Executive Director, Advancement - Alumni & Industry Relations

University of Southern California•Los Angeles, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director, Advancement - Alumni & Industry Relations leads USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s integrated alumni, industry, and foundation relations function. The position connects engagement with the School’s fundraising and partnership priorities, sets portfolio strategy, develops coordinated pathways from engagement to philanthropic support, and drives fundraising support from alumni, corporations, and foundations. The role works closely with School leadership, academic departments, faculty, university advancement colleagues, alumni, donors, and external partners. It leads a team of alumni, industry, and foundation relations professionals; establishes goals and performance expectations; builds and manages strategic portfolios; and coordinates opportunities spanning philanthropy, research, talent, programs, boards, events, and executive or faculty engagement. The Executive Director develops internal relationships to understand the School’s academic, program, and research portfolio and identify potential funder matches. The position also prepares proposals, grant requests, correspondence, and stewardship materials; partners with Major Gifts, Operations & Strategy, school leadership, faculty, and central university teams; and manages staff, resources, reporting, budget, compliance, and results across engagement, pipeline, proposals, and fundraising goals. This position is hybrid, with onsite work as needed for operations, meetings, events, campaigns, and constituent needs. Local, domestic, and international travel may be required, along with occasional evening or weekend work. Hybrid arrangements are subject to USC policy, approval, operational needs, and change in accordance with that policy. Duties may change based on business needs and advancement priorities; the incumbent is expected to adapt to changing priorities, support alignment between university-wide initiatives and Viterbi 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 fundraising experience; the minimum experience information also specifies major campaign, fundraising, and/or senior volunteer group management experience.
Leadership and management experience, including the demonstrated ability to lead and manage a team of fundraising professionals.
Ability to work with production goals, accountability, independence, initiative, and teamwork.
Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
Ability to work effectively and professionally with colleagues, faculty, and industry and foundation staff.
Ability to understand and communicate research or programmatic information to a variety of stakeholders, adapting communication style as needed.
Strong leadership, management, interpersonal, analytical, strategic, problem-solving, teamwork, and initiative skills.
Professionalism in collaborating with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

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 sources and levels 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 relationships with the Dean, Vice Deans, department chairs, faculty, academic and program leadership, and School staff to understand the academic, program, and research portfolio and identify potential funder matches.
Draft proposals, grant requests, correspondence, impact reports, 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 and manage 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.
Travel locally, domestically, and internationally as needed, and occasionally work evenings or weekends to support advancement priorities.