Senior Director of Development

J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the
University of Arkansas is seeking a dynamic leader and team member
to serve as the Sr. Director of Development (Sr. DOD).

Fulbright College is comprised of three schools and 16 academic
departments, offering degrees in the fine arts, humanities, natural
sciences, and social sciences.  With a current enrollment of
7,000 undergraduate students, more than 850 graduate students, and
80,000 living alumni throughout the world, the college provides the
majority of the university’s core curriculum coursework.

 The Sr. DOD for Fulbright College will be an integral
member of the Division of Advancement reporting to the Vice
Chancellor for Advancement and Senior Advisor to the Vice
Chancellor with a dotted reporting line to the Dean.  Embedded
in the Fulbright College, this position will lead a team and be
responsible for oversight and strategic execution of fundraising
initiatives to support university and college priorities.

 The position requires a dynamic and collegial individual
with demonstrated major giving success and management of donor
engagement and stewardship programs.

In consultation with the Vice Chancellor and Dean, the Sr. DOD
will be responsible to lead the Fulbright team in achieving
individual and team member metrics, including, but not limited to,
fiscal year goals, priority initiatives, personally scheduled
visits, travel, proposal submissions, and contributed
revenue.  Additionally, the Sr. DOD will maintain a balanced
portfolio of well-established relationships and new prospects,
manage an effective stewardship program, coordinate the dean’s
development and external relations agenda, and engage the Fulbright
College senior-level university administrators, faculty, staff and
volunteer leaders in appropriate activities.

 Duties and
Responsibilities 

• In consultation with the Vice Chancellor, Senior Advisor, and
  Dean, the Sr. DOD will be responsible to manage, implement, and
  lead the College’s fundraising team in achieving the College’s
  approved fundraising goals and strategies, including, but not
  limited to, harmonizing, facilitating, and helping achieve the
  Chancellor’s fundraising goals and initiatives as well as working
  to facilitate agreements, acknowledgements, accounting, and gift
  compliance requirements consistent with Advancement Division and
  University policies, procedures, and practices.
• Creating strong and collegial relationships with the Dean,
  Department Chairs, Faculty and Staff of the College and developing
  a high level of expertise regarding all aspects of the College,
  including, but not limited to, its academic course offerings,
  research initiatives and achievements, and public service
  activities.
• Metrics include: 175 face-to-face visits per year, timely
  completion of Reports of Contact (ROC) with a follow-up “next step”
  (visits by videoconferencing on Zoom or Teams, or in-person visits
  are counted upon submission of a ROC), developing strategies for
  soliciting individuals in the portfolio, planning travel on a
  quarterly (every three-months basis) and executing travel
  plans.
• Developing strong and collegial relationships with Advancement
  Division team members.
• Being an innovative problem-solver and entrepreneurial thinker
  as a member of the Advancement Division Team to achieve College and
  campus fundraising initiatives and to enhance and improve all
  fundraising operations of the College and University.
• Possess excellent and thoughtful proposal writing and editing
  skills to create original proposals and reports.
• Effectively communicating (verbal and written) with colleagues,
  donors, alumni, and constituents with professionalism, compassion,
  and representing the College and University in the best possible
  way.
• Effectively managing a portfolio, including, but not limited
  to, consulting and coordinating with the Advancement Division
  research team to identify, research, and qualify new
  prospects.
• Engaging with and involving Advancement and College-level
  administrators in meaningful donor cultivation and engagement
  activities when appropriate.
• Traveling and working irregular hours whenever needed to
  achieve fundraising goals.
• Providing top-tier leadership for the College by modeling the
  highest levels of professionalism, work ethic, and creating a work
  environment characterized by positivity, productivity,
  collegiality, and accountability to serve the best interests of the
  College and the University as well as elevate the performance of
  each team member and the College fundraising team, including, but
  not limited to, supervising and mentoring each team member’s
  individual performance as well as recommending training,
  professional development, goals, portfolio management and annual
  review.
• Performing administrative duties as assigned and adhering to
  Fulbright College and University Development policies and
  procedures.
• Assisting in budget development, management, and execution for
  the College in coordination with the Advancement Division and the
  College.
• Communicating challenges, concerns, and issues that may arise
  to the Vice Chancellor, Senior Advisor and Dean to ensure the
  success of the fundraising goals of the College.
• Building and nurturing a “Circle of Safety” for all team
  members in the College and the Advancement Division.
• Performing administrative duties for the College and other
  tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university

 Proven track record:

• • Five years of development leadership experience in a higher
    education setting, including demonstrated major gift success, or
    equivalent experience in another non-higher education setting.
  • Experience managing volunteers and advisory boards and
    supervising staff.
  • Professional travel.
  • Effective written, oral communication, and organizational
    skills.
  • Successful participation in a major giving campaign (preferably
    in higher education).

 Preferred Qualifications:

• • Familiarity with a university campus and a college of arts and
    sciences.
  • Familiarity with business analysis in fundraising.
  • Graduate of the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville.
  • Proven track record of an existing network of relationships
    with current and prospective benefactors to the College and
    University.

Knowledge, Skills & Essential
Requirements:

• Principles of fundraising and ability to participate in all
  aspects of the gift cycle: (1) to initiate contacts with potential
  donors; (2) to develop appropriate cultivation strategies,
  including working with volunteers and senior University
  administrators; (3) to move potential donors in an appropriate and
  timely fashion toward solicitation and closure; (4) to make
  solicitations when appropriate; (5) to maintain stewardship
  contacts with donors.
• Commitment to one or two multi-day trips per month sufficient
  to meet the metric of at least 175 face-to-face visits per
  year.
• Mission-aligned with the University’s pillars: student success,
  research excellence and employer of choice initiatives.
• Guided by the highest integrity.
• Goal-driven as evidenced by persistence and successful
  outcomes.
• Value diversity of individuals, experiences, and
  perspectives.
• Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance and an ability
  to create and maintain collegial, positive, and harmonious working
  relationships with others.
• Special event management.
• Public representation of the College and the University.
• Strategic planning and deadline management.
• Collaborative and collegial leadership style, solid
  relationship-building skills, and respectful/thoughtful response to
  input and interface with supervisors, division colleagues, alumni,
  donors, volunteers, leading faculty, administrators, and
  trustees.
• Microsoft Office Suite proficiency and willingness to learn and
  use other work-related databases.
• Ability to receive and provide constructive feedback to advance
  fundraising initiatives.
• Ability to place team interest above self.