Director of Development, Engineering

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The School of Engineering at Vanderbilt University seeks an experienced development professional to serve as a front-line fundraiser. The Director of Development cultivates, solicits, and stewards major gift donors and prospects in support of Engineering’s priorities, managing a portfolio of alumni, parents, friends, and other prospective donors with the capacity to make major gifts. The role develops individualized strategies to build meaningful donor relationships and connect philanthropic interests with opportunities that advance Engineering’s mission, including student financial aid and scholarships, faculty support, and strategic programs and initiatives. The Director works closely with the Engineering development team, the Dean, school leadership, faculty, program and center leaders, alumni, volunteers, and colleagues across Vanderbilt’s Development and Alumni Relations organization. The role requires strong relationship-building skills, sound fundraising judgment, excellent communication abilities, and a commitment to higher education. The Department of Development and Alumni Relations helps Vanderbilt secure the human and financial resources needed to achieve its mission and goals. It identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives align with Vanderbilt’s teaching and research programs. This hybrid role is based in Nashville, with approximately one day per week in the office or more depending on business needs. The position has no supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to the Senior Director of Development, Engineering.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
Five years of experience or equivalent.
Strong relationship-building skills, including the ability to build and maintain productive relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills.
Ability to work independently and contribute effectively to a collaborative development team.
Willingness and ability to travel and participate in occasional evening and weekend events.
Commitment to Vanderbilt University’s and Engineering’s missions and to the transformative impact of education and human development.
Valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record, maintained throughout employment; driving is an essential job function.
Ability to listen, identify donor interests, and align them with institutional priorities.
Ability to communicate complex academic and programmatic priorities in compelling, accessible ways.
Strategic thinking, sound judgment, initiative, and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and relationships while meeting deadlines and fundraising goals.
Professionalism, discretion, integrity, and commitment to ethical fundraising practices.
Proficiency with standard office technology and advancement databases.

Nice To Haves

Five or more years of successful major gift fundraising experience in higher education or another complex nonprofit environment.
Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of $100,000 or more.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, developing individualized strategies for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and donor relations.
Build and maintain long-term relationships with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and other prospective donors.
Personally solicit and close major gifts, generally in the range of $100,000 to $250,000, in collaboration with the Senior Director and other university and college leaders as appropriate.
Develop and maintain an active prospect pipeline and identify opportunities to deepen prospective donors’ engagement and philanthropic investment.
Establish annual fundraising goals and activity plans with the Senior Director and contribute to Engineering’s overall fundraising objectives.
Conduct donor visits and participate in meetings, events, and other donor cultivation and stewardship opportunities.
Provide timely and appropriate stewardship that demonstrates the impact of philanthropy and strengthens donor relationships.
Develop an understanding of Engineering’s academic programs, research, faculty expertise, centers, and initiatives to present compelling philanthropic opportunities.
Translate donor interests into investment opportunities that advance Engineering’s strategic priorities.
Partner with academic and program leaders to develop cases for support, donor engagement opportunities, proposals, and stewardship materials.
Work with the Senior Director of Development to develop and implement fundraising strategies for assigned prospects and priorities.
Collaborate with the Dean, school leadership, faculty, program and center directors, and other stakeholders to advance fundraising priorities.
Coordinate donor engagement with colleagues across Vanderbilt Development and Alumni Relations, including development officers and teams in annual giving, principal gifts, foundation relations, corporate relations, gift planning, advancement communications, prospect development, and donor relations.
Advise Engineering faculty and staff on donor engagement and fundraising strategy.
Prepare and coordinate proposals, letters, briefing materials, impact reports, and other written materials for cultivation, solicitation, and donor relations.
Develop individualized proposals and solicitation strategies aligned with donor interests and institutional priorities.
Prepare senior leaders and faculty for donor meetings, solicitations, and stewardship engagements.
Participate in and help plan donor events and engagement opportunities, using Engineering events, faculty interactions, student experiences, and program activities to deepen relationships.
Represent Engineering and Vanderbilt professionally in interactions with donors, alumni, parents, volunteers, and external partners.
Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, strategies, proposals, solicitations, and other activity in Vanderbilt’s advancement systems.
Prepare prospect plans, contact reports, solicitation documentation, and other required advancement records.
Monitor portfolio activity and fundraising progress and provide regular updates to the Senior Director of Development.
Participate in team meetings, professional development activities, and strategic planning efforts.
Perform other duties as assigned.