Chief Development Officer

Ross School of Business

Working Title
: 
Development Director Lead

Posting Number
: 
55835

Job Category
: 
Fundraising - Director of Development

Reports To
: 
Dean of the Ross School of Business

Date Posted
: 
2011-03-11

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

The Dean, in consultation with the Vice President for University Development, has identified a number Job Opening of priorities for the new CDO, including:

  • Develop and implement a strategic development plan with the infrastructure and staff support to maximize the fundraising potential of the Ross School and all of its components:
    • Develop a cohesive, high caliber team of development and alumni relations professionals who work in partnership with the academic leadership, faculty, volunteers, and donors for the Ross School and its various entities
    • Creatively organize the staff to maximize their effectiveness and clearly define their roles, relationships, and expectations
    • In conjunction with the University Development Talent Management team and the Ross School Human Resource Office, develop orientation, on-boarding and training programs for staff, that ensure development and alumni relations staff are as current and as competent as possible in their disciplines
  • Increase the level of giving, engagement and participation to the Ross School:
    • Enhance and expand the base of major and planned gift prospects
    • Enhance the and annual giving program, increasing both participation and level of contributions
    • Enhance relationships with corporate donors and develop new linkages with industry partners
    • Ensure the donor recognition/stewardship program is consistent with university recommended practices that increase revenue and engagement with Ross
  • Create new contexts for increased involvement of alumni and other volunteers to enhance their advocacy and philanthropic support for stated priorities:
    • Develop effective campaign volunteer structures, including an advisory board for the Ross School
  • Be recognized as a valued, committed, and collegial chief advancement officer by the Dean, and faculty of the school as well as by the VPD and colleagues in the Office of University Development and throughout the University development community:
    • Understand and capitalize on the unique strengths of each component of the Ross School
    • Enhance partnerships with colleagues in the Office of Development to maximize resources available to the Ross School
  • Strengthen ties with potential donors throughout Michigan as well as nationally and internationally

 

Position Description

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a dynamic, distinctive learning community that is consistently ranked among the world's leading business schools. Ross develops ideas that shape - and people who lead - complex, global organizations.

The faculty at Ross impact the way business is taught and practiced around the world. The students at Ross develop their leadership talent through action-based learning programs that connect the world of ideas to the world of practice. The donors to Ross are a critical ingredient to the School's success.

As a result of the $100 million gift from alumnus and New York City real estate developer Stephen M. Ross, the Ross School designed and built a new, state-of-the-art facility, opened in January 2009, that supports its commitment to delivering a transformational educational experience. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations drives the fundraising and alumni relations activities of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

The Ross School's contribution to the University's most recent comprehensive campaign, ending in December of 2008, totaled $360 million - including $160 million for academic support, $110 million for facilities, and $96 million in unrestricted support.

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is the chief advancement officer for the Ross School of Business. This individual maintains executive responsibility for the planning, implementation, and management of all components of the development and alumni relations program.

 

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

  • Working collaboratively with the Dean, develops and implements a comprehensive development and alumni relations program for the Ross School of Business.
  • In partnership with Ross leadership and University leadership, plans and implements the Ross School's portion of the next comprehensive University campaign.
  • Establishes, with the Dean, an operating plan with annual goals, objectives, and strategies for fundraising and alumni relations programs in support of the Ross School priorities:
    • Provides professional fundraising guidance to the Dean and other academic and administrative leaders in defining fundraising and alumni relations priorities
    • Responsible for preparing and supporting the Dean in all development and alumni activities
    • Establishes an accountability system with clearly defined fundraising goals, objectives, and measures for Ross School development officers and staff
    • Regularly evaluates programs and assesses progress towards goals
    • Reports on results to the Dean
    • Ensures that all development and alumni relations professionals comply with University policies and standards governing development.
  • Implements management methods to achieve Ross School fundraising and alumni relations goals:
    • Recruits, selects, and evaluates experienced and competent professional and support staff in collaboration with the appropriate University administrators
    • Manages the development and alumni relations staff, including making all key personnel and job assignment decisions
    • Monitors and evaluates the performance of development and alumni relations staff
    • Establishes appropriate mechanisms for the reporting of all Ross School fundraising results, including all cash receipts, life income gifts, bequests and other expectancies, pledges, gifts-in-kind, and all other fundraising progress
    • Develops and administers the department's operating budget
  • Focuses the Ross School development and alumni relations programs and activities on securing major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations:
    • Actively manages a portfolio of leadership and major gift prospects and donors by personally participating in their cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
    • Assigns major gift prospects to professional staff
    • In collaboration with the Office of Foundation Relations in the Office of University Development, oversees the development of proposals to foundations in support of Ross School initiatives
    • Working in collaboration with the Business Engagement Center, key Ross administrators and faculty, create and implement a strategic development plan for the corporate prospect base, including annual corporate fundraising goals and activity objectives
    • In collaboration with the Office of Gift Planning in the Office of University Development, ensures a productive pipeline of planned gift donors to enhance long-term financial resources for Ross School's priorities
    • Ensures the cooperative participation of the Ross School Development and Alumni Relations staff in the University's prospect management and tracking system
    • Maintains overall responsibility for the Ross School's donor relations program, including planning and staffing of all donor cultivation and stewardship efforts
    • Serves as principal staff liaison to the Ross School Alumni Association Board of Directors
    • Builds strong and mutually beneficial relationships between the academic leadership, faculty, and staff of the Ross School and external audiences such as donors, alumni, business and community leaders and the University Alumni Association
    • Represents the Ross School leadership at public functions and special events as appropriate
    • Has a solid understanding of how to utilize and implement various media channels and emerging technologies to raise funds for the Ross School

 

Required Qualifications

  • A bachelor's degree is required; master's degree preferred
  • A minimum of 10-15 years of significant achievement in a broad-based development role in a complex matrix organization, ideally with experience in higher education
  • A record of significant achievement in major and principal gift fundraising
  • Proven success in building productive, long-term relationships with senior university administrators, faculty, staff, institutional boards, volunteers, and donors
  • Proven success in working closely with senior leaders and providing the support necessary to ensure their success in development activities
  • Campaign planning and execution experience
  • Supervisory experience and proven track record of managing a high performing team
  • Strong organizational and managerial leadership skills
  • Highly developed writing and public speaking ability
  • Ability to balance the needs of the Ross School and those of the University
  • A collaborative, team-oriented style allied with the ability to be strong and decisive
  • Demonstrated ability to recruit, organize, direct, and motivate staff
  • A high level of initiative, energy, and creativity
  • Sound judgment
  • A passion for higher education
  • Results-oriented
  • Must be available for U.S. and global travel as needed
  • The ability to work effectively in a large, complex, and dynamic organization
  • Maintains familiarity with philanthropic issues related to business school education and research

 

The final candidate will be a seasoned, successful and creative development professional capable of organizing, implementing, and directly participating in a comprehensive academic fundraising and alumni relations program with a high degree of professionalism, sensitivity and integrity.

 

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.

The University of Michigan Office of Development, 3003 South State Street, Suite 9000, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1288phone734 647-6000