU.

Serving as the college’s chief development officer, the Senior Director maintains a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and employs an aggressive, strategic moves management program to ensure movement along the development pipeline. Leading by example, the Senior Director will oversee the team and work closely with the Dean of the College of Human Medicine, faculty, and volunteer leadership to ensure that MSU reaches its philanthropic potential from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Human Medicine and to the Executive Director of Health Sciences, the Senior Director will partner with key teams across campus locations to ensure a holistic approach to building a sustainable, robust pipeline of prospective donors. The ability to think and act strategically will be critical to the success of this position.

The College of Human Medicine is a community-based medical school located in rural and urban communities throughout the state, including Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Midland, Southeast Michigan, Traverse City and the Upper Peninsula. The college has earned a national reputation for advancing excellence in medical student education and was founded on the idea that medicine can and should be taught where people live, work and need medical care. The statewide campus system takes advantage of a unique opportunity to conduct collaborative multidisciplinary and multi-community research to address disease prevention, innovative therapies and health equity.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising:
• Plan and implement comprehensive strategies for prospects through the donor cycle of identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, coordinating activities with development colleagues across campus and the geographic regions, where appropriate. Plan and host campus visits as well as schedule in- and out-state travel to meet with donors and prospects.
• Develop strategies, systems, and procedures for advancing the goals and priorities of the College and departments.
• Plans, directs and implements the major, planned and principal gifts program for the College.
• Personally develop and manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, with emphasis on 6- and especially 7-figure gifts.
• Provides assistance to donors regarding tax laws, policies and procedures and resolves problems in order to maintain a positive image of the College and University.

Personnel Management:
• Set clear direction and priorities for professional and administrative support staff, including three frontline fundraisers, an alumni director with a major gift portfolio and three administrative team members. Promote excellence through well-defined and measurable goals; inspire and motivate staff to exceed fundraising goals, maintain and foster the team culture of accountability, respect, and appreciation.
• Lead by example; foster a work environment that recognizes and rewards team-based efforts, encourages candid feedback and input, and sustains the positive dynamic that empowers team members to thrive individually and as part of the team. Celebrate current achievements and set clear expectations for future success.
• Actively mentor and train staff, providing frequent opportunities for professional learning and growth; emphasize retention as a means of increasing capacity and expertise of the team. Fully leverage human and financial resources and promote greater efficiency.
• Provide the structure and guidance necessary to promote a high-performance culture that meets the needs and expectations of a successful and diverse alumni community.
• Recruit, train, motivate and evaluate volunteers to accomplish college goals and objectives.

Programmatic Management:
• Lead all aspects of the development and advancement initiatives of the MSU College of Human Medicine; serve on the dean’s leadership team.
• Audit internal operations in order to develop standardized procedures and to ensure conformity with established policy.
• Plan, host and communicate at meetings of the public and University personnel in order to provide information on the college and/or University.
• Develop and monitor budget and expenses to ensure stewardship of university resources and alignment with departmental goals.
• Assist in setting both long- and short-term goals/plans in order to determine resources required.
• Collaborate and coordinate activities with the external relations staff, including public relations and communication, to ensure coordination of information to alumni and friends of the College.
• Coordinate the composing, editing and publishing of unit and/or University literature related to international fundraising priorities in order to provide staff and volunteers with campaign case statements and progress reports.
• Prepare and interpret statistical data results for College Administrators.

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Interacts with:
• Michigan State University Alumni/Major Corporations/Businesses/Employees and Corporate Leadership - in order to solicit as potential donors, handle their donor requests and to cultivate and train them as potential volunteers.
• Faculty - in order to educate and train them on Development direction, to seek their advice on needs, and to answer funding questions and advise them on funding strategy.
• Staff - in order to train and oversee their work and to establish priorities.
• Department Heads/Michigan State University Executive Management - in order to consult and coordinate work within University structure to aid in the identification of potential donors and gain support of special projects.
• Michigan State University Vice President - in order to advise on the progress of specific College campaigns.
• Michigan State University Development Board of Directors - in order to seek their advice on the cultivation and solicitation of major donors and to assist them in soliciting donors.
• Michigan State University Trustees - in order to seek advice and obtain assistance for solicitation.
• Peers/Professional Organizations - in order to obtain advice and council on options being considered for programs.
• Government Agencies/Foundations - in order to assess current funding priorities and particular donor procedures.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervision over the Associate and Assistant Directors of Development, Director of Alumni & Donor Relations, Assistant Director of Advancement Communication, and office support staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in communications, public relations, marketing and/or business; five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional fund raising, public relations, marketing or a related field; OR three years of related and progressively more responsible and expansive work experience in higher education development, public relations, or a related field; working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; possession of a valid vehicle operator's license.  

Desired:
• A Bachelor’s degree preferred; Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Business and/or Engineering or Science-related preferred.
• Seven to ten years in professional fund raising preferably five or more progressively responsible professional experience in higher education development; meaningful experience in or knowledge of all key development areas (major giving, annual fund, planned giving, and corporate and foundation relations).
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership gifts at the six- and seven-figure level. Demonstrated success in setting and achieving goals and performance metrics.
• Knowledge of the primary philanthropic communities in which the college is located.
• A track record of success leading a development operation; an approach to management that brings out the best in staff and yields pride, ownership, and a sense of team effort.
• Superior communication skills and the ability to connect with a variety of audiences, clear and effective written and oral presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and successfully execute a significant comprehensive campaign.
• Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving.
• The ability to travel regionally and nationally.

HOW TO APPLY
If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Recruitment at https://tinyurl.com/2byhcpwm.

All candidates must submit an application, resume and cover letter through the Michigan State University Human Resources web-based system the URL for that website is https://careers.msu.edu/en-us/listing/. Please indicate the position number 832969 when submitting your application.

MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.

MSU is committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. The University actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities.