Executive Director, Annual Giving

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/15

Target hiring range for this position will be between $160,000-$175,000 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.

For full consideration, please apply by February 16.

Job Summary:

Senior position within Alumni Relations and Development. Primary management officer with comprehensive responsibility for program and team results. Works with senior management to establish goals and report on progress to those goals. Manages multiple teams in developing strategies and translating those strategies to action plans. Monitors results, determines strengths and weaknesses of component programs, and works with team leaders and development staff to modify plans and strategies to ensure achievement of program and organization goals. Participates in department management activities.

As team leader of the central annual giving team, the Executive Director of Annual Giving oversees a creative and innovative omnichannel fundraising program. The Executive Director devises and executes strategy to grow philanthropic support for the University. The Executive Director will:

• Lead, coach, mentor, and manage a team of 18+ fundraising and programmatic professionals to ensure program growth.
• Develop and implement innovative solicitation strategies to increase donors and dollars to Northwestern.
• Track and evaluate the success of all fundraising initiatives and make adjustments as needed to reach goals.
• Understand industry trends and emerging technology products and platforms.
• Communicate well and collaborate closely with members of the Annual Giving team and colleagues throughout Alumni Relations and Development.

 

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning 

• Responsible and accountable for development and implementation of strategic plans focused on engagement and philanthropic participation of alumni, friends, faculty and staff.
• Creates, implements, and manages plans to incorporate cutting edge and best practices to retain and increase philanthropic participation.
• Initiates, plans and implements innovative and visionary organizational change and takes calculated risks to develop new strategies to continually increase donor participation while retaining existing donors.
• Works closely with senior management and Annual Giving team leaders to set goals, and to develop and implement overarching relationship management strategies, including prospect identification, engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship programming.
• Manages programmatic performance evaluation and resourcing, process improvement and research.

 

Collaboration

• Reviews and proposes strategic alliances, joint ventures and key collaborations with department and other University partners to identify opportunities to integrate University’s strategic plan goals.
• Oversees and coaches team members regarding department collaborations.
• Key partnerships and work involved includes:
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Northwestern Alumni Association
  • Leadership Giving
  • Schools and Programs 

 

Prospects & Gifts 

• Plays a primary role in developing and managing relationship strategies including the creation and implementation of programs and services for alumni, students, parents, friends and groups of volunteers and prospect/donor pools that result in increases in philanthropic contributions.
• Tracks and manages multiple segments of prospects, determines and executes best solicitation approaches, identifies segments for additional stewardship opportunities.
• Monitors and reports on program results and makes strategic adjustments as needed.

 

Volunteers

• Leads efforts to create and facilitate a vibrant culture of philanthropy, service and volunteerism which includes working with high-level volunteers to determine goals, and then identify, recruit, and coach groups of volunteers, plan and coordinate meetings, determine strategies, and report on progress.
• Leads efforts to refine & expand the NAA & University's board's membership, involvement, and responsibilities and introduces strategies to deepen broader alumni volunteerism, providing more opportunities for alumni to become involved.
• Oversee development & implementation of a variety of leadership training opportunities both in-person & virtually designed to meet the needs of entry level to advanced alumni leaders in locations around the world.
• Requires extensive travel throughout the region or country.

 

Events

• Oversees development and management of events and programs designed to expand constituent engagement and participation.
• Reviews and approves event plans and summaries ensuring that overall goals and objectives are attained.

 

Administration

• Manages multiple teams, provides leadership, determines and evaluates individual goals, develops and implements training and mentoring, assigns and monitors coverage of primary areas of focus ensuring that goals and objectives are attained.
• Conducts ongoing data analysis to determine trends, results and future plans.
• Encourages and optimizes the use of technology, social networking, and other virtual engagement tools to increase and broaden Northwestern’s reach to alumni and donors.
• Selects and manages high-level vendor/consultant relationships, including determining goals and coordinating activities with department and University staff.

 

Budget

• Strategically manages a department budget with a focus on maximizing return on investment.
• Reviews monthly budget reports to ensure alignment with annual budget.

 

Supervisory

• Supervises 18 or more staff.
• Provides training to staff within or outside of immediate department or division about function.
• Leads, coaches and evaluates performance of direct reports.
• Helps set high-level expectations for all staff.

 

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS  (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Bachelor's degree or 2 years equivalent experience in development function.
• 10 years of development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

 

MINIMUM COMPETENCIES (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Strategic vision
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Ability to lead a high-functioning, results-oriented team
• Demonstrated analytical thinking, complex problem solving and planning
• Deep understanding data and ability to use it to inform plans and decision-making
• Ability to navigate a complex and fast-paced institutional environment
• Comfortable with change and associated ambiguity
• Cross-team and intra-team collaboration
• Ability to prioritize and manage timelines

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  (Education and experience)

• Annual Giving experience at a college or university
• Experience managing a team of 10+ people that includes managing managers

 

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Understanding of Annual Giving metrics and industry standards
• Understanding of omnichannel engagement approaches

 

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://hr.northwestern.edu/benefits/ 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://hr.northwestern.edu/well-being/ 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://hr.northwestern.edu/talent-development/ to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

 

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