Vice President of Development

Vice President of Development & Alumni Relations

Job Description:
As a direct report to the President of the University and a member of the senior cabinet, the Vice President of Development & Alumni Relations (VPDAR) has the responsibility to carry out the vision of the Board of Trustees and the President of the University. Guided by DAR's mission, which is "to secure Norwich's future through exceptional relationships", the VPDAR will partner closely with the Board of Trustees, Provost, deans, Commandant, Director of Athletics, other University leaders, and key volunteers to lead all areas of development, alumni and constituent relations, and special events. The VPDAR will align and integrate all efforts of the fundraising and alumni team with institutional priorities and emerging opportunities while managing and developing budget and human resources effectively.

Leadership Opportunities
There are several immediate and unique leadership opportunities to refine current, and develop new, approaches to advancement related activities at Norwich:

Design and build the next campaign for Norwich
Informed by our new strategic plan, Norwich's next campaign will inspire and invite support to address strategic priorities for the University's future. The campaign will also serve as an important opportunity to engage in, and deepen relationships with, Norwich's alumni and friends as well as expand corporate and other stakeholder partnerships and support.
Further develop alumni engagement strategies
Alumni Relations has a unique opportunity to engage more alumni in a variety of areas of the institution to build robust internship and career opportunities, mentoring relationships, and other supports for Norwich students. These linkages greatly enhance the overall student experience, their development and outcomes, and ensure that Norwich continues to maximize its impact on our world.
Enhance philanthropic collaboration across the University
Provide the vision, inspiration, goals, education, and infrastructure to engage and collaborate with more of the institution's unique assets. Work with academic and staff leadership to identify key opportunities for various campus partners to participate in, and enhance, the institution's advancement efforts.
Essential Functions of the VPDAR Role
The VPDAR is responsible to work with and for the President in the successful mission advancement of the University. To accomplish this, the Vice President's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Crafting a vision for the development, alumni, and constituent programs that is tailored to Norwich University and aligned with institutional goals by:
Promoting and actively supporting a culture of philanthropy at the University.
Developing and implementing a five-year plan, updated annually, that supports this vision and the mission of the DAR Office and addresses:
Planning for, and successfully executing, the University's next comprehensive campaign.
Developing an innovative alumni engagement strategy reflecting the unique characteristics of the University and its alumni and engages increasing alumni.
Engaging new and existing corporate, foundation, government, and military partners.
Ensuring all annual plans, goals, action plans, timelines, budgets, and outcomes for each of the units within the DAR Office are implemented and completed.
Fostering a strong and collaborative partnership with university leaders by:
Serving as a member of the President's Cabinet, gaining broad awareness of university operations while educating faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni on the University's culture of philanthropy.
Actively supporting the President's work with major and principal gift generation, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Attending University Board meetings and serving as university liaison to the Development
Committee and Trustee Affairs Committee of the Board. In conjunction with both committee chairs, develop long term goals and strategies for each committee, and then create productive agendas and related materials for use at each meeting.
Strengthening the policies, processes, and procedures that facilitate collaboration with university operations, including but not limited to university marketing and communications, finance and administration, enrollment, financial aid, and other key departments.
Identifying and cultivating new relationships with alumni, parents and other family, corporate and foundation partners, and friends. Further developing and stewarding established relationships with these constituent types as well.
Demonstrating a culture of transparency, collaboration, and proactive communication about the institution's vision and plans, campaign plans and progress, and philanthropic and alumni engagement strategies.
Fostering and growing a culture pf philanthropy on campus and within the greater Norwich constituent community.
Providing effective department-based leadership by:
Overseeing all aspects of the DAR Office including annual, major, and planned giving activities; corporate and foundation relations; engagement of alumni, parents, and other constituencies (family, community, etc.); stewardship and reporting; endowments and distributions; prospect research and management; advancement services; and event management.
Managing the staff, supervising the creation of annual operational plans with key individual and team performance indicators, and actively evaluating performance. Assess and manage an appropriate incentive plan.
Developing and implementing an effective prospect management system to ensure productive donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, working closely with the President, faculty, Trustees, and others who can assist with this process.
Working with major gift staff to develop and implement complex and sensitive strategies and plans for solicitation of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects.
Managing a focused personal portfolio of 40-60 principal and major gift prospects and donors.
Providing support to the President's focused personal portfolio of 25-40 principal gift prospects and donors.
Providing executive leadership to, and ensure the successful management of, key volunteer committees including the Norwich University Alumni Association Board, various Boards of Fellows, Partridge Society Board, and other volunteer leadership groups.
Providing effective oversight and leadership of Advancement services, stewardship and donor reporting, and endowment management and distributions.
Ensuring effective budget forecasting and management and understanding of the University budget process.
Developing a team commitment to unity and success while driving and celebrating individual performance contributing to such success.
Providing professional development, performance coaching, and frequent constructive assessment to optimize their performance.
Representing the University at events and functions, traveling as necessary to achieve the University's goals.

Requirements:
We seek an advancement professional with at least 7 years of progressively responsible leadership and managerial experience who understands Norwich University's mission and values and is familiar with military culture; has a proven track record in successful principal and major gift fundraising with high-net wealth individuals; and has a broad understanding of the various roles, functions, and responsibilities of the different units within an a highly functioning advancement office. A bachelor's degree from an accredited university is required, and an advanced degree is preferred. In addition, a qualified candidate for this leadership position will also demonstrate the following qualities:

Models and embodies a personal values system that promotes and celebrates a collaborative workplace climate, high moral character, and strong leadership.
Strong and persuasive oral and written communication skills, an ability to listen and analyze complex information effectively, and a demonstrated ability to communicate with a variety of audiences, inspiring support, involvement, and investment compellingly and comfortably.
Strategic and proactive in their approach to relationship building, communication, and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders. A demonstrated ability to initiate and nurture highly effective interpersonal relationships with individual Trustees; prospects and donors; faculty, staff, students; corporate, foundation, government, and military partners; and other external constituencies.
Successful experience participating in the planning for, or implementation of, a multi-faceted comprehensive campaign.
Significant experience conducting or managing prospect discovery and pipeline development, as well as cultivating and soliciting gifts from individuals, foundations, and/or corporations.
Demonstrated experience in developing traditional and virtual alumni and constituent engagement efforts while championing philanthropic participation.
History of identifying, cultivating, and retaining Trustee candidates and other key volunteer committee members.
Experience managing and mentoring staff to effective metrics-driven performance and challenging them to meet aspirational goals and outcomes in a cooperative and inclusive team environment.
Proven ability to handle multiple priorities with strong time management skills and the ability to strategically deploy resources to address competing priorities in a dynamic, high-performance environment.
Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, for self and for staff.
This role will require travel as well as evening and weekend work, as needed and appropriate.

Desired Characteristics

Successful developer of teams and individuals and knows how to inspire and incentivize highest performance in a positive, inclusive, and collaborative atmosphere.
Ability to listen carefully and effectively, analyzing complex inputs and concisely communicating a plan of action that inspires involvement.
Unafraid to employ creative and versatile methods to address emerging challenges, demonstrating flexibility and remaining emotionally steady through setbacks.
Has a growth and builder mindset who thrives in a fast paced, high-performance environment, is driven to find solutions, and has a commitment to continuous quality
improvement.
Demonstrates strategic leadership and an energetic, driving personality that proactively pursues collaborative teamwork and partnerships, both internally and externally.
Understanding of the requisite groundwork for organizational transformation and change management.
A leader who is comfortable with autonomy in decision-making.
Additional Preferred Qualifications include:

Attended and/or graduated from Norwich or has had exposure to the University through some other close relationship.
Direct experience in a complex university with multiple academic units, student success offerings, and athletics will be particularly beneficial.
Experience serving on, or working directly with, a high performing and dynamic senior leadership team at a university.
Fundraising-related training and certifications.