Managing Director, Discovery Program - Office of Advancement

Georgetown University comprises two unique campuses in the nation’s capital. With the Hilltop Campus located in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood, and the Capitol Campus, just minutes from the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court, Georgetown University offers rigorous academic programs, a global perspective, and unparalleled opportunities to engage with Washington, D.C. Our community is a close-knit group of remarkable individuals driven by intellectual inquiry, a commitment to social justice, and a shared dedication to making a difference in the world.

Requirements

Georgetown University’s Office of Advancement is committed to cultivating a safe, equitable, diverse, and inclusive work environment that honors the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of our broader colleagues and broader Georgetown community. Consistent with our Jesuit values, we aim to foster a culture that accepts and cares for each individual, and we believe this is central to achieving our goals in support of Georgetown’s mission.

The Managing Director - Discovery Program will build and lead a critical new donor engagement team and program for Georgetown University. The Discovery Program’s primary objectives will be to identify, cultivate, and engage Georgetown University alumni and friends through one-on-one conversations and relationship building. Intended outcomes will include increased engagement and giving from annual donors and the identification and engagement of potential major gift donors. The team will work with key partners and leverage sophisticated data analysis to identify their target population. While the team’s primary focus will be on donor engagement, stewardship, and qualification, the team will also solicit gifts as is strategic with the goal of increasing select donors’ annual giving. When successful, this program will help build a more engaged and qualified pool of donors, volunteers, and advocates for Georgetown. It will also support a successful close to Georgetown’s current $3 billion Called to Be campaign, while building a strong foundation of new major gift donors for future campaigns. This is a critical growth area for the Office of Advancement and will entail highly visible, strategic work. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Build a new team and lead it once fully launched, acting as a strong leader who brings gravitas and strategic positioning to their work.

• Develop position descriptions and hire and onboard new team members.

• Develop all related processes, protocols, and documentation needed to make the program successful.

• Lead and convene two cross-functional boards, including senior and executive members of the Office of Advancement with the Review Board , who will review recommendations for potential major gift donors and provide feedback on the team’s deployment.

• Work with the Senior Leadership Oversight Board to assess the program’s overall performance, helping refine or redirect the program or other priorities as needed.

Work Interactions
The Managing Director will report to the Associate Vice President of Alumni Engagement and will serve as a critical member of the Alumni Engagement senior leadership team. The Managing Director will initially hire and lead a team of five individuals: four assistant directors who will do the core functional work of the Discovery Program and one director who will support program development and operations and lead data analytics and reporting for the entire team. The Managing Director will ensure the team is highly effective in engaging and soliciting alumni and donors and identifying major gift donors for the Development team. The Managing Director will work closely with the Development team to formalize and implement solicitation training for the Discovery team, and to support the development of a strong major gift pipeline. They will work closely with the DATA team to align best practices and partner on prospective donor identification and program analysis. The Managing Director will work closely with senior and executive colleagues from across OA and the University, and will regularly represent the Associate Vice President and other leaders in key discussions, projects, and working groups.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree

• 8-10 years of professional experience, ideally in a higher education, fundraising, and/or alumni engagement environment

• At least 5+ years of management experience with 2+ direct reports and a passion for Georgetown and its mission

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage and prioritize multiple complex ta