Advancement Executive Director, Eastman School of Music

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Job Location (Full Address):

26 Gibbs Str, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14604

Opening:

Worker Subtype:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Department:

100006 Ofc Sr Vice Pres Advancement

Work Shift:

UR - Day (United States of America)

Range:

UR URG 118

Compensation Range:

$140,350.00 - $210,525.00

Responsibilities:

GENERAL PURPOSE
The Eastman School of Music seeks an experienced and ambitious Executive Director of Advancement. The ideal candidate will be a thoughtful strategist, exceptional fundraiser and relationship manager, natural collaborator and convener. This position is the primary advancement officer for The Eastman School of Music. The Executive Director reports to the Associate Vice President for Annual Giving and School Programs, works closely with University Advancement and the Dean and other academic leaders of the school to set strategic direction for school advancement and to conceive and execute fundraising and engagement plans for alumni and supporters. He or she will have an exciting opportunity to manage the campaign for Eastman as part of the University’s comprehensive capital campaign. This leadership role will be expected to achieve fundraising goals and manage a portfolio of high-level prospects, including some of the most important supporters of the school. They will also manage a team of six full time Advancement professionals, part time staff and students. Travel is required for this position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Programmatic Oversight

• Through strategic leadership, develop strategies and direct staff and collaborate with University Advancement officers, appropriate deans, and senior management in supporting all annual, major, and leadership gifts work for the school, participating directly where appropriate to ensure maximum coordination of activities across Advancement units.

Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and a sufficient schedule of personal visits and travel to assure wise engagement of these prospects.
• Direct fundraising responsibilities will entail 75-90 visits, 45 solicitations, and 15 closed gifts per year at the major gift levels.
• Many of these trips and visits will include staffing and briefing Eastman leadership and dean.

Supervision and Leadership

• Supervise an office, program and team focused on producing high annual, major, and leadership gifts for the school, as well as alumni and constituent relations programs and communications that are integrated with development priorities. 
• In collaboration with University Advancement, conceive and implement management systems to measure activity and progress.
• Hire, train, and evaluate staff with appropriate consultation with Dean and University Advancement.
• Guide and motivate staff members to perform at a high level and to advance their own career aspirations through meetings and conversations, and mentoring.
• Oversee Advancement officers and ensure they have sufficient knowledge of programs and priorities to be effective representatives for the school and that they know whom to contact when they need more extensive and detailed information.
• Oversee fundraising with foundations, corporations and government support. Work with colleagues to maximize these opportunities on behalf of Eastman.
• Serve as a liaison with all central Advancement departments. 
• Promote a collaborative organizational culture internally and in working with other Advancement departments, keeping always focused on the common goal for moving prospects toward readiness to make more generous gifts for priority purposes.

Strategic and Business Planning

• Through in-depth conversations and meetings, collaborate with Associate Vice President for Annual Giving and School Programs, Advancement to establish effective philanthropy and engagement campaign plans and annual business plans for Eastman School Advancement. 
• Establish and oversee execution of plans in support of University Advancement goals and school priorities. 

Professional Networking and Leadership Management

• Maintain thorough knowledge of school programs, priorities and leaders to support effective management decisions and prospect strategies through in-depth conversations and meetings with senior leadership and deans.
• Closely collaborate with Dean and other key academic leaders to promote development efforts that focus on school priorities with appropriate consideration of issues of development feasibility.
• Establish an effective and productive working relationship with Dean.
• Establish trust and mutual respect.
• Provide a clear plan and provide regular progress toward goals.
• This includes building a short and long term 5 point plan for the campaign and regularly providing update.
• 5 points include plans for fundraising and top prospects, events, marketing and communications, stewardship and engagement. 

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree REQUIRED
• Advanced/graduate degree PREFERRED
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience REQUIRED
• or equivalent combination of education and experience REQUIRED
• 10 or more years of experience is strongly PREFERRED
• Experience working in a music school or performing arts institution is a plus PREFERRED

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Seasoned advancement professional capable of effectively managing and mentoring a large team in a complex environment, with proven success in program management
• An understanding of, and level of comfort with, the special challenges of working in a complex and diverse organizational environment. 
• An appreciation of the value of general education and music.
• Experience and demonstrated success in soliciting and closing major gifts and a strong understanding of the major gift cycle and ways to give. Working with individuals and foundations/corporations.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, and achieve fundraising and program plans and goals.
• Evidence of success working with Deans and other senior leaders in an arts or education setting.
• Proven ability to productively manage fundraising and engagement staff and work well with volunteers and volunteer groups.
• Excellent relationship building skills with colleagues, leadership and donors.
• Highly developed collaborative skills and a genuine appetite for collaboration
• Excellent skills in written and oral communication. 
• Facility with office productivity computer programs, and familiarity with relationship management platforms such as Salesforce or other fundraising platforms.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.