Managing Director, International Development

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Managing Director, International Development

Job Profile Title

Director D, Development, Fundraising

Job Description Summary

The International Development Office, part of Capital Giving within Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) at the University of Pennsylvania, is responsible for maximizing philanthropic support for priorities across the University and overseeing leadership engagement from Penn’s alumni, parents, and friends residing outside the United States. The team comprises a total of three frontline fundraisers, a Director of International Operations and Board Relations, a Program Coordinator, and an Associate Vice President of International Development. The office also manages two international foundations and three global leadership fundraising committees to facilitate further giving and engagement.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of International Development and working in close partnership with vested interests across the university, the Managing Director of International Development is a key member of the University’s international fundraising efforts. The Managing Director will lend leadership direction and support, aiding the AVP in making programmatic decisions by providing expertise about regions, international fundraising trends, and school and center priorities, and by engaging in regular planning and strategizing activities.

Job Description

The Managing Director will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive and coordinated fundraising strategies in an assigned region, which support the goals and objectives of a centrally based international office. The strategic plans for each subregion within a larger territory must consider not only cultural nuances, the number of constituencies, their capacity, and philanthropic outlook, but also admissions, donor profiles, political climates, and more. Each strategy must also support the schools and centers. The Managing Director will be responsible for managing a frontline fundraiser, and all strategies must be developed with this two-person approach to broaden and deepen the reach. The Managing Director and other frontline fundraisers will be expected to be intimately familiar with the specifics of the region and serve as expert resources to other colleagues.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop a short- and long-term strategy for donor cultivation, solicitation, engagement, and stewardship for assigned region(s). Using data, trends, and knowledge of the region to review the complexities of the assigned region(s) to create regional strategies.
• Strategize targeted prospect activity with the goal of closing major and principal gifts, and overall fundraising in the region(s). The Managing Director will develop new strategies and initiatives based on a comprehensive analysis to increase the number of prospects under active manag