DIRECTOR, PRINCIPAL GIFTS, GLOBAL LEADERSHIP, Development & Alumni Relations

Tracking Code6945Job Description

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 about a job, but a career and a community.

Now, our Global Leadership Development team is looking for a Director, Principal Gifts, who will play a critical role in contributing to Boston University’s overall fundraising success at the highest level.

Global Leadership Development at Boston University

The Global Leadership Development (GLD) team works with the Senior Vice President on securing principal gifts for Boston University from philanthropists across the globe, partnering closely with University leadership. Their work centers on identifying principal gift prospects and working with prospect managers to plan a strategy for high-level cultivation and solicitation of high-net-worth individuals, leading to philanthropic investments that create impactful and meaningful change.

Director, Principal Gifts

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts, the Director, Principal Gifts, is responsible for securing commitments of $1 million+ from the University’s top prospects, primarily those on the West Coast, using creative and sophisticated identification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies, with a focus on the discovery of new high-net-worth prospects for the University’s upcoming campaign. The Director works closely with the Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and supports the development travel of the University President. The Director also collaborates extensively with other Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) stakeholders including those in Major Gifts, School Development, Special Initiatives, and Alumni Engagement.

Responsibilities:

Manage, cultivate and solicit a portfolio of principal gift prospects ($1 million+ level), involving significant travel to the West Coast region and other regions as assigned. Targeted goal of 12 visits a month and annual dollar goal as determined by the Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts.

Partnering with the Research and Prospect Information Strategies team, use proactive and creative identification techniques to uncover and connect with new principal gift prospects for the University.

Collaborate with DAR colleagues, especially those overseeing School and College Development, to build content-driven cultivation and solicitation strategies that respond to prospects’ interests and passions and connect them with academic leaders including School and College deans and center directors. Meet regularly with internal stakeholders to drive prospect strategy.

We are pleased to partner with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller for this search; a more comprehensive job scope is available on the IM website: https://www.imsearch.com/search-detail/S8-406. Interested candidates should inquire and apply through IM.

Required Skills

A cover letter is required for consideration.

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of directly-related experience
• Strong development credentials including proven track record of building and developing a high-level portfolio
• Outstanding and successful experience as a fundraiser, including comprehensive management of principal gifts prospects and proven track record of closing seven-figure gifts
• Experience staffing executive and academic leadership
• Experience in enlisting and interacting with senior-level leadership volunteers
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills
• Superb judgment and the sensibility to adjudicate wisely among competing priorities
• A disposition to listen and circulate widely
• Outstanding interpersonal skills
• Exceptional reasoning, problem-solving and analytical skills, including an ability to translate ideas and concepts into clear, actionable steps
• Superb organizational skills and the ability to multi-task
• Ability to work independently as well collaboratively with team members
• Energy and stamina, self-confidence and humility, a strong sense of purpose, a tolerance for ambiguity and a sense of humor
• Extensive travel, nights and weekends required.

But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
• Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
• Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.
• Continuous growth and improvement, both as individuals and as a team.
• Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

If this resonates with you and you want to help us in our ambitious next campaign—and maybe do some of your best work as an advancement professional— we encourage you to apply. If you are hesitant to apply because you have not previously performed every responsibility listed in the description, but you do possess transferable skills and the defined qualifications, we still want to hear from you and welcome your application as well.

To learn more about Development & Alumni Relations at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the DAR Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/dar-talent/. We are pleased to partner with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller for this search; a more comprehensive job scope will be uploaded soon here and on the IM website.

Please note all newly hired staff and faculty, will need to be in compliance with Boston University’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirement within 30 days of date of hire. You must upload your vaccine documentation or request a medical or religious exemption (instructions). For further information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please visit the Back2BU site.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office.

Job LocationBOSTON, United StatesPosition TypeFull-Time/Regular