Chief Engagement & Development Officer

MSU Alumni Foundation • Bozeman, MT

169d • Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Engagement and Development Officer (“CEDO”) of the Montana State University Alumni Foundation (“Alumni Foundation”) provides visionary, integrated leadership and direction for the Alumni Foundation’s engagement, strategic communications, and fundraising enterprises across colleges, units, and alumni and friends constituent groups. The CEDO champions a holistic advancement model that places alumni and donor engagement at the center of relationship-building, philanthropic success, and long-term organizational and institutional impact.

The CEDO oversees Engagement, Development, and Strategic Communications, ensuring these functions operate as a highly coordinated engine building meaningful relationships, strengthening affinity and pride, and advancing philanthropic outcomes. As a member of the Alumni Foundation’s Leadership Team, the CEDO partners with Montana State University (“MSU”) leadership and the Alumni Foundation’s CEO and leadership to set strategy, ensure aligned messaging and cultivate a culture of collaboration, transparency, and results. The CEDO reports directly to the President and CEO (“President”) of the Alumni Foundation.

The CEDO manages a small personal portfolio focused on principle-level major gifts while serving as a leadership ambassador for the Alumni Foundation, engaging alumni, donors, volunteers, MSU affiliates and institutional partners across the university community.

Requirements

• Minimum 10+ years’ progressive fundraising experience
• Oversight and collaboration on alumni engagement and comprehensive communications strategies
• A proven record of accomplishment in securing major gift commitments
• Demonstrated ability to organize, motivate, and manage a team of skilled multi-disciplinary professionals
• Baccalaureate Degree and experience, or Masters’ Degree
• Valid driver’s license

Nice To Haves

• Comprehensive campaign, alumni engagement, and strategic communications experience, preferably in a higher education setting
• Dynamic team leadership
• Comprehensive campaign experience, preferably in a higher education setting
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to articulate charitable giving options to a diverse group of constituents
• A high level of confidence and comfort in making presentations before diverse groups of constituents
• High standard of professional ethics
• Strict adherence to donor confidentiality and donor intent

Responsibilities

• Serve as the executive architect for an integrated engagement and development strategy that aligns fundraising (major gifts and annual giving), communications, engagement, and stewardship efforts to advance organizational and institutional priorities.
• Lead comprehensive fundraising campaigns with oversight of engagement initiatives with clear performance metrics, accountability, and cross-functional alignment.
• Provide regular briefings to Alumni Foundation and MSU leadership on fundraising performance, pipeline health, and strategic direction for key campaign and development strategy bodies. Collaborate with Advancement Services on dashboards.
• Manage and support the Vice President of Engagement to elevate alumni and broader engagement as a strategic driver of lifelong relationships, volunteerism, advocacy, and philanthropy.
• Manage and support the Vice President of Strategic Communications to advance communications strategies that elevate alumni and broader community engagement as powerful drivers of successes in engagement, donor relations, annual fund, and stewardship functions.
• Represent the Alumni Foundation at community and university-sponsored events, as part of a larger Leadership Team.
• Foster strong cross-departmental collaboration with Engagement, Strategic Communications, Advancement Services, Finance and Accounting, and other operational teams to strengthen alignment, reduce silos, and advance shared organizational goals.
• Champion collaborative, transparent, and highly coordinated engagement and fundraising culture across colleges, units, and internal teams.
• Lead strong, multidisciplinary teams, setting vision, establishing expectations and shared goals across development, engagement, and strategic communications modeling a positive collaborative culture.
• Support thoughtful and well-coordinated execution across major and leadership gift activity.
• Set strategic goals and benchmarks in partnership with the President of the Alumni Foundation and leadership team, in collaboration with MSU leaders; oversee performance measures, reporting, and personnel actions; ensure ongoing professional development opportunities, oversee recruitment, and retention efforts of staff; align people, processes and culture during change.
• Maintain and actively manage a small portfolio of principle-level gift prospects; guide cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, with collaboration as appropriate with the President.
• Model frontline excellence by closing significant philanthropic commitments in support of top institutional priorities.
• Travel as necessary to cultivate and steward relationships with alumni and donors as well as solicit gifts.
• Lead or delegate as appropriate, the execution of major gift programs and campaigns with plans, resources, and accountability.
• Develop and refine policies and procedures governing engagement, communication, and major gift work, including strict adherence to donor confidentiality and donor intent.
• Oversee unit budgets and staffing plans; determine annual operating plans aligned with the Alumni Foundation’s strategic plan.
• Serve on Alumni Foundation Board of Governor committees as assigned, supporting engagement, fundraising and strategic communications objectives.
• Perform additional duties assigned by the Alumni Foundation’s President & CEO, recognizing that responsibilities may evolve to meet organizational needs.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision insurance (all of which are 90-100% employer-paid for employee-only coverage)
• 403(b) retirement plan with 7% employer contribution
• up to 5 weeks’ paid time-off
• 11 paid holidays
• tuition assistance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree