Senior Associate AD, Chief Development Officer

Senior Associate Athletic Director, Chief Development Officer

Application Process:

The University of Southern California invites letters of nomination, applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted at Parker Executive Search’s website .

About the University of Southern California

The University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles and a global center for arts, technology, and international business, USC is also one of the largest private employers in the City of Los Angeles.  We are searching for exceptional individuals to help us fulfill our mission: developing individuals and society as a whole through the cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit. As an employee of USC, you will be part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

World-renowned for its unparalleled combination of academic and athletic prowess, USC has a storied history of collegiate and Olympic success. The vision of the USC Department of Athletics is to be the most student-athlete centered athletics program in the country. USC Athletics is committed to serving and empowering its student-athletes by providing the support, resources, and environment for student-athletes to pursue a world-class education; engage in a meaningful and fulfilling college experience; transform into the best versions of themselves; compete for championships; and prepare to thrive after USC. A member of the Pac-12 Conference and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, USC is proud to support nine men’s (baseball, basketball, football, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo) and 12 women’s (basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo) teams across 12 athletics venues.

About the Position 

USC Athletics is looking to hire a Senior Associate Athletic Director, Chief Development Officer to join our staff and student community of 600+ individuals. This role is responsible for leading the Athletic Department’s philanthropic efforts to raise principal and transformational gifts to carry out the department’s missions and priorities.

Reporting directly to the Deputy Athletic Director for External Relations/Chief of Staff, the Senior Associate Athletic Director, Chief Development Officer will be a creative, bold, and innovative development leader with an entrepreneurial spirit who has overseen large teams. This individual will be energized by the opportunity to build a best-in-class principal and transformational gifts program resulting in significant impact. The ideal candidate leads by example and influence, motivates and energizes others to achieve ambitious goals, thrives on working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, is capable of inspiring yet is courageous enough to make hard decisions and hold ground on principle when called for, has reliable judgment and trusted discretion, possesses executive presence that conveys credibility and engenders trust, and is politically savvy. Knowledge of and experience working in higher education preferred. Understanding of the unique culture and needs of college athletes preferred.

This position serves a diverse student and staff population, must demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for historically under-served populations, and is expected to contribute to the program’s diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts. USC Athletics is committed to increasing diversity in its staff and welcomes applications from persons of all backgrounds, ethnicities, races, genders, and sexual orientations.

This is a full-time, exempt position.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Supporting the Director of Athletics and Deputy Athletic Director in all areas of donor relations, solicitations, events, athletic department and university protocol and more. Responsible for planning, organizing, developing, implementing, and executing long- and short-term strategies to secure major and principal gifts from individuals, alumni and foundations, as well as oversight and direction for department’s capital campaign, annual fund and planned giving efforts. Identifies and cultivates major donors and prospects, and develops strategic plans for soliciting and expanding donor base.

• Develops and oversees annual development budget. Manages and provides proactive leadership and mentorship to the athletic department development staff including Lead Development Officers as direct reports. Measures progress, provides feedback and coaching, and empowers staff and volunteer engagement through active and inclusive communication and delegation. Leads and directs meetings of department leadership, overseeing notes and correspondence. Additionally, the CDO works closely with External Relations units, including the marketing and ticketing teams on seat-related giving programs and to achieve department revenue goals.

• Responsible for planning, organizing, developing, implementing, and executing long- and short-term strategies to secure major and principal gifts from individuals, alumni, foundations and other entities, all in support of the athletic department’s mission. Oversees and provides the overall direction of comprehensive fundraising and stewardship efforts, defining and communicating specific needs and priorities.

• Represents athletic department in all facets to development stakeholders. Identifies and cultivates major donors and prospects, developing and reviewing strategic plans for soliciting and expanding donor base. Plans, schedules and directs development-oriented campus visits and/or special events to help secure annual, major, and planned gifts, grants and private support from alumni, foundations, corporations, and other current and potential donors.

• Collaborates closely with the Senior Vice President for University Advancement as well as with executive and academic leadership, deans, faculty and staff to establish and achieve school/department fundraising goals. Provides strategic direction for volunteer support groups and supports staff and coach recruiting efforts. Attends and provides support to other school or university special events, as needed.

• Maintains awareness and knowledge of current changes within legal and regulatory environments which may affect development and university policies, as well as NCAA and conference policies. Participates in professional meetings and conferences, and/or contributes to journals or publications, maintaining professional contacts and program visibility.

• Promotes an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and creates unbiased opportunities for contributions through ideas, words, and actions that uphold principles of the USC Code of Ethics.

• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Additional duties and responsibilities:

• Lead regular strategy sessions around principal gifts and transformational gifts prospects.

• Assist in the planning and strategy of the overall University Advancement operation.

• Work with the Director of Athletics, Deputy Athletic Director for External Relations and Senior Vice President for University Advancement senior staff to develop program goals, plans, and objectives, and to establish quantifiable, measurable elements for use in monitoring program effectiveness and success, including implementation and guidance in establishing and maintaining advancement best practices.

• Maintain a working knowledge of the university’s priorities and fundraising practices and policies and partner with the appropriate constituent groups to ensure that priorities are achieved.

• Serve on university, college, and campus committees as requested.

• Assist the Director of Athletics and Deputy Athletic Director in varied duties, especially as related to advancement planning and activities.

• Provide Sport Oversight to program(s) as assigned by the Director of Athletics.

Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will possess a minimum education of a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred) and a minimum of eight years of experience (ten years of progressively responsible fundraising and leadership experience in a complex university setting is preferred, or extensive leadership experience in a similar setting.) Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

• Experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding eight-figure and above gifts.

• Accomplished in areas of leadership solicitation, board management, fundraising strategy, and programming.

• Exceptional problem-solving skills combined with a demonstrated record for the execution of plans and strategies; experience collaborating in a team-oriented environment.

• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, and communication skills; and impeccable integrity.

• Demonstrated ability to create collaborative opportunities between advancement, marketing/communications, and alumni relations.

• Experience working in higher education and/or a sports related field ideal.

Salary Range

The annual base salary range for this position is $250,000-400,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Application Process:

The University of Southern California invites letters of nomination, applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted at Parker Executive Search’s website . For additional information, please contact:

Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director

DeLaina Sarden, Principal

Xavier Harper, Executive Recruiting Coordinator

770-804-1996 ext. 119

[email protected] tendersglobal.net [email protected] tendersglobal.net [email protected]

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance. 

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree
Minimum Experience: 8 years