Vice President, SME Education Foundation

Responsible for aligning the Foundation’s strategy and priorities with SME’s broader vision and mission.   This position provides overall executive leadership for the Foundation, with accountability for its strategy, financial performance, organizational effectiveness, operations and Board governance. 

The Vice President also leads the Foundation’s fundraising and development strategy, philanthropic partnerships, financial stewardship and managing its signature scholarship portfolio. Success requires someone who is simultaneously a strategic thinker, exceptional fundraiser, coalition builder and organizational leader capable of mobilizing resources and relationships around bold opportunities to advance manufacturing’s future.

Working closely with the SME CEO, executive leadership, SME Education Foundation Board of Directors and the broader SME organization, the Vice President will translate industry challenges and opportunities into compelling public and private investment strategies and fundraising initiatives. 

MAJOR FUNCTIONS

• Lead the Foundation's comprehensive fundraising and development strategy, with accountability for significant and sustained growth in public and private sector investment.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing team, including recruiting and retaining talent, establishing clear expectations and accountability, managing performance and fostering a collaborative culture aligned with organizational objectives.
• Maintain a strong understanding of manufacturing, workforce and education needs, the external funding environment and emerging opportunities to identify areas where philanthropic investment can create meaningful and scalable impact.
• Identify and advance partnerships that have the potential to mobilize resources and collective action at meaningful scale.
• Build and maintain a diversified portfolio of funding relationships across corporations, foundations, individuals, government and other public-private funding sources.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward gifts, multi-year commitments and strategic investments.
• Build and actively manage a robust fundraising pipeline with clear goals, prospects, strategies, accountabilities and forecasts.
• Partner closely with SME executive leadership and teams across the organization to connect philanthropic investment with SME's capabilities, expertise, networks and platforms.
• Foster a strong spirit of collaboration across SME, building effective partnerships and leveraging the collective expertise, relationships and capabilities of the organization to achieve shared goals and maximize impact.
• Serve as the senior executive responsible for the SME Education Foundation and primary management liaison to its Board of Directors.
• Partner with the Foundation Board President and Directors to establish strategy, priorities and measures of success and strengthen Board engagement in fundraising, advocacy and relationship development.
• Prepare and manage the Foundation's annual budget and long-range financial outlook and ensure responsible stewardship of Foundation assets and donor resources.
• Oversee and grow the Foundation's signature scholarship portfolio, ensuring strong governance, stewardship, donor alignment and measurable impact.
• Ensure compliance with donor restrictions, grants, contracts, regulatory requirements and nonprofit governance standards.
• Serve as a visible external leader and spokesperson for the SME Education Foundation including media, speaking engagements, and industry events.
• Build coalitions and strategic partnerships that extend the Foundation's reach, resources and impact.
• Ensure the Foundation has appropriate systems, processes and technologies to operate efficiently and effectively.
• Other duties as assigned.