Our Mission

We in Boston University Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU’s global leadership in research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built—and are continuing to build—an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs. Where it’s not just a job, but a career and a community.

Now, our school-based Development team at the School of Law is looking for an Assistant Dean who will lead and manage the school’s fundraising and alumni engagement strategy, in concert with the University’s programs.

Development & Alumni Relations, School of Law at Boston University

The Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) Office at the School of Law is responsible for engaging and connecting with the over 25,000 alumni around the world and raising money to benefit the School of Law. The School of LAW DAR team aims to engage all our alumni in getting them to commit their time, talent, and treasure to the school. The Law School has a Dean’s Advisory Board comprising 35 members; an Alumni Association Executive Committee with over 30 active members; members of the University’s Board of Trustees and University Advisory Board, and Regional Leadership Council members. The Law School has more than 2000 donors each year, and in the last campaign raised over $150 million. We are a top-20 law school, and the Director, Alumni Relations is a critical member of the team as we look to grow our engagement of the alumni community.

Assistant Dean for Development, School of Law

Reporting jointly to the Assistant Vice President for School Development and the Dean of the School of Law, the Assistant Dean for Development is a senior team member in the Development and Alumni Relations Office and at the School of Law. The primary focus for the AD is to identify, cultivate and solicit leadership and principal gift prospects, partner across DAR and manage the Law school team of six development and alumni relations professionals.

This position will identify, integrate, and coordinate the school’s needs with fundraising plans/goals, central development efforts, and alumni programming/activities. They will work with Assistant Vice President, Senior Vice President, Dean, Development and Alumni Relations staff, alumni and volunteers to achieve goals in concert with the development master plan and will create goals & strategies that align with the school’s strategic plan.

Responsibilities:

 Fundraising: Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising program for the School of Law including managing an active portfolio of leadership and principal gift prospects. Manage LAW Dean’s Advisory Board including identifying new Board members; planning and implementing Board meetings twice a year and optimizing Board member engagement and giving. This will involve close collaboration with the Dean, Assistant Vice President, and other DAR colleagues, faculty and senior University leadership, including the President.  Leadership: Provide expert fundraising counsel to the Dean, faculty, department chairs, and alumni volunteers. Build collaborative working relationships with School of LAW’s leadership, faculty, and researchers, and colleagues in the Development and Alumni Relations office. Foster productive relationships between faculty, prospects, and donors. Serve as member of the school’s senior leadership team representing DAR in faculty meetings and other assignments as deemed critical to the fundraising/alumni relations agenda by the Dean and the Assistant Vice President. Serve as a key external spokesperson for the school at industry gatherings and other events outside the University. Management: Lead and manage LAW-based development staff, with 4 direct reports in a staff of 6, including recruiting and evaluating staff, and assessing progress towards goals, including coaching and mentorship. Provide leadership on major gift cultivation and solicitation strategies to LAW staff, and actively participate in Development and Alumni Relations senior leadership prospect and policy initiatives. Communications: Working with the Law School’s Marketing and Communications team and DAR Development and Communications team, develop communications designed to enhance giving to the LAW School including LAW development website, social media, magazine and donor report. Serve as LAW information resource for Development and Alumni Relations. Guide LAW–related Major Gift and Industry Relations activity in DAR. Serve as key contact and spokesperson for School philanthropy.