Director of Development
Durham, NC, US, 27710
Duke University:
Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.
About Us
The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is one of the fastest rising, highly ranked engineering schools in the nation. The school consists of four departments with more than 130 tenure-track faculty members, 370 staff members, 100 postdocs, 1250 undergraduate students, 1400 master’s students, and 600 PhD students. Housed within a university renowned for its programs in the liberal arts, medicine, business and law, Pratt prepares future engineering leaders to address complex challenges with solutions that take into account the complexities and nuances of implementing them. Pratt takes a whole-student approach to education, ensuring students are well supported throughout their journeys and graduate with the grit and determination required to persevere in their careers and their lives. Pratt is dedicated to the values of diversity, equitability, inclusivity, and community in its pursuit of knowledge and service to society.
Occupational Summary:
The Director of Development will report directly to the Senior Associate Dean for Development at Pratt. This position will be responsible for managing the Pratt Major Gift team to advance identifying, cultivating and soliciting significant gifts in support of the school’s educational needs and priorities. This position will also lead graduate student fundraising efforts for Masters and PhD graduates and serve as primary development liaison to Department Chairs at Pratt
Work Performed:
- Manage the Pratt Major Gift team and serves as core member of development team leadership (30%)
- Work with the Senior Associate Dean for Development in creating and implementing a comprehensive development plan for major gift fundraising that includes but is not limited to identification and qualification of newly screened major gift prospects; as well as the cultivation and solicitation of both existing and newly identified prospects at the $100,000 to $5M+ level (10%)
- Work closely with the Annual Fund team to increase giving levels of existing leadership graduate alumni donors (5%)
- Engage the Pratt Department Chairs in development activities including planning and executing department chair travel to key development regions in partnership with Pratt and Duke AED regional development directors (10%)
- Engage with Pratt faculty to outline needs and fundraising opportunities to support faculty research (10%)
- Maintain a working knowledge of Duke-wide funding priorities, and a general knowledge of those schools, departments, and institutes that collaborate directly with Engineering (5%)
- Represent the school within the broader campus development community by coordinating cultivation and solicitation strategies for prospects with multiple interests; and by contributing to the refinement of policies and practices that will enhance the University’s advancement goals (5%)
- Build out a portfolio of graduate and PhD alumni for active cultivation and coordinate with Pratt and central major gift teams to elevate PhD solicitations across the school (20%)
- Support the Pratt Dean and Development team as needed to advance the Engineering School’s priorities (5%)
Minimum Qualifications
Education/Training
Bachelor's degree required. Masters or other advanced degree preferred.
Experience
Demonstrated successful experience and effectiveness in major gift fundraising, preferably in an educational setting, for at least eight (8) to ten (10) years. A minimum of five years of experience supervising senior fundraising staff, hiring fundraisers and administrative support, conducting evaluations and providing constructive feedback, and managing personnel actions.
Skills
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement programs that support effective fundraising, preferably in a complex university environment
- Demonstrated ability to handle multiple, complex fundraising activities simultaneously
- Ability to plan and implement a fundraising plan
- Knowledge of Duke University is highly desirable
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- High level of creativity, initiative, and motivation
- Ability to travel frequently
- Team orientation and willingness to provide mentoring to other major gift officers as appropriate.
Job Code: 00002334 DIR, MAJOR GIFTS
Job Level: 18
Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, genderexpression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh