Executive Director of Development, Neuroscience and Behavioral Health (NSBH)

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Duke Health has retained Lindauer, an executive search firm, to assist in this search. Consideration of candidates will continue until the position is filled.

Candidates should submit, in confidence, a resume and cover letter. Communications, nominations, applications, and inquiries concerning this search should be directed to Raegan Harvey, Senior Consultant, rharvey@lindauerglobal.com

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Individual Giving, this position is responsible for leading the Neuroscience and Behavioral Health grateful patient fundraising team which encompasses: the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the creation of overall fund-raising plans and programming that support the areas within Neuroscience and Behavioral Health. Additionally, s/he will lead major and principal ($100k or more) gift strategy and philanthropic conversations that support brain tumor and brain cancer related areas.

WORK PERFORMED

• Foster and reinforce a sophisticated and multi-disciplinary mind set for the Neuroscience and Behavioral Health team that is aligned with Duke Health leadership’s priorities and responsive to donors’ interests.
• Manage and serve as a resource, role model, and coach to a high-performing team for matters of prospect strategy and solicitation; regularly sharing new approaches and techniques.
• Develop annual fundraising goals for individuals on the Neuroscience and Behavioral Health team, in consultation with the Assistant Vice President, Individual Giving.
• Build partnerships, establish and maintain regular communication with faculty physicians in the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Neurosurgery and other areas within Neuroscience and Behavioral Health to increase and manage the level of physician referrals of grateful patients. Provide guidance on proper Duke Health development procedures and protocols to all staff whose roles encompass fundraising responsibilities.
• Identify, cultivate and solicit major gifts prospects; recommend and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies for grateful patient prospects, working in coordination with administration, faculty, and volunteers as appropriate.
•  Secure gifts in support of evergreen funding priorities as established by Duke Health leadership.
•  Develop, evaluate and refine plans and timetables for departmental or theme assignments; assist in planning and/or directing cultivation events or programs.
•  Serve as a member of the Individual Giving team and help donors see the relationship between patient care and the underlying science, research, and educational needs within Duke Health.
•  Coordinate and collaborate with colleagues on all Duke Health fundraising teams to ensure comprehensive coverage of prospects and donors.
•  Coordinate and manage the communication of information to include briefings, development agendas, and development related reporting to assigned faculty leaders.
•  Identify and qualify prospects, develop and cultivate relationships, develop gift strategies for prospects with associated faculty and leaders, solicit major and leadership level gifts, and negotiate and successfully close gifts.
•  Coordinate appropriate recognition and stewardship activities for donors.
•  Write or assist in drafting proposals and other materials as necessary; assist with publicity arrangements on important gifts, programs, accomplishments or events.
•  Follow procedures in coordination with the Office of Gift Records to ensure effective collecting, recording, accounting, acknowledgement and follow-up on all private gifts to assigned areas.
•  Develop contact reports and enter moves and data into tracking databases. Operate within a standardized metric program.
•  Work successfully with colleagues across the institution to collaborate on prospects with multiple interests.
•  Successfully maintain and manage a portfolio of major gifts prospects.
•  Follow best fundraising and operational practices for Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs.
• Some travel and flexibility in work hours will be necessary at times to accomplish objectives and satisfy goals.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. 

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

DEPARTMENTAL PREFERENCES

Experience

• Must have ten or more years of progressive responsibility in fund raising.
• Requires a proven track record of leading successful fund-raising programs.
• Requires demonstrated skill as an effective communicator and writer.
• Academic medicine and campaign experience preferred. 
• OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Skills

• Successful experience soliciting six-figure+ gifts.
• Fundraising experience in the fields of health sciences and academic health system.
• Understands complexities and sensitivities of grateful patient fundraising.
• Experience successfully managing a development team.
• Experience with staffing and mentoring organizational leadership and faculty leaders/physician partners.
• A proven track record of success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding meaningful philanthropic support. A high level of comfort and effectiveness working with high net worth individuals.Must have a creative and collaborative approach to problem solving, and strong critical thinking and analytical skills. A high level of energy, self-confidence, optimism, and the ability to function at peak levels in a high expectation environment are essential.
• Superior communication skills, both oral and written. Must be able to communicate effectively to a large/diverse audience, including senior administration, board members, donors, prospects, colleagues, staff, physicians, faculty, and others constituents.
• Must be able to navigate a matrixed organization and appreciate and thrive in a complex academic medical environment.
• Must be a self-starter with a sense of urgency, a clear set of priorities, and the ability to adapt to and lead through changing circumstances in an environment where working across boundaries and leveraging strengths are necessary.
• Experience working with high-level volunteer groups.
• Successful candidates must have a high level of competency in collaborating with others, goal and task management, information seeking, decisiveness and judgment, ability to influence, flexibility, dealing with ambiguity, written and oral communication, listening, organizational awareness and leadership.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Work requires communication, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor's degree program.

Advanced degree preferred.

Experience

Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in managing development programs and staff.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, 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 essentialjob 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.