Lead Senior Director of Advancement, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

Advertised Job SummaryUnder limited supervision, the Lead Senior Director of Advancement (Senior DOA) for the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences (College) is responsible for an effective, comprehensive, and ongoing advancement program through major gifts fundraising, alumni relations, and corporate engagement. Responsibilities include planning, managing, implementing, promoting, coordinating, and administering the advancement program with an emphasis on major gifts for the College. This includes other responsibilities of the development operations and external relations for the College and the supervision of the Advancement team. This position reports to the Assistant Vice President of Development (AVP) for the fundraising expertise and strategies and is responsible to the dean for the execution of a strategic vision for external relations for the College. The dean provides direction on the fundraising priorities and strategic vision for the College. The development component of this position is part of the University Development team and operates within the system and procedures of USC Development to ensure consistent and well-coordinated activities across the College, University Development, and the University system.
Job Related Minimum Required Education and ExperienceRequires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.
Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials

Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and 5 years proven experience major gift/development in higher education and/or hybrid development model. Previous campaign experience including experience soliciting and closing $1M gifts. Familiarity with Blackbaud CRM donor database preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Thorough knowledge of principles and methods of planning and conducting a comprehensive fundraising program. Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with faculty, alumni, donors, students, volunteers, businesses, and the general public. Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to travel, work evenings and weekends, as required. Effective computer experience including database operation and word processing. Supervisory experience in hiring, managing, training and mentoring development directors and administrative staff are required. Proven ability to develop relationships with leaders in a broad range of professions.Job Duties Job DutyOversees and leads a team of development and external relations engagement efforts. Creates and fosters an environment conducive to high performance and a cohesive team, recruits, trains, and mentors professional staff. Manages staff maintaining clear monthly goals and annual performance reviews; develops performance plans and conducts reviews. Assesses effectiveness of staff, processes, procedures, resource allocation and strategies. Clearly articulates expectations, standards of accountability and guidance of staff toward desired outcomes. Strategizes and implements fundraising plans to grow leadership annual giving program and major/principal gifts program.
Essential Function Yes
Percentage of Time 25%
Job DutyServes as Prospect Manager for potential donors with capacity over $25,000 with emphasis on current and future major gifts for the College to include advancement operations and external relations engagement strategies. Responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting a gift portfolio that benefits the program priorities of the College. Uses Blackbaud CRM to coordinate and document all prospect and donor relationships as well as any relevant assignment, cultivation, or solicitation information or pending opportunities.
Essential Function Yes
Percentage of Time 10%
Job DutySolicits prospective donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations in coordination with central’s office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, office of Principal Gifts, office of Principal Gifts, and/or the office of Gift Planning. Number of solicitations are set and established by the AVP and Dean with consultation with the Senior DOA that may include individual and team solicitation goals. All solicitations are documented within a Plan and Opportunity in Blackbaud CRM. Establish a donor pipeline by entering all opportunities in Blackbaud CRM. Adheres to Prospect Development policies and procedures.
Essential Function Yes
Percentage of Time 10%
Job DutyMeets process performance goals set and established by the AVP and the Dean with consultation with the Senior DOA that includes individual and team goals. These goals include a set number of personal initial visits, and solicitations, with a focus on the Top 5 gift closures selected at the beginning of the fiscal year, and tracked via the Fundraiser Dashboard through timely documentation in Blackbaud CRM. Stewardship visits are strongly encouraged. Specific goals will also be set regarding alumni engagement and corporate relations.
Essential Function Yes
Percentage of Time 15%
Job DutyActively works with the AVP, College dean, directors, area coordinators, faculty, alumni and key volunteers in fundraising, external relations, and in corporate engagement efforts. Partners closely with Gift Planning, Annual Giving, Principal Gifts, and Corporate and Foundation Relations for opportunities to gain expertise from the support fundraising programs.
Essential Function Yes
Percentage of Time 15%
Job DutyIn collaboration with the AVP and College dean, develops an annual plan of work, including specific fundraising strategies, campaign, prospect development, stewardship and programmatic goals, priorities and needs. Prepares reports and other required information as requested. May work with the College’s Budget Director on program budget allocation.
Essential Function Yes
Percentage of Time 15%
Job DutyServes as a member of the overall USC development team by collaborating with colleagues across disciplines on donor strategies. Files timely contact reports timed with reimbursement requests; maintains accurate records and provides timely updated information in Blackbaud CRM as appropriate. Serves on committees and attends staff meetings as required.
Essential Function Yes
Percentage of Time 5%
Job DutyAccepts and implements other specific assignments as directed.
Essential Function No
Percentage of Time 5%Position AttributesEmployees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing. Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive No
Hazardous weather category Non-Essential

University of South Carolina