The Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for Advancement (Development Officer SR) is a key leadership role that provides university-wide guidance and coordination of fundraising activities. The primary focus is on supporting strategic initiatives aligned with university and campaign priorities. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Corporate Relations and Foundations, this position plays a crucial role in building and maintaining strong institutional relationships with external stakeholders, including corporations, foundations, and individuals, to maximize philanthropic support for the university's priority initiatives and special projects. 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Planning and Coordination:
• Develop and implement a strategic plan for fundraising activities aligned with university priorities.
• Coordinate and align fundraising efforts across various university departments, including collegiate development, central development, the Office of Research, and academic Deans.
2. Relationship Building:
• Establish and nurture strong relationships with a diverse range of external stakeholders, including corporations, foundations, and individual donors.
• Represent the university in a professional manner, promoting its mission and strategic initiatives to potential donors.
3. Proposal Development and Funding Requests:
• Work closely with collegiate development, central development, and other relevant departments to coordinate the preparation of proposals and funding requests for key university initiatives.
• Ensure alignment of proposals with campaign priorities and university goals.
4. Goal Setting and Achievement:
• Set and achieve personal contact, proposal submission, and closed-gift goals to contribute to overall fundraising success.
• Monitor and report progress regularly to the Associate Vice President.
5. Collaboration and Leadership:
• Collaborate with unit-based development staff, university leadership, and donors to build strong, collaborative relationships.
• Provide guidance, support, and strategic direction to enhance fundraising efforts within the central development team.

Minimal Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree plus five years of experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Ability to work collaboratively without taking direct credit for success.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship skills.
• Demonstrated experience in successful solicitation of corporate and foundation gifts.
• Excellent writing and communication skills including conflict resolution and collaborative project management.
• Understanding of broader institutional goals and objectives.
• Proven ability to develop long term relationships with donors including strong stewardship skills.
• A track record of collaboration and team-building.
• Willingness and ability to travel; evening and weekend work is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree plus five years direct fundraising experience with emphasis on program development and donor relationship management.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders (students, alumni, faculty, staff) from diverse backgrounds.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Able to take initiative
• Maintain confidentiality
• Assume stewardship
• Accountable
• Commitment to ethical behavior
• Honest and trustworthy
• Strong work ethic
• Commitment to the improvement of USU
• Inquisitive
• Detail oriented

Disclaimer

This position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the position

Along with the online application, please attach:

1.  Resume to be uploaded to the Candidate Profile

2.  Cover Letter to be typed/pasted into a text box at the end of the application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

The Division of Advancement is a welcoming office where teamwork and inclusiveness are highly valued. Advancement staff are engaged in the meaningful work of securing private financial resources to fuel Utah State University's mission by creating gratifying gift and engagement experiences for USU's generous and passionate alumni and friends. Comprising the division are the office of the Vice President, the USU Foundation & Board, Advancement Services, the Alumni Association (Alumni Engagement), Gift Planning, Corporations and Foundations, Strategic Communications, Stewardship, the Annual Fund and ACE (Alumni Center for Engagement). Furthermore, the division coordinates all fundraising efforts across campus, including colleges, various programs, extension campuses, and USU Athletics. Through the collaboration of these units, the Division of Advancement is able to achieve significant annual fundraising goals by inspiring stakeholders to invest their time and resources in Utah State University. 

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023