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Senior Director of Advancement, College of Social Work

Employer
University of Tennessee Foundation
Location
Knoxville, Tennessee
Salary
Competitive
Posted Date
Oct 8, 2024
View more categoriesView less categories
Position Type
Fundraising
Fields
Education
Employment Type
Full Time

The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc (UTFI) invites applications and nominations to fill the position of Senior Director of Advancement, College of Social Work for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor, the selected candidate will work alongside the Dean and other key faculty at the College of Social Work to set and execute a fundraising strategy to support the priorities of the college. 

The purpose of this position is to secure philanthropic gifts that impact the strategic direction of the College. UTK boasts a top- 25 program nationally in Social Work, and the College has provided education in this field for more than 75 years. Recent fundraising success has seen the College’s endowment more than double in the last three years, providing unprecedented opportunities for students and faculty. Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

Fundraising: Manage a portfolio of prospects with an eye toward identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding financial commitments to the College. Building relationships and maintaining a healthy pipeline of prospective donors, alumni, and volunteers will be key indicators of success. An entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to travel (including development visits with the Dean and other academic leaders) will also maximize fundraising potential.  

Collaboration: Serve as a key strategic partner with faculty and administrators to align priorities of the College with donor goals and interests. Engage with central development personnel including Planned Giving, Stewardship, Regional and Corporate fundraisers to maximize fundraising potential. Collaborating with other college fundraisers to best serve donor interests is also important. Additionally, this position will work closely with the College’s Board of Visitors volunteer group.  

Communication: Communicate in ways that are donor-centric, while furthering the mission of the University of Tennessee. Common forms of communication include gift proposals, thank you notes, brochures, fundraising appeals, timely contact reports and donor reports among others.

Administration & Leadership: Provide leadership to personnel assigned to fundraising and donor activities. Candidate will also be viewed as a leader on campus and must exhibit the high standards of performance and professionalism expected of the College of Social Work and UTK development staff. 

Required Education and Experience 

The candidate who fills the Senior Director of Advancement position is required to have: 

  • Bachelor's degree 
  • 8+ years of demonstrated fundraising success in a non-profit entity, preferably in higher education. Fundraising experience should include: 
  • Major gift fundraising and annual giving 
  • Planned giving 
  • Volunteer management 
  • Stewardship 
  • Communications or other Advancement related areas of work 
  • Ability to think strategically and collaborate with others to achieve a goal 
  • Strong customer service orientation, with understanding oral and written communication skills; customer-focused mindset 
  • A desire and drive to improve the welfare of others 
  • Willingness to work nights and weekends, to include donor travel and hosting key stakeholders at campus events, including football games. 

A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record is required due to travel responsibilities of the position. UTFI reserves the right to consider all appropriate circumstances. In general, any significant driving offense less than 12 months old will eliminate the application from consideration for the position. 

Preferred Education and Experience 

In addition to meeting the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will have: 

  • Master's degree 
  • 2+years of management experience to include students and/or volunteers 
  • Experience interfacing with a college Dean and other academic leaders 
  • Demonstrated success in working with corporations and foundations 
  • Proficient with pipeline development 
  • Experience developing and maximizing the assets of a donor advisory board 
  • Demonstrated success in planning and implementing a capital campaign  

Application Process: Priority will be given to applications received on or before September 25, 2024 via our Taleo application system. Applications must include a completed candidate profile, cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.  

When determining minimum qualifications, only information entered into the candidate profile can be considered. Please ensure your candidate profile is completed in its entirety as it relates to qualifying education/work experience.  

Questions about the search may be directed to hr@utfi.org.  

Target Start Date: October 2024 

Benefits: Recognized as a Top Employer by Knoxville Top Workplaces in 2022 and 2023, the Foundation’s greatest asset is our team. Foundation employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes: 

  • Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days 
  • Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members 
  • Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses 
  • Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.  
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans 
  • Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods 

_________ 

The Foundation: The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that serves as the preferred channel for private contributions benefiting students and faculty within the UT System. With a vision of being one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, UTFI is committed to enhancing the educational landscape across the University of Tennessee campuses. 

Knoxville – The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been advancing knowledge and enriching lives since its founding in 1794. Tennessee’s flagship public research university, UT Knoxville is a diverse community whose shared commitment to discovery, creativity, and education combines with a tradition of service and engagement to carry the Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. UT’s campus—home to more than 36,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff members—is part of the vibrant city of Knoxville, located on the Tennessee River with the Great Smoky Mountains nearby. 

The UT System: The University of Tennessee System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Institute of Agriculture; and the Institute for Public Service.  

The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.  

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