Assistant Dean of Development, College of Engineering

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Oct 12

Northeastern University
Boston, MA

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Purpose Statement

The College of Engineering at Northeastern University seeks an accomplished and results-oriented Assistant Dean of Development to lead fundraising as the College enters its next phase of strategic growth. The Assistant Dean of Development will bring forward innovative and ambitious fundraising strategies that deepen the culture of philanthropy and broaden the donor base and inspire a high-performing team to raise their sights and reach new levels of success. This role offers a chance to join a tier one research institution on the ground floor of its comprehensive campaign and to be out front with a highly talented faculty communicating ideas and envisioning projects and solutions that make the world a better place to live.

The Position

Under the leadership of Dean Gregory Abowd, Northeastern’s College of Engineering has refreshed its strategic plan and re-established its mission of producing transformative engineers – both students and faculty – with global impact. Over the next five years, the College will focus on inspiring transformative thinking through an elevated undergraduate experience, delivering high quality educational products and leveraging the University’s global network to create access to lifelong learning opportunities, and becoming a destination of choice for research. These goals, along with the University’s current comprehensive campaign, present numerous opportunities to engage both current and new supporters.

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President of Development, Rob Silk, and working in close partnership with Dean Abowd, the ADD will serve as the chief development officer for one of Northeastern University’s most prominent schools. In this role, they will balance the management of their own portfolio of individual donors (alumni, friends, parents) with the management and leadership of a team of six development professionals.

Northeastern will task the ADD with holistically examining the College’s past and current fundraising structure and success before charting an ambitious roadmap for the future, designing a fundraising strategy reflective of COE’s philanthropic capacity; collaborating with advancement colleagues and the COE development team to advance the fundraising program; centering moves management and creating meaningful donor experiences; and providing the motivation and leadership necessary to empower the team in achieving new goals.

The Candidate

The ideal candidate is expected to have 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably within higher education, and at least three years managing fundraisers. The demonstrated ability to plan, execute and close 6- and 7-figure gifts is essential, as is a track record of success in identifying new donors. Experience raising gifts from alumni of professional schools (Business, Law, Engineering) is helpful.

They will have excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, with the charisma and intellectual curiosity to partner with a Dean and faculty members working on cutting-edge engineering programs and research. The candidate will be an engaged and energetic fundraiser who relishes the cultivating, soliciting, and stewardship of donors. They will be a natural relationship builder who takes a solutions-focused approach to development and believes there are no dead-ends, only other roads to pursue. They will be a natural leader with the presence, interpersonal skills, and energy to build relationships at all levels in service to Northeastern University; a true team player who has collaborative instincts, an inclination to integrate efforts, and the tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty in a complex, interdisciplinary environment.