Executive Director, Advancement - Alumni & Industry Relations

University of Southern California•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$188,834 - $217,068•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director, Advancement - Alumni & Industry Relations leads USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s integrated Alumni & Industry Relations function, connecting alumni engagement, corporate relations, and foundation relations to the School’s fundraising and partnership priorities. The role sets portfolio strategy, builds coordinated pathways from engagement to philanthropic support, and drives significant fundraising support for the School through alumni, corporate, and foundation funders. The Executive Director works closely with School leadership, academic departments, faculty, university advancement colleagues, alumni, donors, and external partners. The role leads a team of alumni, industry, and foundation relations professionals and manages staff, resources, reporting, budget, and compliance. The position is hybrid, with onsite work as needed, and may require local, domestic, and international travel as well as occasional evening or weekend work. Job duties and assignments may change in response to business needs, advancement priorities, fundraising campaigns, donor and constituent needs, emerging technologies, and organizational requirements. The incumbent is expected to adapt to changing priorities, support alignment between university-wide initiatives and Viterbi School priorities, identify opportunities for innovation, and contribute to continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; combined experience and education may substitute for the minimum education requirement.
At least 7 years of experience in fundraising with industry, foundations, and alumni.
Major campaign, fundraising, and/or senior volunteer group management experience.
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a team of fundraising professionals.
Strong leadership, management, interpersonal, analytical, strategic, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
Results-driven approach, initiative, and comfort with production goals, accountability, and independent work.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including ability to communicate complex topics to a general audience.
Ability to collaborate effectively and professionally with colleagues, faculty, industry and foundation staff, and diverse internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to understand and communicate research or programmatic information to a variety of stakeholders and adapt communication style.
Availability for onsite work as needed and ability to travel locally, domestically, and internationally; occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree strongly preferred.
10 or more years of experience in Corporate, Foundation, and Alumni Relations.
Proven success managing fundraising projects and programs.
Familiarity with and experience in an R1 research university setting.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute an integrated strategy and plan for alumni, corporations, and foundations with measurable goals and strategies to expand engagement and levels and sources of support.
Set aspirational goals, portfolio assignments, engagement plans, and performance expectations for the Alumni & Industry Relations team.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity and priority alumni, corporations, foundations, and other strategic partners.
Coordinate and manage opportunities involving philanthropy, research, talent, programs, boards, events, and executive or faculty engagement.
Build internal relationships with the Dean, Vice Deans, department chairs, faculty, academic and program leadership, and staff to understand the School’s academic, program, and research portfolio and identify potential funder matches.
Draft proposals, grant requests, correspondence, impact and stewardship reports, and other supporting documents.
Develop strategic relationships with internal partners, including the USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Office of Research and Innovation, and Department of Contracts and Grants.
Lead a team of alumni, industry, and foundation relations professionals; develop strategies to strengthen relationships with current prospects and identify and build relationships with new prospects.
Partner with Major Gifts, Operations & Strategy, School leadership, faculty, and central university teams to advance shared prospects.
Manage staff, resources, reporting, budget, and compliance, and evaluate results across engagement, pipeline, proposals, and fundraising goals.
Adapt to changing priorities, support alignment between university-wide fundraising initiatives and Viterbi School priorities, identify opportunities for innovation, and contribute to continuous improvement.
Work onsite as needed for business operations, donor and constituent meetings, fundraising meetings, school and university events, campaign activities, peak-cycle priorities, and constituent needs; travel and occasional evening or weekend work may be required.