Chief Advancement Officer

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership 

• In partnership with the Ross Dean, develop and execute a
  compelling strategic philanthropic and engagement plan that
  supports the Ross mission to build a better world through business,
  including a comprehensive roadmap for the school’s success in the
  upcoming U-M capital campaign that will officially launch in Fall
  2024.
• As a member of the school’s executive leadership team, be an
  active contributor: build effective working relationships with
  associate deans, chief officers, area chairs, center/institute
  directors, and faculty across the school to understand priorities
  and opportunities; ensure that advancement activities are aligned
  with the school’s priorities; provide key insights from the
  donor/alumni community to inform school-level strategic decisions.
   
• Champion the engagement of alumni to build essential
  connections and provide lifelong value that leads to engagement and
  philanthropy. Develop meaningful and compelling meetings,
  experiences and communications for the school Alumni Board and the
  Ross Alumni Board of Governors. Attend all Board meetings and
  oversee individual relationships with Board Members.
• Oversee the development and implementation of priorities,
  objectives, goals and operating plans for the advancement team in
  alignment with the school’s strategic goals and priorities.
  Implement a fundraising program to maximize transformational
  philanthropy over short, medium and long-term horizons. Provide
  leadership and mentoring to ensure the team is performing at the
  highest levels while supporting them in their professional
  development.  
• As an essential internal and external ambassador for the
  school, communicate the school’s mission, priorities, reach and
  impact to capture the interest and imagination of our faculty,
  alumni, donors, corporate and other external partners.
• Ensure that goals, programs, and activities are systematically
  tracked and evaluated. Foster a sense of continuous improvement
  within the team, and encourage innovation.
• Partner with the U-M Office of University Development to plan
  and execute fundraising efforts for the school and contribute to
  university campaign planning.

Effective Operational Management 

• Contribute to our positive and inclusive work community by
  building trusting partnerships across the school, continually
  learning, creating impactful experiences, and working with a sense
  of ownership for outcomes. Approaches this work with a commitment
  to diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind; treating others with
  respect, dignity, and in a manner where individuals feel they
  belong; listens, values feedback, and learns from the perspectives
  of others. 
• Organize and manage the day-to-day operations of the team.
  Provide direction to staff to align planning and activities with
  top-level objectives. Lead, mentor, and develop the team. Share
  information and make important connections to support team
  performance and impact.
• Ensure the Dean is strategically engaged with advancement
  activities, and is well-prepared for all development and alumni
  events, activities, and engagements to produce desired
  results.
• Actively manages a portfolio of the school’s highest-level
  donors (20-30 people), personally participating in their
  cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Select, supervise, develop and evaluate staff; establish and
  model performance expectations and standards to foster a positive,
  high-service, and innovative culture; provide leadership for the
  training and motivation of staff that enables them to realize their
  full potential and meet the school’s goals; and advance the
  school’s efforts to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive
  community.
• Actively engages in the school’s performance process; providing
  guidance on priorities and expected outcomes and encouraging
  learning and growth through ongoing reflection and
  conversation.
• Manage and allocate human, financial and physical resources
  prudently, responsibly and within budget constraints. Ensure
  effective reporting of all school fundraising results, including
  all cash receipts, life income gifts, bequests and other
  expectancies, pledges, gifts-in-kind, and all other fundraising
  progress.

Partnerships 

• Is a present and visible ambassador and champion within the
  team, within and across the school, within and across U-M, and with
  alumni and donors. 
• Establish and sustain effective working relationships within
  the school and the U-M community to advance the school’s
  fundraising and alumni engagement and stewardship initiatives.
• Foster a spirit of partnership between the advancement team and
  key collaborators to build support for and engagement with the
  development of new programs and initiatives.
• Establish and sustain partnerships with external corporations,
  foundations, and other universities and organizations working on
  related efforts.
• Represent the school within the network of leading business
  schools and peer institutions.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent combination of
  education and experience.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience
  leading major gifts, alumni relations and stewardship, including
  supervisory experience with a professional staff and the ability to
  manage performance.
• A record of success in developing and implementing fundraising
  (principal, legacy, major and annual gifts) and alumni engagement
  strategies.
• Ability to effectively engage with, and articulate the value
  and impact of philanthropy to, executive level business leaders and
  in the context of business generally.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• A demonstrated ability to use data and analytics strategically
  to identify philanthropic opportunities and to assess
  organizational effectiveness and promote learning and continuous
  improvement.
• Experience developing alumni engagement, donor retention, and
  corporate relations strategies.
• Significant or large-scale campaign planning and execution
  experience.
• Proven success in building productive, long-term relationships
  with key constituents such as organizational partners,
  institutional boards, volunteers, alumni, and donors.
• Proven success in working closely with senior leaders and
  providing the support necessary to ensure their success in
  development activities.
• Leadership experience and proven track record of empowering and
  managing a high-performing team.
• Proven ability to handle multiple initiatives simultaneously in
  a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with philanthropic regulations and best practices
  in a large research university.