Executive Director, Regional Advancement Mid Atlantic at Syracuse University

Executive Director, Regional Advancement Mid Atlantic

Job Title: Executive Director, Regional Advancement Mid Atlantic

Location: Washington, DC

Pay Range: $126,000 - $150,000

Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.

Staff Level: S6

FLSA Status: Exempt

Hours: Standard University business hours
8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.

Job Type: Full-time

Job Description: This role is responsible for a personal portfolio of prospects and donors from the Mid-Atlantic region, with a special emphasis on the DC market where we have over 14,000 alumni and parents. In addition, he/she is responsible for managing two regional major gift officers, monitoring progress toward goals throughout the fiscal year to ensure successfully meeting all performance metrics at the conclusion of the year. The core work for these officers is to identify and solicit gifts from new and current donors with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 or more but including gifts from across the spectrum from leadership annual gifts to the principal gift level. He/she will engage alumni, parents, and donors in our numerous regional events and programs and will collaborate extensively with unit, school and college-based colleagues to align donor interests with funding priorities. The Executive Director coordinates the work of our 6 Regional Councils to ensure alignment of purpose and activities. He/she will also facilitate the work of the DC Regional Council, a core group of University ambassadors in the region whose primary purpose is to help identify and engage key donors and prospects to help the University accomplish its mission.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• A successful record of accomplishment in fundraising is necessary and experience in managing major gift officers is preferred.
• The ideal candidate should have 7 years of successful major gift experience working with donors and prospects at the highest levels of capability.
• A valid driver’s license is required.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Candidate should have a successful history of managing and motivating a team and working with volunteers.
• Must be highly collaborative and have a demonstrated ability to work successfully with external constituents such as alumni and parents, as well as internal constituents such as administration, fundraising colleagues, faculty and deans.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage competing deadlines and objectives is important.
• Requires the ability to manage and inspire, to be an enthusiastic and strategic partner, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to problem solve challenging situations.
• Experience working productively in a remote work environment is preferred.
• Proficiency in a CRM as well as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, including the ability to produce presentation quality documents, is required.

Responsibilities:

• Supervise and direct 2 major gift officers of the regional team, including the application and implementation of clear performance metrics.
• Provide creative leadership and strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of alumni, parents, and friends.
• Relate with confidence to academic leaders and be seen by them as someone who understands their priorities, provides appropriate support in a timely manner, and adds real value to their individual units.
• Serve as a senior member of the Central Giving Team and is expected to be on campus regularly for meetings and planning sessions.
• Coordinate the work of all 6 Regional Councils to ensure alignment of purpose and activities and help manage volunteer expectations and leadership.
• Facilitate the work of the DC Regional Council specifically, helping build a more robust philanthropic pipeline, develop alumni and parent volunteer leadership, and promote a stronger University presence in the region.
• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and prospective donors within the Mid-Atlantic area with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 or more but including gifts across a wide spectrum from leadership annual giving ($2,500+) to principal gift level ($2.5M).
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 80 donors and prospects and achieve solicitation, close, and visit goals consistent with annually established goals and assignments.
• Collaborate regularly and effectively with colleagues within the AEA division and across the schools, colleges, and units on core responsibilities, including establishing and implementing donor and prospect strategy, execution of proposals and gift agreements, coordination of Chancellor and other senior leadership visits to the region, and campaign and alumni engagement events in the region.
• Attend division and team meetings including regular FAM meetings.
• Lead regional team meetings working closely with the other Executive Director for Regional Advancement.
• Assist in the coordination of quarterly Central Giving Team week-long meetings either on campus or via Zoom.
• Ensure accurate record keeping in the University CRM (Citrus) including documenting plans and solicitations, interactions, proposals, and gifts.
• Regularly monitor dashboard reports to ensure progress toward goals.
• Pull reports, working with our colleagues in research as needed, to regularly mine the database for new prospects with capacity.

Application Instructions: In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.

EEO Statement: Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law.

Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans: Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs.

Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community: Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview.