Description

 Position Summary:  

The Sr. Director of Development reports to the Executive Director of Advancement and manages a portfolio of major gift donors ($25,000+) to raise funds for their assigned unit. This professional works closely with fellow OU Foundation colleagues as well as faculty, staff and administrative leadership on the OU Norman campus to develop and implement fundraising strategies for the team to meet fundraising goals. Goals and areas of focus for the Sr. Director will be determined by their assigned unit/team. Performance metrics will be determined annually by the Executive Director in consultation with the Sr. Director pursuant to the OU Foundation’s annual fundraising goals and the University’s funding needs and priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manages an active portfolio of major and principal gift prospects in all aspects of the development cycle.
• Solicits and secures private gifts from individuals.
• Develops and manages an individual business travel schedule within the budget and policies of the OU Foundation.
• Works with confidential donor information, documents donor interactions and solicitations in the prospect management system keeping donor information updated.
• Collaborates with Planned Giving and Corporate & Foundation Relations teams.
• Collaborates with the Stewardship, Donor Relations and Communications team to ensure cultivation and stewardship strategy and plans are developed and executed.
• Builds strong relationships with academic leadership, faculty and staff across the OU Norman campus to creatively connect institutional needs with opportunities for support from individual donors and achieve team goals.
• Works with legal documents, including donor agreements.
• Monitors, analyzes and provides data related to team-specific activity and use of donor funds.
• Actively and continuously learns about the practices of fundraising and the University of Oklahoma through internal and external professional development opportunities, relationships and independent study.
• May serve as a manager or team lead.

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Ability to develop, maintain and grow interpersonal relationships including with university alumni, donors and friends, administrators, faculty, students and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to solicit major and principal gifts.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to make effective presentations to large and small groups.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies.
• Intuitive ability to recognize opportunities.
• Ability to work independently or in a team environment.
• Ability to compose, proofread and edit business and donor correspondence and materials. 
• Exceptional goal orientation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn customized online software applications, basic data analysis.
• Ability to effectively evaluate projects/programs and produce comprehensive reports.
• Understanding of ethics as described in the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards.
• Ability to travel to in-person meetings in various U.S. cities.
• Ability to travel independently, by car, to multiple locations for work that may be significant distances from one another.
• Occasional weekend or evening work is required.

Equivalent Education/Experience

• 8 years progressive experience in fundraising, sales and/or gift-planning-related roles
• Bachelor’s degree 

Preferences

• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)

SALARY RANGE:

• Salary commensurate with experience.