Senior Director of Advancement, College of Arts & Science

Advancement

The University of Missouri Office of Advancement is seeking a Senior Director of Advancement to be a leader on the fundraising team for the College of Arts and Science.

The Senior Director of Advancement will join an enthusiastic, driven team committed to connecting big dreamers with big ideas that impact research, students, and teaching in the College of Arts and Science and across campus.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned, independent-working, motivated individual who will use best fundraising practices to bring donors together for the greater good of our society and the people in A&S.

This experienced candidate, with a proven record of securing major and planned gifts, is expected to have a high level of annual productivity for contacts, visits, proposals presented and closed. Utilizing best practices to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective and current donors, alumni, and friends of the University with a philanthropic capacity of $50k and higher will lead this candidate to success.

In addition to personal fundraising responsibilities, the Senior Advancement Director will work closely with the Executive Director to develop and implement unit advancement goals and manage two Advancement Officers.

This is a role with supervisor responsibilities based in Columbia, MO. This position will work under the supervision and guidance of the Executive Director of Advancement and in close collaboration with the Dean of the College, other advancement team members, and unit faculty and staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Raise funds to support students, faculty, staff, research, and programs in the College of Arts and Science.
• Develop and initiate appropriate cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Ask for gifts of at least $50,000 from alumni, friends, and corporations.
• Establish and maintain authentic relationships that match donor interest with organizational need and lead to impactful philanthropic gifts.
• Research and ask potential donors thoughtful questions to gain insight into needs, beliefs, interest, and donation habits to understand how best to engage them with the college.
• Regularly thank donors by proving impact reports explaining how their donations made a difference.
• Under the direction of the Executive Director of Advancement, work directly with the Dean and various A&S departmental leaders to provide direction in the development and implementation of advancement goals and assure alignment with organizational and system-wide goals, strategic plans, mission, vision, and values.
• Assist in brainstorming and creating new methods to raise funds for the college.
• Manage two direct reports to ensure individual goals are met for the greater good of unit goals.
• Collaborate with other teams in the advancement community to build partnerships and enhance fundraising activities.
• Travel inside and outside of Missouri.
• Actively participate in internal and external college and alumni functions and meetings.
• Maintain complete and orderly records of contacts with donors.
• Must maintain a valid driver's license and wireless service to carry out the responsibilities associated with the position.
• Assist with other development related projects as needed.

Ideal Competencies of a Successful Candidate:

• Works, formally and informally, within one's team and across the organization as a collaborator.
• Deeply cares and contributes to team success by openly sharing ideas and information, actively listening, responding thoughtfully, and offering support for others' ideas and proposals.
• Communicates ideas, thoughts, and facts orally and in writing effectively and can actively listen and respond appropriately.
• Identifies what needs to be done and acts before being asked or the situation requires it and works independently to achieve individual goals.
• Manages time efficiently with the ability to prioritize and coordinate tasks with attention to deadlines, concurrent management of projects and ability to create and follow a set strategy to goals and objectives.
• Analyzes and evaluates information to make appropriate decisions - even in difficult or ambiguous situations when time is critical.
• Learns and understands organizational relationships and dynamics and use them to achieve objectives and goals.
• Is confident of own ability to ask for money and close philanthropic gifts.
• Willingness to travel in the US and work occasional evening or weekend hours as needed.

Yearly Goals & Metrics

Success will be measured through the tracking of individually based goals for proposals delivered and closed, number of substantive personal contacts and visits, and dollars raised.
$2M+ Dollars Raised

• 10-15 Major Gift Proposals Presented ($50K and above)
• 6-10 Major Gifts Closed ($50K and above)
• 110+ Substantive Written Communications (Email, Letter, or Text)
• 90-115 Substantive Visits (Phone, Virtual, or In-Person)
• 12-25 Evaluation Visits

At the University of Missouri Office of Advancement, we invest in our employees. Once you join our team, you will participate in the Discipline of Frontline Fundraising (DFF) program with Plus Delta Partners, a 9-month series of fundraising workshops and 1:1 skill building. Ensuring you have the tools to succeed is an Advancement priority. Your success as a gift officer will have a direct and lasting impact on Mizzou and the priorities of the campaign.

M-F 8am-5pm, various travel, and can include some irregular working hours and roughly 30% travel.

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 6 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Our team knows that fundraising is a special niche, which is why we are open to transferable skills! If you have experience that translates to fundraising, tell us about it in your cover letter. These skills include, but are not limited to, sales, finance, consulting, non-profit work, higher education experience, etc. We are excited to learn more about you and your experiences.

• A bachelor's degree and five to seven years of progressively responsible major gift fundraising, preferably in academic higher education and participation in a capital/comprehensive campaign.
• Candidates should be able to present a proven track record of soliciting and closing major, planned, and blended gifts five figures and higher, with the capability to work effectively with high-capacity donors.
• Experience with "moves management" or related strategic relationship development.
• This person must be capable of flourishing in a fast-paced, collaborative and fluid work environment focused on performance and outcomes.
• Other important characteristics include a strong work ethic, personal integrity, emotional intelligence, excellent communication and organizational skills, strategic thinking and planning skills, and a commitment to the mission and values of the University of Missouri.
• Strong organizational skills are required, exemplary interpersonal and written communication skills are essential, as they can favorably affect sophisticated volunteers and donors.
• Evidence of a commitment to discovery and excellence, self-motivation, a passion for Mizzou and/or the liberal arts and working in an environment with a "team first" culture, and lifelong learning and professional growth is also required.
  

Salary Range: $85,000 - $105,000 annually

Grade: GGS-013

University Title: Director III Advancement

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Resume and Cover Letter

Our benefits:

As one of Missouri's largest employers, MU staff members enjoy exceptionally competitive health, PTO and retirement plans. A few highlights:

• Health Insurance -Three plans to choose from, including our Custom Network Plan; a cost-effective insurance option that utilizes our extensive network of MU-affiliated hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.
• HSA - UM provides between $400 - $1200 in contributions to health savings accounts, depending on plans and dependents
• Dental - 100% coverage for preventative care, with no restrictions on network or non-network providers
• Vision - $0 copays on frames and contact lenses along with a $140 allowance, and a $10 copay on yearly eye exams.
• Retirement - UM will match 100% of up to 8% of eligible pay contributed to a 457(b), with a three-year vesting period on University contributions.
• Tuition Assistance - Up to 75% of tuition and supplemental fees waived for employees, and 50% waived for spouses and dependents
• Time Off - Personal time off (PTO) as well as 9 paid holidays.
• Winter Break - The university observes a paid holiday for the period between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours' drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County's largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.