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SR DIR, DEVELOPMENT TRINITY & GRADUATE
Job Title: SR DIR, DEVELOPMENT TRINITY & GRADUATE
Job Code: 3805
FLSA: E
Job Level: 17
Revised Date: 07/01/2023
Job Family: JF 28
Occupational Summary
The Senior Director of Development develops, executes, and leads programs and strategies to identify, cultivate and solicit alumni, parents and friends of Trinity College and The Graduate School for significant gifts to fund identified campaign and/or institutional priorities. S/he focuses on high-capacity prospects with a focus on leadership and principal gift prospects.
This position requires a great deal of independence, working on complex gifts and collaborating with the highest level of faculty and leadership across Duke. In addition, this senior level gift officer requires significant leadership skills as s/he will manage the priorities, set metrics, and direct the strategy and work of the Director of Development of Trinity College and the Director of Development for The Graduate School. S/he will oversee projects and lead and/or participate in Alumni Engagement & Development (AED) task forces, committees and initiatives as requested, and serve as a role model on all best practices relating to fundraising and collaboration.
Work Performed
In coordination with the Major & Leadership Gifts and Principal Gifts team, identify, cultivate, and solicit top tier prospects in all phases of the fundraising cycle, with a focus on high-capacity prospects rated $1M+. This position does not carry a prospect portfolio, but rather serves as an advisor and subject matter expert on Trinity College and Graduate School priorities.
Navigate and oversee the complex Trinity College prospect pool in collaboration with Business Intelligence and Trinity College and TGS Operations, which also serves as the donor base for university-wide priorities.
Develop and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies for donors and families, working with senior administration, gift officers, faculty, and volunteers as appropriate, closing gifts at the high end of capacity and contributing significantly to Trinity College and The Graduate School fundraising priorities.
Leverage both a deep understanding of the giving process and donors' unique decision-making process to determine likelihood of further cultivation yielding a major gift. Use concise, direct, and diplomatic communications to build collaborative partnerships with donors.
Understand how to align donor interests with the university's ability follow through.
Collaborate with fundraising leadership, university leaders, board members, financial and legal advisors, and gift planning staff regarding prospect solicitation. Leverage effective communication and the authentic relationship built with the prospect to co-author the final proposal.
Effectively manages donor and internal stakeholder expectations regarding appropriate progression and timing of the giving conversation.
Demonstrate decisiveness and sound judgment to predict how a decision will affect key stakeholder groups and develop strategies to build support for the decision; rapidly identifies the key issues that need to be considered when making strategic decisions.
Leverage donors' gifts to illustrate impact and effective and efficient giving for other donors.
Maintain a robust knowledge of Trinity College and The Graduate School's funding priorities; keep abreast of institutional and departmental priorities, university programs, and events.
Suggest prospects to strengthen membership of existing College and School volunteer boards or organizations. Develop, evaluate, and refine plans and timetables for regional, departmental, or thematic assignments; assist with planning and/or directing events or programs.
Serve as high-level liaison to key partners within DAED and Duke such as the Annual Fund, Business Intelligence, Major & Leadership Gifts, Engagement, and Marketing, Communications & Stewardship around strategy development and messaging that supports and promotes further growth in fundraising and engagement for Trinity College and The Graduate School stakeholders.
Represent the Associate Dean and Assistant Vice President in AED meetings and conversations as appropriate.
Manage the priorities, set metrics, and direct the strategy and work of the Director of Development of Trinity College and the Director of Development for The Graduate School.
Serve as a role model and mentor for Directors of Development and affiliated fundraising staff on the Trinity College and Graduate School team.
Be instrumental in successfully developing the vision and direction of the team; generate broad internal and external support for the mission, goals, agenda, and policies of the department.
Take on leadership roles on the team, task forces, committees, projects, or initiatives as requested.
Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
Required Qualifications at this Level
Education/Training
Work requires communication, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor's degree program. Advanced degree preferred.
Experience
Requires a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in managing development programs and staff.
OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
Skills
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
