Director of Development, College of Arts & Sciences

Director of Development, College of Arts & Sciences
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc.
The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc (UTFI) invites applications and nominations to hire two candidates to serve as Director of Development, College of Arts & Sciences for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the selected candidates will work with the Senior and Executive Directors of Development, department heads, faculty, staff, and external constituencies to extend and further develop the college's fundraising efforts. The Directors of Development will support two of the College of Arts & Sciences divisions: the Division of Natural Sciences & Mathematics and the Division of Arts & Humanities. They will be charged with implementing the team's strategic direction for identifying, cultivating, and successfully soliciting individuals to support priorities for their division and the college.
The purpose of this position is to secure philanthropic gifts that impact the strategic direction set forth for the college by academic leadership in collaboration with the office of advancement. Once fully trained and acquainted with a portfolio of prospective donors, the Director of Development will have annual performance expectations in the categories of face to face meetings, major gift proposals delivered, major gift proposals funded and a new dollars raised.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Fundraising: Manage a portfolio of prospects through an active schedule of solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship calls to donors and new prospects. Build relationships among prospective donors, alumni, and volunteers to support programs and priorities. Negotiate and close philanthropic gifts.
• Collaboration: Partner with faculty and administrators to align priorities of the school/unit with donor goals and interests. Work with central advancement offices to ensure that potential gift prospects are properly qualified, cultivated, and stewarded.
• Communication: Communicate in ways that are donor-centric, while furthering the mission of the University of Tennessee. May coordinate or create fundraising materials including, but not limited to, case statements, brochures, solicitation letters, gift proposals, appreciation letters, donor reports, campaign status reports.
• Administration & Leadership: Maintain accurate information on selected donors and prospects including contact reports in CRM system. Interact with development officers and academic leadership as appropriate. Assume a leadership role in accordance to the high standards of performance and professionalism expected of the Arts and Sciences Development Office and UTK development staff.

Qualifications:
Required Education and Experience
Candidates who fill the Director of Development, College of Arts & Sciences positions are required to have:

• Bachelor's degree
• 5 or more years of full-time, professional experience in development, sales, or related field
• Aggressive sales mentality with the ability to provide strategic leadership
• Strong customer service orientation; strong oral and written communications skills; customer-centered thinking
• Ability and willingness to travel on nights and weekends

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record is required due to travel responsibilities of the position. UTFI reserves the right to consider all appropriate circumstances. In general, any significant driving offense less than 12 months old will eliminate the application from consideration for the position.
Note - Candidates holding a graduate degree must have at least 3 years of experience.
Preferred Education and Experience
In addition to meeting the required qualifications, preferred candidates will have:

• Master's degree
• Demonstrated ability to secure major gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private funding sources
• Knowledge of fundraising approaches specific to an academic institution
• Experience in pipeline development
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with academic leadership, faculty, colleagues, prospects, and donors in a wide range of roles

Application Process: Applications must include a completed candidate profile, cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.
When determining minimum qualifications, only information entered into the candidate profile can be considered. Please ensure your candidate profile is completed in its entirety as it relates to qualifying education/work experience.
Questions about the search may be directed to
Benefits: Recognized as a Top Employer by Knoxville Top Workplaces in 2022 and 2023, the Foundation's greatest asset is our team. Foundation employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes:

• Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days
• Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members
• Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses
• Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods

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The Foundation: The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that serves as the preferred channel for private contributions benefiting students and faculty within the UT System. With a vision of being one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, UTFI is committed to enhancing the educational landscape across the University of Tennessee campuses.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been advancing knowledge and enriching lives since its founding in 1794. Tennessee's flagship public research university, UT Knoxville is a diverse community whose shared commitment to discovery, creativity, and education combines with a tradition of service and engagement to carry the Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. UT's campus-home to more than 36,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff members-is part of the vibrant city of Knoxville, located on the Tennessee River with the Great Smoky Mountains nearby.
The UT System: The University of Tennessee System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Institute of Agriculture; and the Institute for Public Service.
The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.