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Director of Development

Director of Development

University of Chicago Job Location: Illinois Date Created: 08-20-2019

About the Unit

As a dynamic research and learning environment, the University of Chicago Library advances and supports the University’s commitment to research and teaching, using its vast and diverse intellectual resources to help solve the world’s problems. The Library is assuming new exciting roles that are vital to research, innovation, and learning at the University, while continuing to focus on building and preserving our renowned collections. We are leveraging the deep expertise of Library staff, developing services that support new avenues of research, and expanding access to and preservation of scholarly resources in ways that advance the goals of the University community and the needs of the next generation of scholars.

Reporting to the University Librarian, the Director of Development directs the operations of the Library’s development program and assures that the dominant activities are designed to acquire and retain donors and upgrade their giving over time. Toward that end, the Director of Development staffs the University Librarian in cultivating and soliciting donors at the principal, leadership and major gift levels; personally manages a defined pool of prospects and donors with the capacity to give at the major gift level and above; and directs staff in securing private support from a variety of sources.

The Director of Development assures that the activities of the program operate within the parameters of the University’s fundraising goals and the Library’s strategic plan. These activities include, but are not limited to, soliciting major and planned gifts from individuals for operating and capital needs, securing endowment gifts, foundation and corporate relations, stewardship, donor and volunteer relations, event planning and providing support to Library staff who solicit in-kind gifts of collections and other scholarly materials.


Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Sets and achieves University fundraising and engagement goals. Designs, manages, and executes development strategies and programs to maximize philanthropic support for the University’s priorities. Increases engagement and participation of the University’s worldwide community of alumni, parents, families and friends via diversified communication programs and activities.


Career Track and Job Level

Development

Oversees, plans, and implements all development activities within the undergraduate college, an academic department, a professional school, the central development office, or another University unit. Executes fundraising cultivation programs for prospective donors and for councils.

M2: Manages professional employees and/or supervisors. Is accountable for the performance and results of a team within own discipline. Adapts departmental plans and priorities to address resource and operational challenges. Decisions are guided by policies, procedures and business plan; receives guidance from manager. Provides technical guidance to employees, colleagues and/or customers.


Role Impact

People Manager


Responsibilities

The job manages a team of professional staff responsible for planning all development activities; typically within the undergraduate college, a large academic department or professional school, or the central development office. Leads fundraising projects and cultivation programs for prospective donors and for visiting committees.

1) Manages employees by establishing annual performance goals, allocating resources, assessing annual performance, and determining individual merit, incentive and/or promotional increases.

2) Serves as a development officer for a unit with responsibility for setting the strategy for the identification, cultivation and solicitation of a portfolio of individual major and principal gift prospects.

3) Networks with high-level prospects through visits, events, correspondence, and regular calls. Maintains relationships with top donors, various volunteer committees, and top administrators. Solicits gifts and may negotiate gift discussions.

4) Develops annual and long-term activity goals and short-term operating plans for alumni fundraising programs. Recommends and manages the annual operating budget.

5) Performs other related work as needed.


Unit-specific Responsibilities

1) Serves as the key staff resource to the University Librarian on all matters relating to Library fund raising and serves as the Library’s official liaison to the University’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Serves as the Library’s staff liaison to the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees on matters involving the Library Council.

2) Plays a key role in raising awareness of Library both externally and internally, through planning and sponsoring high profile events.

3) Annually assesses the gift potential of the Library’s existing donor base and identifies and ranks individuals, foundations, corporations and other sources of private support for solicitation by the University Librarian and the Library’s development staff.

4) Assesses the feasibility of matching the Library’s needs with the philanthropic priorities of individuals, foundations, corporations and other sources of private support.

5) Prepares an annual development plan that delineates financial as well as strategic goals and activities for measuring outcomes.

6) Oversees and monitors the Library Development operational budget and the budget(s) of the Library’s key volunteer groups. Works closely with staff in the Library’s Budget and Human Resources Office to review, monitor and check income and expenditures.

7) Supports Library development staff members in establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with individuals within the Library, the campus community, University Development and Alumni Relations, and with academic leadership.

8) Writes gift proposals and case statements and other relevant correspondence and/or supervises staff in preparing such documents for solicitation.

9) Builds and manages a portfolio of individual prospects which includes a departmental calling schedule, sharing those contact responsibilities with members of the Library’s development staff, as appropriate.

10) Executes Library Society meetings and speaker programs. Staffs the Library Society Chairman and oversees the execution of annual membership and endowment solicitations.

11) Oversees the gift acknowledgment process executed by development staff, to assure that all gifts are deposited and acknowledged in a timely manner and recorded accurately in the University’s development database. This includes special recognition processes such as gift book plating.

12) Directs staff in the executing of the Library’s annual endowment stewardship program, an interdepartmental process to assure that Library endowment donors receive fiscal year-end financial and narrative reports on their funds. Also, plans and implements additional activities that facilitate regular contact with or reporting to donors who fund other library projects.

13) Attends required prospect management, planning and strategy development meetings convened by the senior staff of the Office of the Vice President of University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) and assures that policies and protocols set forth by that office are followed by the Library’s development staff. This includes, but may not be limited to, collaborations with the offices of Principal Gifts, Research, Gift Services, Gift Planning, Special Events, Strategic Planning, Regional Major Gifts, the Annual Fund and the Alumni Association.


Unit-preferred Competencies

1) Act with Integrity and Display Tact

2) Exercise Discretion and Maintain Confidentiality

3) Exhibit intellectual curiosity

4) Ability to interact effectively with donors and other key stakeholders

5) An appreciation for the value of academic and research libraries

6) Excellent communication skills including writing, interpersonal and public presentation

7) Demonstrate University Stewardship & Serve as a Brand Ambassador

8) Willingness and ability to travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business; willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends


Education, Experience, and Certifications

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.


Preferred Qualifications

Education

1) Bachelors degree in related field.


Experience

1) Knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

2) Development experience in a higher education, library or not for profit setting.

3) A strong track record of successful fund raising at the leadership and major gift level

4) Experience leading a project team or managing staff

5) Demonstrated record of organizing successful fundraising, marketing or membership programs


Required Documents

1) Resume

2) Cover Letter

3) Reference List


NOTE: When applying, all required documents MUST be uploaded under the Resume/CV section of the application.

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