| Job Description: |
The Director of Development is responsible for implementing a broad range of fundraising activities for the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, focused primarily on acquiring major gifts for the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE) and the Department of Chemical Engineering (CHE). Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, ECE/CISE, this position is responsible for developing and executing the college’s fundraising program to fulfill the financial needs in alignment with the strategic initiatives of University of Florida Advancement. We offer flexible work arrangements such as hybrid remote work locations and/or schedules that fall outside of a unit’s usual working hours.
THE GOLD STANDARD CULTURE
At UF Advancement, we are committed to “The Gold Standard Culture” and live it through:
Our Vision: A Transformational Experience with Integrity
Our Mission: To be a catalyst for advancing the university through private support
Our Values:
• Service – To help our colleagues reach their goals
• Excellence – Striving to reach The Gold Standard
• Team – Together everyone achieves more
Portfolio Management:
- Responsible for the design and implementation of the development and alumni programs.
- Independently perform identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift prospects, with a focus on individual prospects.
- Work with leadership to engage and cultivate corporate and foundation prospects where the gift or grant is assessed at $100,000 and above.
- Build a portfolio of fundraising prospects and strategically manage relationships through face-to-face visits to bring major gift solicitations to closure.
Engagement & Strategic Initiatives:
- Assist with planning and implementing short- and long-term development and alumni programs and strategies.
- Assist with designing solicitation strategies on a case-by-case basis, being cognizant of development and college office needs and procedures.
- Assist in developing and implementing a comprehensive communications plan to inform constituents and identified markets about the mission, vision, and values of the unit, its funding priorities, and gift opportunities.
- Develop and present major gift proposals and acknowledge and recognize gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors, and appropriate to the vision, mission, and values of the unit and UF Advancement.
- Create a structured process for the identification, recruitment, evaluation, recognition, and replacement of volunteers to strengthen fundraising effectiveness.
- Participate in recruiting experienced and diverse leadership on boards and/or committees to ensure that these groups are representative of, and responsive to, the communities served.
Other:
- Ensure best practices in office systems, files and record keeping.
- Ensure effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, and analysis, and the Advance database.
- Contribute to the planning and monitoring of the budget, using resources for best results in fundraising and planning activities involving volunteers, prospects, faculty, and administration.
Perform related duties as required or deemed appropriate to the accomplishment of the responsibilities and functions related to this position.
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| Preferred Qualifications: |
The ideal candidate will possess:
- Three to five years of major gift fundraising experience with documented success in cultivating and soliciting major gifts of $100,000 and above from individual and corporate prospects with campaign experience.
- Prior experience in a college or university setting, enthusiasm for fundraising in a comprehensive research university, and the desire to work collegially within a goal-oriented fundraising organization.
- Knowledge of fundraising principles, methods, and standards.
- Expertise in developing solicitation strategies.
- The ability to work strategically, develop and implement constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
- Ability to work collaboratively and a team player
- Competency in problem solving.
- Must be an outstanding communicator and possess excellent written and verbal communication skills; interpersonal skills; and the ability to work collegially and interact effectively with a diverse constituency.
- An appreciation for and support of diversity in the workplace in all its forms; proven success working with stakeholders; project management skills; experience in a data-driven environment; organizational skills; and the ability to lead, influence and motivate others are required.
- Working knowledge in these areas: Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, internet browsers, preferably Internet Explorer, E-mail. Working knowledge of a donor database, contact management and tracking system.
- The ability and willingness to travel. A valid driver license and good driving record are essential.*
*Business expenses are reimbursed through a standard accounting system. The ability to pay for expenses using your own personal credit card or funds and have them reimbursed is essential.
UF Advancement has defined the following critical competencies for organizational and position specific success:
- Relationship Mastery - Identifies, targets and strategically builds relationships with colleagues, prospects, donors and volunteers
- Establishes and maintains effective relationships; demonstrating genuine interest in the well-being and opinions of others and recognizing common ground with individuals from varying backgrounds
- Anticipates conversational direction with ability to swiftly adapt and diffuse high tension situations
- Successfully identifies the proper timing, medium and consistency to engage stakeholders
- Exhibits a high level of emotional intelligence in all interactions
- Donor Focus - Ability to establish, cultivate and steward prospects/ donors to build and maintain lifelong partnerships and trust on behalf of the institution
- Consistently searches for ways to improve the donor experience centralizing all efforts and tasks around meeting their needs
- Matches donor/prospect passions with university priorities, involving the right people and resources at the right time
- Places prospect/ donor needs ahead of personal success
- Utilizes resources, remains flexible and creatively suggests individualized engagement activities
- Tenacity - Ability to demonstrate the discipline and resilience necessary to successfully achieve goals and strategies
- Identifies and seizes opportunities, setting “stretch” goals and exceeding them (always looking for the next rung on the ladder)
- Ability to re-direct prospects from distractions and non-productive requests (in control but not seemingly in control)
- Strong commitment to close gifts (every day is a domino)
- Does not give up in the face of obstacles (master of “No”)
- Credibility - Displays responsible, reliable and trustworthy actions
- Acts in an ethical and authentic manner to support the mission of the university, demonstrating a “can do” spirit, sense of ownership, urgency and commitment
- Stay current on functional and technical aspects of one’s job seeking opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills
- Promotes and establishes trust, respect and rapport utilizing diplomacy and tact
- Fulfills commitments made to donors, colleagues and university partners
- Entrepreneurial Spirit - Ability to generate creative solutions and take risks
- Understands current environment and possesses the ability to adapt to new opportunities and challenges
- Generates innovative ideas, solutions and opportunities to positively impact results (doesn’t order from the menu)
- Learns from success and failure with a drive to succeed (hates to lose)
- Accepts, embraces and leads change
- Engaging Communication - Ability to attentively listen and express oneself clearly and empathetically in interactions with others in all forms of communication
- Possesses the ability to engage and inspire
- Successfully reads verbal and non-verbal cues adapting communication style and strategy as needed
- Demonstrates active listening and understands the art of asking questions to skillfully obtain more complete information
- Commands attention when speaking and presenting to individuals or groups
- Strategic Thinking - Ability to develop strategies and plans that integrate into the organization’s mission, priorities and goals
- Ability to effectively synthesize information and data to evaluate and prioritize prospects/donors in a larger context (knows their prospects)
- Ability to document and illustrate a comprehensive engagement strategy with realistic timelines
- Collaboratively engages colleagues and academic partners and integrates their knowledge into strategy
- Ability to think big, and create bold and inspiring tactics
- Mission Driven - Fundamentally identifies with the core mission to create awareness, build relationships, generate support and recognize donors for the purpose of advancing the university
- Considers national trends and best practices of advancement within higher education
- Possesses a solid appreciation of UF history, culture and tradition
- Understands the power of philanthropy and how to engage donors toward achieving their goals
- Creates advocates for the university through the ability to “visualize dreams”, “ask”, and “close”
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| Special Instructions to Applicants: |
This position has been reposted. Previous applicants are still under consideration and need not reapply.
In order to be considered for this position, applicant must upload a cover letter and resume with application.
We offer flexible work arrangements such as hybrid remote work locations and/or schedules that fall outside of a unit’s usual working hours.
Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.
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