Under the supervision of the Senior Associate Vice President of Advancement Operations (SAVPO), this position will be responsible for successfully leading frontline fundraisers, managing strategic planned and major gift productivity, and exceeding annual fundraising goals for University Advancement. In addition, the incumbent will manage a portfolio of 30-50 planned giving donor prospects to the University, including identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding these prospects in one-on-one meetings in PA and throughout the US.

This position is necessary to be active in the day-to-day management of frontline fundraisers and will provide leadership and guidance on industry best practices, address training needs, and identify and act on major and planned giving opportunities and strategies to increase fundraising productivity for Duquesne University.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the SAVPUA, provide day-to-day management and oversight of the frontline fundraising team (currently 6 FTE). Responsibilities include determining annual major and planned giving opportunities and strategies to increase frontline fundraising productivity and exceed annual goals; identifying and addressing training issues among the team; developing and documenting productivity standards that align with industry best practices for each gift officer; providing successful mentorship and coaching to gift officers through regular individual and team meetings; overseeing budget line items for Planned Giving and Major Gifts and ensuring fiscally responsible decisions.

Manage a caseload of 30-50 active planned giving prospects and implement and execute strategies for solicitation of these prospects, ensuring regular interaction mainly through personal visits, but also mail/email, telephone, campus visits, and events; management of the caseload of prospects including meeting with prospective and existing major gift donors, and preparing timely contact reports, correspondence, proposals, gift agreements, fund agreements, and related follow-up actions to ensure the best client relationships and proper recording of gifts; determine and take action on greatest ROI for cultivation time versus expected gift response based on the size of the anticipated gift; collaborates with key campus stakeholders on relationships with prospective donors; manages the most effective and productive use of travel budget throughout PA and the US. Schedules own travel using a P-Card and then reconciles all transactions in Chrome River. Assumes and achieves annual fundraising and activity goals as defined by the SAVPUA but typically averaging $2-$5M in closed solicited gifts annually.

In coordination with the SAVPUA, develops, implements, and maintains planned giving strategies and marketing, including but not limited to, executing special planned giving campaigns; developing and hosting informative talks and sessions at least twice per calendar year to University alumni and other DU prospective planned giving donors; overseeing the contracted planned giving webpage on the University website; and providing technical support, advice, and assistance to the team gift officers regarding planned giving, estate planning, IRS regulations and other planned giving technical matters.

Other related duties as assigned and/or needed that will lead to philanthropic impact on Duquesne University.

Travel is required.

Completes other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervises work of others, including planning, assigning, scheduling, and reviewing work, ensuring quality standards. Is responsible for hiring, terminating, training and developing, reviewing performance, and administering corrective action for staff. Plans organizational structure and job content.

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and 8 years of progressively responsible experience.

Required experience successfully managing planned giving and/or major gift teams; and personally securing seven-figure planned gifts and/or major gifts, preferably in higher education.

Valid Driver’s License

Previous estate administration experience may substitute for education requirements based on an analysis of such experience by the hiring manager.

Preferred qualifications:

Preferred experience in leading and growing eight-figure plus team goals.

Juris Doctorate Law

Alternately, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination of experience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

At least eight years of successfully managing and developing frontline fundraising teams

Several years’ experience of personally securing at least $2M in annual fundraising goals through planned and major gifts

Proactive planned giving leader to drive and annually increase gift support through discovery, cultivation, and solicitation of donor prospects

Excellent organizational, project management, multi-tasking, and leadership skills

Exceptional communication (verbal/written), listening, and follow-through skills; collegial and respectful

Able to work independently within the boundaries of established University and development practices

Established history of working proactively and collaboratively with Advancement colleagues, campus partners, and other stakeholders

Consistently meets and exceeds deadlines/deliverables and standards for quality work

Entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving and demonstrated success in exceeding goals and expectations

Experience and comfort level with Advancement CRMs and software programs

Willingness and ability to travel frequently throughout PA and the US

Experience managing an internal department budget and ensuring fiscally sound decision-making

Knowledge of IRS and FASB laws, rules and regulations, along with thorough knowledge of best practices in fundraising and solicitation policies, procedures, and methods

Broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising and an ability to participate in all aspects of the gift cycle

Expertise and facility with an Advancement CRM, PG Calc, and the MS Office suite

Exceptional interpersonal skills

Vigorous work ethic, sound judgment, impeccable integrity, demonstrated initiative, appropriate professional appearance, intellectual curiosity, personal and professional stamina, and the temperament to work effectively and productively with colleagues, donors, and volunteers

Commitment to the University’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion, and recognition of the importance of treating each individual with dignity and respect consistent with the University’s Mission. Demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, the broad diversity of the University community (students, faculty, staff and others).

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University Community.

Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the University and to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University. The mission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit of service, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and an ecumenical campus community.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.
Catholic in its mission and ecumenical in spirit, Duquesne University values equality of opportunity as an educational institution and as an employer. We aspire to attract and sustain a diverse faculty and staff that reflects contemporary society, serves our academic goals and enriches our campus community. We particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups and support dual-career couples through our charter membership in this region's HERC (http://www.hercjobs.org/oh-western-pa-wv/).
We invite applicants for this position to learn more about our university and its Spiritan heritage by visiting http://www.duq.edu/about/mission-and-identity/mission-statement. Those invited to campus for an interview may be asked about ways in which they see their talents contributing to the continued growth of our community and furthering its mission.
Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Duquesne University is Catholic in mission and ecumenical in spirit. Motivated by its Catholic identity, Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution and as an employer.