The executive director is responsible for developing overall strategies to assure that the team maximizes philanthropic revenue in support of Bellarmine's priorities, with an emphasis on the recruitment and retention of effective gift officers, their ongoing training and professional development, and oversight and management to assure progress against fundraising goals. Reporting to the vice president for development and alumni relations, the executive director is a member of the senior development team and a thought leader and valued partner across the development organization. In doing so, the executive director will collaborate regularly with academic leaders to advance the university's educational goals and priorities.

Bellarmine University has retained John Solmonese, president of Solmonese Search Partners, to conduct the search for the executive director of individual giving. All inquiries, nominations, and applications may be sent to him at: jsolmonese@gmail.com. John can provide the job profile which includes the full description of duties and responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Experience building and developing a portfolio of prospects; personal success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors at the six- and seven-figure levels; the ability to inspire high net worth individuals to philanthropic leadership
• Minimum of eight years professional experience in fundraising, including a proven ability to lead, motivate, and engage staff members and colleagues; a strong commitment to professional development
• Experience in a campaign leadership role; a track record of success formulating and executing short-term and long-range strategic plans that result in a positive impact on an organization
• The professional credibility, intellectual depth, maturity, and collaborative skills to garner the trust and confidence of the president, senior leaders, and key volunteers and guide them in their roles as fundraisers and representatives of the university
• Superlative oral and written communications skills and strong presentation skills; the ability to listen carefully and respond thoughtfully, and influence and persuade others
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work across cultural, geographic, and organizational lines to achieve mutual goals and objectives
• The ability to analyze information and think strategically, critically, and creatively; the ability to transform new ideas into executable and enduring programs; the ability to solve problems and offer effective solutions to issues not just facing individual giving, but in areas across Bellarmine Development
• Superior organizational skills and the ability to manage and balance simultaneously the needs of multiple projects and competing priorities
• A self-starter who is able to work independently and take initiative while also employing a collaborative approach to engaging colleagues in programs and initiatives
• A holistic approach to development and alumni engagement; an ability to leverage the power of that approach to ensure alumni are meaningfully engaged, as both volunteers and donors, in the life of the university
• A strong commitment to continuous professional development and growth, both personally and for a team
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and a recognition of the role they play in strengthening an organization and ensuring that all members of the Bellarmine community belong
• A bachelor's degree with an advanced degree preferred.

Bellarmine University is committed to core values of diversity, equity and inclusion and embraces diversity in our workforce among members of faculty, staff and administration. We remain committed to affirmative actions, policies, procedures and attitudes necessary to continue to build and retain a diverse and equitable workforce. We will demonstrate a fully realized and lived commitment to equity and inclusion, empowering all members of our increasingly diverse community and supporting them to achieve their full potential. As part of Bellarmine's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we will seek to ensure that all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, job assignment, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, promotion, layoff and termination processes remain free of discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class.