Senior Director of Devel, NatSci & LBC / Development Officer III/S

Working/Functional Title

Senior Director of Devel, NatSci & LBC

Position Summary

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

The Michigan State University College of Natural Science (NatSci) plays a vital role in advancing scientific research, education, and outreach. NatSci is home to 28 departments and programs in the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences. The college averages $83 million in research expenditures annually, while providing world-class educational opportunities to more than 6,000 undergraduates and 1,200 graduate and post-doc students. There are 800+ faculty/academic staff and approximately 70,000 alumni worldwide. NatSci is recognized for its emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, research innovation, and hands-on learning experiences. Its impact extends far beyond majors in the college, as NatSci provides essential science and mathematics courses to every MSU student, regardless of major, ensuring that all graduates have a strong foundation in these critical areas.

The Lyman Briggs College (LBC), is MSU’s residential, degree-granting, interdisciplinary STEM college that serves approximately 2,000 students. Since 1967, LBC has offered a distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates the natural and physical sciences with the arts, humanities, and social sciences, helping its students understand and practice the sciences within their societal and global contexts. LBC provides a close-knit, living-learning community that supports students’ academic and personal growth. Together, NatSci and LBC exemplify MSU’s commitment to delivering high-impact science education.

The Senior Director of Development serves as chief development officer for the College of Natural Science and oversees the fundraising programs for both NatSci and Lyman Briggs College. This blended position is a unique opportunity for a seasoned fundraiser to lead comprehensive fundraising strategies for two distinct units at MSU, serving on the leadership teams of both colleges and driving fundraising results for both programs. The ideal candidate will maximize each college’s philanthropic potential and serve as a player-coach to frontline fundraisers in both units. In this capacity, the Senior Director manages a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and employs a rigorous, strategic moves management program to ensure that prospects are consistently engaged and moved through the development pipeline.

In addition to personally cultivating and soliciting major and principal gifts, the Senior Director manages 6 direct reports, including 3 frontline fundraisers, and collaborates closely with the Deans and leadership teams of both colleges. This leadership role involves working with senior administrators and department chairs to ensure alignment with the strategic priorities and to foster a culture of philanthropy. The management of the Lyman Briggs program represents 10% effort for the Senior Director.

As MSU prepares to launch the public phase of its next campaign, the Senior Director will assume a pivotal role in shaping both colleges’ campaign priorities. This includes leading efforts to assess program needs, recruiting and training volunteers, developing case statements, identifying and cultivating prospects, and soliciting contributions from alumni. A particular focus will be placed on identified prospects with major and principal gift capacity.

The Senior Director will also coordinate the colleges’ administrative and operational activities related to fundraising, working to increase private sector contributions through a targeted and integrated approach. This includes ensuring the strategic recruitment and training of alumni and volunteers, conducting thorough needs assessments, developing and reviewing proposals, and actively soliciting contributions to support the colleges’ ambitious goals in science education and research.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising:

• Plans and implements methods of prospect identification, solicitation, and cultivation to achieve successful solicitations for funds and match donors' interests with the needs of the Colleges.
• Plans and implements the principal gifts program for the Colleges as well as funding from other sources, including corporations and foundations.
• Collaborates with colleagues across campus and regionally to ensure donors’ philanthropic interests are being met.
• Provides assistance to donors regarding tax laws, policies, and procedures and resolves problems to maintain a positive image of the University.

Personnel Management:

• Supervises, directs, motivates, and evaluates staff to ensure consistency, quantity, and quality of work performed.
• Sets clear direction and priorities for professionals and ad