Director, Project Activation and Integration

Director, Project Activation and Integreation

As the ASU Foundation continues to secure increasingly complex, high-impact investments in Arizona State University’s charter-driven work, we are seeking a strategic and operational leader to bridge the transition from proposal to implementation. The Director, Project Activation and Integration plays a critical role in ensuring that transformative gifts move smoothly from concept and commitment into successful university-side execution. Serving as a temporary project director, this individual coordinates implementation activities, monitors progress against key milestones, and ensures continuity until permanent leadership and structures are established within the university. This position also supports sustained success through ongoing check-ins, donor stewardship, and cross-unit coordination to deliver on the vision and intent of transformative investments.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as bridge leadership for transformative proposals, working with university and foundation leadership to establish interim management structures and operational plans.
• Coordinate regular project meetings with internal leadership teams and check-in meetings with lead donors, as needed.
• Liaise across academic, administrative, and operational units involved in the early stages of gift implementation to ensure timely progress and alignment.
• Drive the delivery of key early-stage milestones and ensure readiness for long-term success in line with the gift agreement.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project implementation plans, including short-, medium-, and long-term benchmarks and deliverables.
• Play a supportive role in planning and executing gift announcements, activation events, and related communications.
• Support the establishment and activation of gift-related advisory councils and governance structures.
• Track spending, deliverables, and progress across multiple implementation streams; prepare regular leadership-level briefings on project status.
• Monitor fidelity to gift agreements related to spending, finance, and project implementation.
• Work closely with frontline fundraisers to prepare and submit implementation reports and donor stewardship materials.
• Develop agendas and support logistics for implementation, oversight, and governance committees.
• As needed, collaborate with Research Advancement Administrators in Knowledge Enterprise and academic units to ensure accurate post-award accounting and compliance with sponsor or donor requirements.
• As relevant, participate in late-stage cultivation, solicitation, and closing strategy discussions with frontline officers, to aid in transitioning to implementation of transformative gifts.
• Serve as an active member of the Idea Engine team, reporting to the Assistant Vice President, including team meetings and article club discussions.
• Perform other duties as assigned to ensure the success and continuity of transformative projects.
  
  

What You'll Need

• Exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and leadership levels, including the ability to interact effectively with academic leadership, faculty, prospects, donors and/or volunteers in a wide range of roles
• Agile nature, professional demeanor, and the ability to react effectively to unanticipated circumstances, opportunities, and complex situations
• Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with evolving priorities and cross-unit dependencies.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity through process design, structure, and accountability.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills with a proactive, results-oriented mindset.
• Team-oriented with a collaborative spirit and the ability to manage situations involving numerous and sometimes competing university constituencies.
• Proven ability to translate strategic goals into actionable implementation plans with clear metrics and milestones.
• Skilled in managing complex relationships and maintaining diplomacy, discretion, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Proficiency with project management tools, tracking systems, and presentation software for reporting progress and outcomes.
• Ability to represent the institution well and possess an advocate’s belief in the vision of ASU as the New American University
• Ability to exercise good judgment, to demonstrate an understanding of ethics related to development activities, and to use discretion in interactions with donors, prospects, volunteers, and others
  
  

Relevant Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 7 years of successful professional development and/or fundraising related experience
• Proven success leading complex projects.
• Proven ability to lead projects and teams
  
  

Preferred Skills And Abilities

• Experience developing, negotiating, and administering grants, contracts, or large philanthropic awards, including post-award functions.
• Good understanding of university operations, advancement, and/or research administration.
• Experience with developing and tracking complex budgets.
  
  

Preferred Education

• Advanced degree
  
  

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with matching employer contribution
• 22 days of vacation time
• 11 holidays, including your birthday
• Parental leave
• Significant tuition reductions
• Professional development is highly valued at ASU Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization and nurture new areas of interest
• $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement
  
  

About ASU Foundation

The ASU Foundation fosters partnerships between ASU and like-minded individuals, corporations and foundations who believe in ASU’s mission and provide resources for ASU to manifest its charter into meaningful impact. These partnerships empower ASU to advance student access, serve our community, protect the planet, create equity in higher education and conduct research for the public good.

At the ASU Foundation we value

Character

We prioritize character and integrity in every decision and action, establishing trust as the foundation of all that we do.

Service

We are dedicated to serving our students, donors, communities, and colleagues by fostering support and collaboration to ensure that our efforts are impactful.

Innovation

Innovation drives us to create meaningful opportunities and solutions, helping every member of our global community achieve meaningful outcomes.

The ASU Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer