University of Michigan

Director of Advancement

Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

Working Title

: 

Director of Advancement

Posting Number

: 

61289

Job Category

: 

Fundraising - Director of Development

Reports To

: 

Dean of the Ford School

Experience Range

: 

10 to 15 Years + Management Experience

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

To apply for this position, please submit your cover letter and resume as one document on the University of Michigan Careers at the U site.

If you are unable to apply via the U-M Jobs site, please submit your cover letter and resume to dev.careers@umich.edu. In the subject line, please type in the Job ID# for which you are applying.

For questions about the U-M application process, please refer to the FAQ page

Position Description

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy invites applications for a newly created "Director of Advancement" position. The director of advancement will lead the school's fundraising and external relations activities, and dramatically raise the school's visibility as the University prepares to celebrate 100 years of policy education in 2014. We invite applications from proven leaders with exceptional people and project management skills, demonstrated fund- and friend-raising capabilities, and a passion for solving pressing societal challenges through effective, well-crafted public policy.

Reporting to the dean of the Ford School, the director of advancement will be an essential member of the dean's advisory team, setting the strategic direction for all fundraising and external relations to raise the school's profile. This newly restructured position will enable us to expand and deepen understanding of the Ford School and its myriad accomplishments among new and existing constituencies, and to secure the public and private support essential to fulfill the school's mission.

The director will be responsible for designing and implementing strategies to expand the school's prospect pool, identify and pursue prospects for the school's campaign priorities, solicit major gifts, steward major gift benefactors, and plan the solicitation of prospects by the dean. In collaboration with the dean and the school's senior leadership, the director will develop and oversee the implementation of a strategic marketing plan, establishing creative short- and long-term strategies and goals to enhance the school's external recognition, public image, and relationships with stakeholders. This will include leveraging the expertise of faculty, alumni, and others to increase external visibility and relationships. The director will lead the school's communications and outreach activities, collaborating with the Ford School's Offices of Student & Academic Services, Graduate Career Services, and Alumni Relations, as well as the University's development and communications offices to integrate internal and external communications for the school and bolster existing communications resources.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

The Director of Advancement will provide leadership and management for the development and communications teams. This includes, but is not limited to, providing leadership to staff; helping to set and evaluate individual goals; developing and sustaining appropriate training; mentoring and enhancing effective collaboration among team members; and assigning and monitoring coverage of primary areas of focus as needed.

Manage development activities. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Proactively and cooperatively identifying and managing a portfolio of individual major gift
prospects and donors, with an emphasis on gifts of $100K and more.

- Working with staff to develop and fine-tune plans for annual and campaign fundraising;
stewardship activities, including donor and scholarship events; class gifts; and corporate and
foundation relations.

- Collaborating with Alumni Relations staff to enhance alumni communication, participation,
and giving.

- Developing, planning, and directing the solicitation of school prospects by the dean,
president, provost, and vice president for development.

- Providing support to the dean related to fundraising activities, including strategically and
proactively planning for the dean's fundraising travel; providing briefing materials for
meetings and visits; and drafting correspondence.

- Identifying, assessing, analyzing, and designing appropriate strategies for approaching
prospects and making the vitally important match between donors' philanthropic interests
and the school's programmatic and curricular needs. Specifically, this includes short- and
long-term planning of solicitations and the analysis of prospects with respect to size of ask,
areas of interest, timing of solicitations, and identification of compelling needs within the
school.

- Working with the dean, chief administrative officer, faculty, and senior administration of the
school to articulate funding priorities and communicate the school's funding objectives to
internal and external constituencies. Working closely with senior staff, faculty, and the
school's associate dean, and serving with them in an overall advisory capacity to the dean.

- Identifying corporate and foundation prospects that are a good match for the school and hold
promise of funding programs, projects, research, and outreach activities through gifts, in-kind
contributions, or grants.

- Working closely with campus constituents such as the Office of University Development and
other schools and colleges on campus, as well as with outside partners.

- Working with the development team to direct research on prospects by the Office of University
Development's research department.

Oversee communications and public relations activities, working in partnership with the director of communications. This includes, but is not limited to:

- Working with senior leadership of the school to create and direct the implementation of a
strategic, multi-dimensional, marketing communications plan. This will require innovative
promotion of Ford School faculty research, scholarship, and policy engagement, as well as
strategic use of alumni stories.

- Developing relationships and collaborations within the Ford School to advance the goals of
the school; its Offices of Development, Student & Academic Services, Graduate Career
Services, and Alumni Relations; and its excellent research centers.

- Managing the overall consistency of the school's marketing and communications materials.
This includes leveraging the school's website, print, and multi-channel electronic marketing
materials in new and innovative ways.

- Communicating the school's expertise by publicizing important contributions to public policy
by U-M faculty, students, and alumni to the University community, the media, government,
policy leaders in public and private institutions, the general public, and other external
constituents.

- Developing relationships on and off campus that provide networking opportunities and
access to avenues for marketing and promotional activities.

- Identifying opportunities for collaboration between the Ford School and the University's Office
of the Vice President for Communications to ensure best use of University resources and
diverse media in advancing the school's reputation.

Represent the school and the University at designated functions, as required. 

Manage an annual development and communications budget in consultation with the strategic planning team, dean, and financial staff.

Initiate regular reports, conduct studies, analyze data, and perform other tasks related to development and communications at the direction of the dean and senior administrators.

Note: This position requires frequent travel, both domestic and international.

Required Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree highly desired.
* Managerial and supervisory experience required.
* A minimum of ten years of significant achievement in a broad-based development role in a complex matrix organization, ideally with experience in higher education. Comprehensive campaign planning for a multi-faceted institution is a plus.
* Considerable experience in developing and implementing strategic communications initiatives.
* Proven success in building productive, long-term relationships with senior university administrators, faculty, staff, institutional boards, volunteers, and donors.
* A track record of working closely with senior leaders and providing the support necessary to ensure their success in development activities.
* Demonstrated ability to formulate strategic plans, implement programs, and evaluate the success of these initiatives.
* Extensive knowledge, training, and experience in the area of major gifts, with proven success in gift closure at the six-and seven-figure level.
* Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, demonstrating personal integrity, creativity, flexibility, and accountability.
* Extensive working knowledge of foundation and corporate missions, goals, cultures, and organizational reporting requirements.
* Proven ability to work in, and an appreciation for, an interdisciplinary and diverse community environment.
* A passion for higher education and public policy.
* Proven ability to mentor and develop a high functioning work team, and to collaborate across unit boundaries.
* Ability to effectively deal with ambiguity and uncertainty in the workplace.
* Knowledge of university policies, procedures, and culture desired.

Additional Information

The Ford School is one of the nation's most respected policy schools. We lead research that illuminates public policy challenges and opportunities. We prepare future policy leaders and analysts for dynamic careers in the public and private sectors. We work with policymakers to inform and improve local, state, national, and international policies. We foster dialogue and understanding about the most pressing policy challenges of today.

The Ford School has earned a reputation for academic rigor and excellence; a strong and growing commitment to diversity; and a collegial, welcoming, and stimulating interdisciplinary community. We are housed in Joan and Sanford Weill Hall, a celebrated facility in the heart of the University of Michigan's central campus in Ann Arbor. To learn more about the Ford School's mission and activities - including our bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs - please visit www.fordschool.umich.edu.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Mission Statement

The Office of University Development maximizes private support for the University of Michigan through high-quality collaboration with the development programs of schools, colleges, and units. We also provide fundraising leadership through the stimulation and facilitation of healthy, productive and life-long relationships with our colleagues, alumni, friends, foundations and corporations.

U-M EEO/AA Statement: The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.