Job Description:

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations and Development, the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Development will oversee the Universityâ™s centralized regional individual giving teams, including generalist fundraising teams working on major and principal gifts and representing the University in key philanthropic markets. This role will work collaboratively with individual giving teams, ARD colleagues, and academic leaders to build the structures to grow and sustain the Universityâ™s pipeline of major and principal gift donors in preparation for the Universityâ™s next comprehensive campaign.

The AVP will direct activity on behalf of the University in key markets aimed at strengthening regional fundraising, building engaged donor communities, and cultivating a culture of philanthropy across the Universityâ™s community of alumni, parents, and friends. In addition to meeting team and regional revenue targets, the AVP will also maintain a personal portfolio of principal-level prospects and contribute meaningfully to a shared culture of fundraising excellence and best practices at the University.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction to ARDâ™s central major and principal gifts fundraisers with a focus on strategically qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding University prospects at the major and principal gift level and growing the Universityâ™s collective pipeline for its next comprehensive campaign.
• Develop and lead regional fundraising strategies that maximize philanthropy in key domestic and international markets and on behalf of all schools, units, and priorities.
• Serve as an adviser to academic leaders and staff to lead the development and execution of advancing priorities and meeting fundraising goals.
• Ensure that fundraisersâ™ work is prioritized appropriately, including partnering with Strategic Information to assess portfolio health and define and implement best-practice portfolio management strategies.
• Set fundraising goals and guide planning and strategy to achieve those goals, both annually and within the context of a University-wide campaign.
• Work with other ARD leaders to optimize interactions among generalist and unit-based teams in order to maximize the growth of UChicagoâ™s prospect base while securing gifts for key institutional and campaign priorities.
• Serve as a lead strategist for a pool of top prospective donors on behalf of and for the benefit of the entire University.
• Actively participate in prospect strategy meetings; partner with colleagues to develop and implement strategies to move prospects through the fundraising cycle.
• As a senior member of ARD, model behavior, mentor staff and develop leaders, and participate in strategic planning and policy decisions as appropriate; actively encourage staff membersâ™ professional growth, development, and participation in the life of the University.
• Manage staff and budget to execute responsibilities in an efficient, timely, and cost-effective manner.
• Seek opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions and with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Competencies:

• Identify stakeholders and build strong collaborative relationships with them across departments and units of a large, multi-faceted University.
• Knowledge of and commitment to best practices for higher education development.
• Create strategic vision and purpose.
• Communicate effectively and with influence.
• Display emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrate University stewardship and serve as a brand ambassador.
• Foster partnership and collaboration.
• Build high performance team.
• Effectively manage performance.

Education, Experience or Certifications:

Education:

• Bachelorâ™s required.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum ten years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar professional work experience preferred.
• Minimum five years of successfully managing, coaching, and motivating staff required.
• Minimum three years of experience developing, and monitoring budgets required.
• Proficient with data analysis and communicating complex topics to non-technical people.
• Skilled at managing cross-team projects.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including Griffin (the University's Donor Relationship Management System), Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Required Documents:

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via the Applicant Inquiry Form.

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About University of Chicago (UC)

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