DIRECTOR, SPECIAL INITIATIVES, Development and Alumni Relations, Center for Antiracist Research

Tracking Code23500475420522Job 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 Special Initiatives team is looking for a Director who will conceptualize and execute a comprehensive development strategy for the Center for Antiracist Research.

Special Initiatives at Boston University

Special Initiatives (SI) is focused on securing leading philanthropic gifts in support of select University priorities, including the Center for Antiracist Research (CAR), Computing and Data Sciences (CDS), the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy & Research (CEID), the Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE), and the National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory (NEIDL). This team works in close coordination/collaboration with Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) colleagues, center directors, the Associate Provost for the Faculty for Computing & Data Sciences, and affiliated faculty.

Director, Special Initiatives

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Special Initiatives, the Director is a critical member of the SI team, managing a portfolio of at least 80 major gift ($100K+) prospects, including their cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. In close partnership with the AVP, SI, the Director is responsible for the conceptualization and execution of a comprehensive development strategy for the Center for Antiracist Research, composed of frontline gift officer activity and management, faculty relations, advisory boards and volunteer management, event planning, alumni relations, communications and marketing, and prospect research, among other functions.

An important measure of the Director’s success is their collaboration with colleagues from across Development & Alumni Relations to advance fundraising for the SI portfolio of priorities. These collaborations include the co-development of prospect strategies and serving as a content expert on the mission, vision, and priorities of the SI portfolio in select prospect meetings. Additionally, the incumbent works with the Associate Vice President and Prospect Research to develop strategies to ensure the ongoing identification of potential prospects for the SI portfolio.

• Prospect work: Identify, cultivate, and solicit major and principal gift prospects ($100,000+). The Director conducts a minimum of 100 prospect meetings per year and to complete 10-12 major gift solicitations of qualified prospects. Ultimately, s/he will construct a major gift portfolio with 80-100 prospects.
• Strategic coordination and leadership: Work with the AVP to develop and coordinate strategies to engage major donors to the SI portfolio, including the coordination of stewardship, events, communications, alumni relations, and prospect research. The AD also collaborates as directed with the advisory boards and staff within the SI portfolio, as well as with other key constituents and University stakeholders.
• Prospect research & engagement: Engage alumni and other constituents to increase their connections to the priority areas by developing, organizing, and helping to manage advisory boards and other programming, including convenings, communications, and special projects. Collaborate closely with colleagues across Development & Alumni Relations on these efforts to engage and communicate with donors.
• Prospect coordination: Support the SVP for Development & Alumni Relations, VP for Development, and other senior fundraisers in their frontline fundraising efforts by providing prospect briefings and by staffing their prospect meetings where appropriate.
• Management: Manage SI gift officers, interns, and student employees to ensure the alignment of their work with SI objectives and their own professional development.

Required Skills

A cover letter is required for consideration.

• A Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Ten or more years of directly applicable experience, including direct fundraising experience with a proven track record of soliciting and closing six-figure gifts is required.
• The successful candidate must have a successful track record of engagement with prospects and donors and the ability to develop partnerships resulting in philanthropic support at the six- and seven-figure level.
• The incumbent will have the acumen to develop and to execute strategy in partnership with the senior leaders from within DAR and across the University, including the SVP for DAR, VP for Development, AVP for Special Initiatives, and center directors.
• The successful candidate will have demonstrated success in working and understanding the varying priorities and approaches to fundraising at a complex institution, including principal gifts, corporate and foundation relations giving, planned gifts, donor recognition and stewardship, prospect research, and alumni and other stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in a campaign setting is preferred, and experience in the design of such an effort is a distinct preference.
• The successful candidate must also successfully manage up, down, and across an organization, as well as individuals and teams. Therefore, experience in an institution of considerable organizational complexity typified by matrix relationships of power and influence is critical.
• Experience in enlisting and interacting with senior-level leadership volunteers.
• Superior communication skills—both verbal and written—and strong collaborative practices.
• The attributes of intelligence, integrity, judgment, creativity, courage of convictions, decisiveness, fairness, empathy, and a sense of humor are necessary for success.
• 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.
• 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/.

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 COVID-19 Resources site.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. 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 at 617-358-1796.

Job LocationBOSTON, Massachusetts, United StatesPosition TypeFull-Time/Regular