Director of Development & Alumni Relations

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Sanford School of Public Policy

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY

The Director of Development & Alumni Relations is charged with providing strategic direction, inspirational leadership and oversight for the School’s individual giving programs and alumni engagement activities. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Development & Alumni Relations (DAR), and serving with the Director of Advancement Services as a member of the leadership team, the Director will work to promote the educational, research, and financial priorities identified by the Dean and senior administration and to develop fundraising and alumni engagement strategies and programs that will capture the attention of the Sanford School’s alumni, parents and friends in ways that align with larger institutional goals. The Director will lead a team of professionals including the associate director of alumni relations, the assistant director of development, and a digital communications coordinator. With regard to fundraising functions, the Director serves as deputy to the Associate Dean and represents him/her and the office to senior academic and development administrators within the University and the School and to external constituencies. 

The ideal candidate will have at least seven years of experience in development with a proven record of program building, volunteer management, portfolio management, and soliciting gifts of six figures or more. S/he will also have experience developing opportunities for greater alumni engagement. The Director will have a strong metrics-driven approach to the work and demonstrate the ability to work independently to set targets and goals for the program. Outstanding organization and interpersonal skills are necessary, with a commitment to teamwork, curiosity, and initiative. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. The Director will embrace Duke’s culture of collaboration and will work to build and maintain collaborative working relationships across Duke, and with the School’s alumni, parents, and friends, with a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion. This person must have the ability to understand the big picture, communicate how a desired strategy or objective fits into the overall vision and mission of the organization and must demonstrate optimism and commitment.

WORK PERFORMED

• Understand and effectively articulate the Sanford School of Public Policy’s strategic initiatives and priorities, goals, objectives, and needs to prospective donors, alumni and stakeholders.
• Work with the Associate Dean and Director of Advancement Services to establish priorities and timelines to meet the School’s annual fundraising goals and to continue to build the donor pipeline and increase alumni engagement.
• Work with the Associate Dean and Director of Advancement Services to develop metrics, measure and report progress toward fundraising and alumni engagement goals, and provide insight into improving the effectiveness of fundraising and alumni engagement activities.
• Work closely with the Dean, and the Associate Dean for Development & Alumni Relations to lead and manage all individual fundraising activities, including major/principal gifts and individual leadership annual giving.
• Personally manage a prospect portfolio with direct involvement in the identification, cultivation, solicitation of leadership annual fund and major gifts ($100,000+), involving administration, faculty, students, and volunteers as appropriate.
• Manage a team of three to provide mentorship and direction:
  • Assistant Director of Development, whose work includes serving as the liaison to the Duke Annual Fund, and the development of supplemental school Annual Fund solicitations, the Sanford Class Gift effort, and managing a major gift portfolio.
  • Associate Dire