Vice President of Development

Company: Oklahoma State University Foundation
Location: Stillwater
Posted on: February 23, 2021

Job Description:

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page: The Oklahoma State University Foundation invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President of Development of Oklahoma State University Foundation (the "OSU Foundation"). About the Position The Vice President of Development is a critical role that will provide strategic vision and ensure operational excellence for a comprehensive development program. Reporting directly to the OSU Foundation President, the Vice President for Development leads and manages a division of more than 100 development professionals across all campuses, colleges and programs. The Vice President serves as a member of the OSU Foundation Executive Team and will work closely with this group to create and execute strategies to achieve University-Wide goals through philanthropy and endowment growth. Job Responsibilities and Expectations:

• Develop and execute strategies to maximize a comprehensive, best-in-class development operation for the Foundation to increase philanthropic support, grow the endowment and expand OSU's visibility and importance among key influencers, alumni and donors at all levels
• Lead the planning, implementation and execution of the third comprehensive campaign in the history of OSU. Ensure that campaign strategies and tactics align with the fundraising priorities as established by the President of the Foundation and the President of the University
• Lead the implementation of donor-centered operational strategies and objectives across multiple fundraising departments and consistently challenge each aspect of the operational process to improve efficiency and increase donor satisfaction
• Provide vision and leadership for the development operation and advise the Foundation President on the planning and execution of fundraising priorities, while balancing expectations and resources required to achieve the agreed-upon goals
• Build strong working relationships with the Foundation executive and leadership teams, board and committee members, and staff to provide meaningful and valuable engagement opportunities aimed at furthering the culture of philanthropy across and outside of OSU
• Spearhead a development approach that aligns the strategic value of prospect development, marketing & communications and donor relations in the development enterprise to elevate the fundraising
• Partner with the OSU Alumni Association and other OSU Affiliates to develop and deploy an effective advancement strategy for OSU by maximizing resources between all entities and creating organizational alignment throughout all organizations
• Lead the recruitment, training and retention of high-performance members of the development team; cultivate a culture of lifelong learning and exceptionally prepared and accountable development professionals
• Partner with Foundation President to foster an environment that rewards new ideas and risk-taking, builds confidence, encourages teamwork, celebrates current achievements and establishes clear expectations for future success
• Cultivate strong relationships and communication with administrators, Deans, faculty and staff throughout OSU. Ensure that development has a service orientation with respect to internal and external constituencies
• Benchmark the Foundation's development programs and performance against best-in-class examples among peer institutions
• Oversee a small personal portfolio of principal gift donors and potential donors Performance Expectations:
  • Maximize the comprehensive, well-rounded development program that enhances annual giving, expands the major-gift prospect base, secures transformational donations, and leverages relationships with corporations and foundations
  • Expand and grow the cohesive, high caliber team that works in partnership with University Deans, Campus Presidents, faculty, volunteers, and donors; maximize their effectiveness and clearly define their roles, relationships and expectations
  • In collaboration with the Foundation President, the executive team and leadership team, create a bold, compelling, integrated comprehensive campaign with measurable, aggressive, and attainable programmatic and fundraising goals Professional Experience Required:
    • Demonstrated ability to plan and implement a comprehensive development program based on best practices, particularly in pre-campaign planning and campaign implementation, experience working in a complex university environment and managing significant change
    • Experience successfully leading a large development program; a demonstrated collaborative approach to management that brings out the best in staff and yields pride and ownership; cultivates a sense of team effort where openness and communication are valued
    • Experience working with administrators, Deans, faculty and staff and understands that the advancement function (development, operations, alumni relations, public relations and marketing) should play an integrated role in the University
    • Proven competence in preparing and managing an operating budget, experience in creating credible philanthropic and financial forecasting models in partnership with leadership; possesses ability to aggressively but realistically set and achieve fundraising goals
    • Minimum of 15 years' experience as an executive in development and campaign management; strongly desired is experience in managing operations
    • A great sense of humor, and an intrinsic understanding of when to use humor
    • Bachelor's degree required or advanced degree/study preferred About the Foundation The OSU Foundation, called the OSU Development Foundation until 1979, has proudly supported Oklahoma State University's fundraising needs for more than half a century. As one of the top higher-education fundraising organizations in the Big 12 Conference, the OSU Foundation started out with one development officer raising a few thousand dollars in 1961. Two years later in 1963, the OSU Foundation raised $106,622. The momentum built as all-time giving totals hit $1 million in 1967 and a second full-time employee was added in 1969. Milestones continued throughout the 1970s, including 1976, when gifts in a single year surpassed $2 million for the first time. Among the highlights of the 1980s was the 1981 announcement of the first $1 million gift, which was provided by Floyd M. "Pete" and Helen L. "Pat" Bartlett of Tulsa. The following year, T. Boone Pickens made his first $1 million gift. He later made the three largest gifts in Oklahoma State University's history, with each totaling $100 million or more. In June 1994, the OSU Foundation launched its first comprehensive campaign, Bringing Dreams to Life which ended in June 2000, surpassing $260 million after an initial goal of $125 million. In December 2007, the OSU Foundation launched a subsequent campaign, Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University. More than 100,000 donors helped the campaign exceed its audacious $1 billion goal nearly 15 months ahead of schedule, finishing with $1.2 billion in December 2015. Today, the OSU Foundation stays true to the mission of uniting donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence. To learn more about the Oklahoma State University Foundation, please visit www.osugiving.com About Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State University was founded on December 25, 1890, as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, just twenty months after the Land Run of 1889. On July 1, 1957, Oklahoma A&M College officially became Oklahoma State University. Technical branches were established in Okmulgee in 1946 and in Oklahoma City in 1961, later renamed OSU-Institute of Technology and OSU-Oklahoma City, respectively. In 1972, the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery was established in Tulsa and in 1988 became Oklahoma State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine. Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. Through leadership and service, Oklahoma State University improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world. Built on the value of high-quality teaching, research and outreach, OSU gives students the resources and education they need to make a difference in the world. Stillwater, Oklahoma, home to nearly 50,000 people, is located in north central Oklahoma, near the geographic center of the U.S. Often called Oklahoma's "premier education community," Stillwater is the home of some of the region's finest education and training institutions, including Oklahoma State University , Meridian Technology Center , Northern Oklahoma College/OSU Gateway, and one of the nation's top rated public school systems. Stillwater is also home to a diverse mix of business and industry, from manufacturing to advanced technology. With its low crime rate and a cost of living below the national average, Stillwater is consistently ranked among the nation's top small cities for quality of life and, in addition to the beautiful Georgian architecture of Oklahoma State University, Stillwater is surrounded by historic attractions, unique restaurants and an abundance of entertainment and activities. Known as the "Original Home of Red Dirt Music," Stillwater has quick access to major highways and is located just one hour from Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Stillwater has been voted "Oklahoma's Friendliest Town" by readers of Oklahoma Living Magazine.

Keywords: Oklahoma State University Foundation, Albany , Vice President of Development, Executive , Stillwater, New York