Senior Director of Development, Gift Planning

Job Description

The Senior Director will help advance the mission of Miami University by serving as a key leader in the charitable gift and estate planning program. They individual will assist in planning, organizing, and implementing strategies to increase the level of personal involvement and financial commitment of donors and prospects of Miami University.  In addition, this position will have a set of metrics corresponding to strategies seeking philanthropic and volunteer support of alumni and friends of Miami. 

Duties:           

• Participate in the development and execution of the gift planning marketing efforts
• Conduct solicitation and stewardship calls to alumni and friends alone and with other staff, faculty, administrators and alumni volunteers
• Prepare and present gift proposals to prospects with the input and assistance of faulty, administrators, and deans, as well as other constituent and central development officers.  Proposals may involve establishing multi-year commitments, as well as helping to facilitate gifts of real estate, personal property, securities, and gifts in wills, trusts, annuities and insurance.  
• Encourage and coordinate involvement of alumni and friends through campus visits and regional events
• Develop and implement assessment, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned prospects with the Office of Development staff, and university faculty and administrators.  
• Perform other duties related to the mission of the Office of Development under the guidance of the Assistant Vice President for Gift Planning.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Five years of experience in development/fundraising, law, financial services, accounting, and/or equivalent, demonstrated level of leadership and management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) or similar professional certification.
• Development/fundraising experience in a higher education setting.
• Experience managing and mentoring staff in a development setting.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven leadership techniques
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent organization skills and attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently but has commitment to collaborative approach to fundraising in a fast-paced environment;
• Willingness to travel extensively both on a regional and national level and the ability to attend as scheduled evening and weekend events

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of planned giving vehicles
• Estate planning principles
• Tax laws