Fort Collins, CO

Executive Director of Development, University Initiatives and Campaign, Colorado State University

The Organization

The Vice President for University Advancement at Colorado State University is seeking an Executive Director of Development, University Initiatives and Campaign. This position will be supporting university wide fundraising initiatives through Provost Programs and Research, as well as managing campaign strategy for the next capital campaign for CSU.

The Vice President for University Advancement at Colorado State University is seeking an Executive Director of Development, University Initiatives and Campaign. This position will be supporting university wide fundraising initiatives through Provost Programs and Research, as well as managing campaign strategy for the next capital campaign for CSU.

Who We Are

Located in the beautiful town of Fort Collins, Colorado, CSU is a premier land-grant university with world-class programs in education, outreach, and research. CSU has a student body of 34,000 students, 7,000 employees, 200,000 living alumni, and annual research expenditures exceeding $350 million. Guided by the five supporting Principles of Community: Inclusion, Integrity, Respect, Service, and Social Justice, the University constantly pursues its mission and vision of access, research, teaching, service, and engagement.

Within CSU, the Division of University Advancement is integral to achieving and sustaining the University’s institutional excellence through fundraising and engagement efforts. Our purpose is to connect our alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations to raise the financial support necessary to advance the University’s mission and vision. With one of the leading development teams in the country, the Division most recently reached its $1 billion campaign goal 19 months ahead of schedule.

The Office of the Provost/Executive Vice President oversees the following areas: Enrollment and Access, the Libraries, IT, as well as Student, Faculty, International, Graduate and Undergraduate Affairs including the Institute for Learning and Teaching, ROTC programs, Collaborative for Student Achievement, Curriculum, and the Honors Program. In addition, the Provost office leads the Council of Deans and Faculty Council, and the School of Global Environmental Sustainability.

The Office of the Vice President for Research has overall responsibility for facilitating the research enterprise on campus. The Vice President for Research Advancement unit (VPRA) fundraises for the world-class research enterprise and programs at Colorado State University.

Position Overview

The EDOD, UIC will be responsible for planning, coordinating and managing all campaign activities and creating a master campaign plan for CSU’s next comprehensive campaign. The EDOD will also have fundraising and Development leadership responsibilities for Provost programs and initiatives, as well as the Vice President for Research Office.

What You’ll Be Doing

The Executive Director of Development, University Initiatives and Campaign (EDOD, UIC) will be responsible for planning, coordinating and managing all campaign activities and creating a master campaign plan for CSU’s next comprehensive campaign. The EDOD will also have fundraising and Development leadership responsibilities for Provost programs and initiatives, as well as the Vice President for Research Office.

The EDOD, UIC will report directly to the Vice President for University Advancement and serve as a member of the VP’s Leadership Council. The EDOD will supervise the Vice President for Research Advancement Team: the Managing Director, an Associate Director, an Assistant Director, and a Development Coordinator.

The proposed annual salary range for this position is $165,000-$180,000 plus benefits. A moving allowance may be negotiated at time of hire.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by employment start date
  • Ten years of progressively responsible experience as a Development Officer in a University or other complex non-profit environment
  • Three years’ experience supervising full-time professional staff and leading a team in the development and execution of complex strategic goals, initiatives, and programs
  • Experience leading campaign strategy and initiatives for multi-million or billion dollar capital campaigns
  • A track record of measurable results in the solicitation and cultivation of high net worth donors, including asking and securing gifts of $500,000 or more
  • A demonstrated ability to engage and effectively communicate with diverse audiences
  • The ability to travel locally and out of state, and work non-standard hours including evening and weekends
  • Must have a valid driver’s license, the ability to obtain a driver’s license, or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date

Preferred Qualifications

  • Certified Fund Raising Executive (CRFE) certification and/or Master’s Degree in business, public administration, nonprofit studies, philanthropy and development or a related field
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience working in a CRM or other relational database such as Advance or Raiser’s Edge
  • Advanced written and verbal communication, must have excellent interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrated success in: personal solicitation of major and planned gifts, major gift stewardship, principal gift and prospect management, volunteer management, and event planning
  • Knowledge of higher education fundraising and contemporary issues/best practices in the field
  • Demonstrated ability to develop cross-functional partnerships, foster collaboration and gain the respect and support of various constituencies, including; College Deans, Directors of Development, faculty, active board members, high level administrators, and donors
  • Successful candidate must have the following attributes: initiative, attention to detail, timeliness, discretion, sound judgment, and an entrepreneurial spirit
  • Understands and is able to articulate a commitment to the mission of the University and University Advancement
  • Exceptional organizational and management skills to articulate and realize complex goals and objectives through strategic planning
  • Previous experience managing budgets and financial processes with a strong fiscal acumen

Be a Part of Something Bigger

CSU is Fort Collins’ largest employer, and the Division of University Advancement is integral to the University’s success. Guided by our values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Innovation, Ram Pride and Results-Driven, we are motivated by our common purpose: transforming lives and making the world a better place.

We are looking for talented individuals to join our team, and we offer our employees a culture committed to diversity and inclusion, extensive professional development opportunities, and a competitive and flexible total rewards package. For example, full-time administrative professional employees receive nearly five weeks of paid annual leave, 15 days of paid sick leave,10 paid holidays, and a CSU contribution equal to 12% of their salary to their retirement plan each year. Other benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, disability insurance, parental leave, and discounted services at our world-renowned Veterinary Teaching Hospital Additionally, staff may enroll in up to 9 CSU credit courses every year to further their education, and University Advancement offers a flexible work arrangements program, including remote work options.

For more information about what it’s like to be a part of the UA team, visit our Careers page. For more information about the benefits offered to CSU employees, please visit our HR website.

How To Apply

For full consideration, all materials must be received by 11:59 pm (MT) on November 1, 2020. Applications will be reviewed within 2 weeks of the full consideration date. Following this, all applicants will be notified of their status in the search.

In order to be considered for this role, applications must be submitted electronically to: http://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/80659. Please note: we cannot accept applications via email.

For full consideration, all materials must be received by 11:59 pm (MT) on November 1, 2020. Applications will be reviewed within 2 weeks of the full consideration date. Following this, all applicants will be notified of their status in the search.

Applicants should submit 1) a cover letter that demonstrates any and all of the required and preferred qualifications that they meet 2) a resume, and 3) three professional references noting name, phone number, email address and professional relationship (one must be a current or former supervisor). References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.

For tips on how to craft a successful application, please review the FAQ document on our Careers site. You can also sign up for our Careers mailing list to receive updates about future job opportunities with CSU University Advancement.

Questions regarding the position or anything else related to careers with UA may be directed to Annika Yappert, Recruiting & Talent Acquisition Specialist, at Annika.Yappert@colostate.edu.

CSU is an EO/EA/AA employer and conducts background checks on all final candidates.

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