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 administrative support personnel, promoting excellence through well-defined and measurable goals. Celebrates current achievements and sets clear expectations for future success. + Leads by example and fosters a work environment that recognizes and rewards cross-functional collaboration, team-based efforts, and inclusive working environments. Mentors and trains professional and administrative staff, providing frequent opportunities for professional learning and growth and facilitating retention to increase the team's capacity and expertise. + Leverages human and financial resources and promotes efficiency. + Provides the structure and guidance necessary to promote a high-performance culture that meets the needs and expectations of a successful and diverse alumni community. + Recruits, trains, motivates, and evaluates volunteers to accomplish colleges goals and objectives. Programmatic Management: + Audits internal operations to develop standardized procedures and ensure conformity with established policy. + Plans, hosts, and communicates at meetings with the public and University personnel to provide information on the Colleges and/or University. + Assists in budget preparation to ensure consistency with unit goals. + Assists in setting both long- and short-term goals/plans to determine resources fundraising required. + Supervises or coordinates with external relations staff, including development, alumni, public relations, and communications, to ensure information coordination with alumni and friends of the Colleges. + Coordinates the composing, editing, and publishing of Colleges’ materials to provide college leadership and volunteers with campaign progress reports. + Assists in preparing and interpreting statistical data related to philanthropy for Colleges Administrators. + Serve as a member of the College’s leadership team to build a culture of philanthropy as requested. COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS + Michigan State University Alumni/Individuals/Major Corporations/Businesses/Employees and Corporate Leadership - to solicit as potential donors, handle their donor requests and to cultivate and train them as potential volunteers. + Faculty - to educate and engage them in the Development process, to seek their advice on funding needs, and to answer funding questions and advise them on funding strategy. + Professional and Administrative Staff - to train and oversee their work and to establish priorities. + Department Heads/Michigan State University Executive Management - to consult and coordinate work within the University structure, to aid in the identification of potential donors and gain support of special projects. + Michigan State University Vice President of University Advancement and Associate Vice President of University Development - to advise on the progress of Colleges’ campaigns. + Michigan State University campaign leadership - to seek their advice on the cultivation and solicitation of major donors and to assist them in soliciting donors. + Michigan State University Trustees - to seek advice and obtain assistance for solicitation. + Peers/Professional Organizations - to obtain advice and counsel on options being considered for programs. + Government Agencies/Foundations - to assess current funding priorities and donor procedures. SUPERVISION RECEIVED Direction is received from the Executive Director of Constituency Programs and from the Deans of the College of Natural Science and Lyman Briggs College. SUPERVISION EXERCISED Supervision of the NatSci and LBC Associate and Assistant Directors of Development and other NatSci College public relations/alumni relations staff. Minimum Requirements Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional and higher education fundraising, public relations, marketing, development of budgets, preparation and presentation of case statements and analysis of operations; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Must have a valid driver’s license at the time of hire and ability to travel via automobile and airline. Desired Qualifications + Eight years in professional fund raising, public relations, marketing or a related field or five years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education development, public relations or a related field. + Demonstrated experience in facilitating major gifts through planned giving instruments. + Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status. Required Application Materials Resume and cover letter Special Instructions Michigan State University has partnered with Aspen Leadership Group in the search for a Senior Director of Development, College of Natural Science and Lyman Briggs College. For additional information regarding this position, please reach out to Michael Vann at michaelvann@aspenleadership.com Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled. Work Hours 8 am - 5 pm with some evenings and weekends Website Advancement.msu.edu Remote Work Statement MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon. Bidding eligibility ends January 28, 2025 at 11:55 P.M.