Executive Engagement Director - Development

Performs a range of functions in support of the Department of Development’s benefactor engagement strategies involving Mayo Clinic’s institutional leaders. Institutional leaders include Mayo Clinic executives and their offices, physicians, subject matter experts, senior administrators, and others across the enterprise. Benefactor engagement activities take place on Mayo Clinic campuses, off-campus locations, and virtually and may include but are not limited to meetings, site-visits, tours, events, presentations, and correspondences. 

This position ensures related operations and activities are effectively and efficiently presented and executed, with the highest attention to detail. Serves as a key point of contact with institutional leaders and Mayo Clinic Executive Office. Expertly manages information and decision-making processes internally and externally. Responsible for ensuring seamless communication, coordination, planning, briefing, and follow-up with institutional leaders related to their involvement in benefactor engagements. 

Takes an active leadership role to successfully initiate, assess, develop, implement, and monitor activities related to an institutional leader’s participation in a benefactor engagement, with a focus on high-complexity and top-of-pyramid assignments to advance Mayo Clinic’s philanthropic outcomes. Orchestrates, writes, reviews/edits, and distributes benefactor engagement briefings (in-person and written) and follow-up. Fosters relationships across the department and Mayo Clinic to optimally facilitate the assembly and collaboration of multidisciplinary contributors (development officers, communications, events, design, stewardship, etc.). Leads project management of stakeholders, including identification of tasks, communication of expectations, and management of project schedules. Regularly provides transparent and up-to-date status information to partners and leaders while promptly managing issues, risks, and action items. Manages regular communications with leaders and supports planning of meetings with institutional partners and their respective teams. Recommends agenda, determines appropriate attendees, and provides oversight on next steps and internal communications.

Maximizes strategic use of leader involvement, including pursuing opportunities for coordination within Development and amplification of leaders’ non-Development activities/travel. Leads the development and prioritization of benefactor engagement pipelines for assigned institutional leaders. Strategizes with Development leaders and fundraisers for one-off engagement requests that drive benefactor strategy and fundraising priorities. Proactively develops annual recommendations (events, travel to key markets, etc.) for assigned institutional leaders with the goal of advancing fundraising priorities and optimizing institutional partnerships. Serves as Development representative for Executive Office-sponsored external commitments and activities.

Must have a strong understanding of fundraising priorities and proactively stay apprised of established and new institutional leaders who can effectively convey Mayo Clinic’s fundraising priorities, represent cutting edge research, and align with benefactor interests. Makes recommendations based on strong understanding of benefactor strategy, fundraising objectives, institutional leaders, program best practices, and department processes and policies. Ensures engagement goals are well-defined, align with fundraising objectives, and are successfully achieved. 

Manages issues, risks and action items. May directly supervise coordinators or indirectly supervise functional areas of responsibility. Exhibits servant leadership; instills direction, alignment and commitment to advance the department’s strategic plan and business objectives.

Bachelor’s degree in communications, business or health care field with six years of related

experience OR a master’s degree with four years of related experience. Experience to include the following:

• Seasoned professional with preferred experience in communications or business
• Ability to work with executive leadership and under tight deadlines
• Exposure to organizational strategy, including confidential and sensitive issues
• Skilled at developing internal communications in addition to external messaging
• Experience with project management
• Exceptional attention to detail to include proactive calendar management
• Demonstrated knowledge of fundraising preferred

Applicants must be capable of working collaboratively in a complex organization. Must have excellent oral, written and editing communication skills. Must have exceptional organizational skills and demonstrated ability to accomplish both broad, visionary assignments as well as complex, detailed projects. Project management background is preferred. Technologically competen