Managing Director, International Development

University of Pennsylvania

About The Position

The International Development Office, part of Capital Giving within Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) at the University of Pennsylvania, is responsible for maximizing philanthropic support for priorities across the University and overseeing leadership engagement from Penn’s alumni, parents, and friends residing outside the United States. The team comprises a total of three frontline fundraisers, a Director of International Operations and Board Relations, a Program Coordinator, and an Associate Vice President of International Development. The office also manages two international foundations and three global leadership fundraising committees to facilitate further giving and engagement. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of International Development and working in close partnership with vested interests across the university, the Managing Director of International Development is a key member of the University’s international fundraising efforts. The Managing Director will lend leadership direction and support, aiding the AVP in making programmatic decisions by providing expertise about regions, international fundraising trends, and school and center priorities, and by engaging in regular planning and strategizing activities. The Managing Director will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive and coordinated fundraising strategies in an assigned region, which support the goals and objectives of a centrally based international office. The strategic plans for each subregion within a larger territory must consider not only cultural nuances, the number of constituencies, their capacity, and philanthropic outlook, but also admissions, donor profiles, political climates, and more. Each strategy must also support the schools and centers. The Managing Director will be responsible for managing a frontline fundraiser, and all strategies must be developed with this two-person approach to broaden and deepen the reach. The Managing Director and other frontline fundraisers will be expected to be intimately familiar with the specifics of the region and serve as expert resources to other colleagues.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 7 to 10 years of progressive fundraising, with a preferred emphasis on international major gifts fundraising or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Knowledge of international cross-border charitable giving with jurisdiction-specific understanding of various tax regimes where tax-efficient gifts to a US institution can be made by donors outside the U.S. Especially familiarity with the UK Gift Aid scheme; Transnational Giving Europe (TGE); Canada, and Hong Kong tax incentives a plus.
Cultural understanding and sensitivity; experience working in an international market is a plus.
Ability to function with a high degree of independence and to act very collaboratively in the development and execution of regional strategies.
Extensive international travel required; must be able to travel every month or every other month, sometimes for up to two weeks at a time, and to varied countries and cultures in a single trip.
Experience managing a frontline fundraiser, with a successful record of ensuring high fundraising results.
Excellent planning, organizational skills; attention to details. Manage multiple projects, issues, solicitations simultaneously and creatively, thoroughly, and confidentially; work independently under pressure. Be comfortable with ambiguity and be able to adapt to unfamiliar settings, cultural values and norms.
Strong communication skills, both written and oral, especially in unaccustomed cultural settings. Preferably knowledge of a foreign language and ease working with people of foreign languages. Comfortable as University spokesperson as appropriate.
Strong competency with standard software applications, and ability to learn new software.
Valid Passport and U.S. driver’s license required; may need to obtain international driver’s license for work in some countries.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree a plus
Higher education experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop a short- and long-term strategy for donor cultivation, solicitation, engagement, and stewardship for assigned region(s). Using data, trends, and knowledge of the region to review the complexities of the assigned region(s) to create regional strategies. Strategize targeted prospect activity with the goal of closing major and principal gifts, and overall fundraising in the region(s). The Managing Director will develop new strategies and initiatives based on a comprehensive analysis to increase the number of prospects under active management.
Manage specific international geographical regions and portfolios of principal gift and major gift prospects. The primary objective will be to accomplish meaningful prospect interactions throughout each phase of the prospect management process, from identification and qualification to stewardship.
Work with school and center directors to collectively create school/center strategies and set expectations for central versus school/center roles in their international prospect activity in the specific regions. Serve as an advocate for international constituents. The Managing Director must ensure university-wide fundraising activities, recognize the interests and needs of international constituents, and advise colleagues appropriately. In particular, the Managing Director must work to promote tax-beneficial giving opportunities that are available internationally.
Work closely with donors and prospective donors to plan and execute cultivation, stewardship, and outreach events for prospects as strategically appropriate. Identify and develop volunteer leadership in the region as appropriate and applicable. Be familiar with Penn’s volunteer structure and opportunities to help identify international prospects for the various opportunities. In partnership with the AVP, serve as an internal resource for DAR and the President, Deans, Faculty, and Senior Officers planning international trips. This responsibility necessitates familiarity with the various alumni clubs, top prospects, and existing university relationships; it requires the ability to strategically make optimum use of their time and to accompany these individuals on trips as required. Develop an understanding of the cultural protocols to follow in targeted region(s) and inform colleagues appropriately.
Manage one of the frontline fundraisers on the team, which includes creating a strategy for that staff member to reach their potential and with a goal of maximizing fundraising efforts and results across regions. Represent International Development at meetings, events, and professional conferences.

Benefits

Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.