Job Posting

FEATURED - Chief Development Officer

  
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences | Saint Paul, MN
Salary Range: $185,000 - $215,000

Overview of Position
About the College
The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) accepts the challenge and opportunity to change the world for the better. CFANS uses research, education and outreach to find and share its discoveries on an enormous range of topics. Summing our work up in one sentence isn’t easy, but here goes: We find ways to provide food, fuel, feed and fiber that is healthy, safe, accessible and sustainable while protecting our natural resources and improving soil, air, and water quality to benefit and sustain communities. CFANS is one of the most diverse and dynamic colleges within the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities Campus. The College’s mission includes teaching and research on the St. Paul Campus in addition to research and outreach stations located across Minnesota. CFANS is also home to the Bell Museum, the state's official natural history museum, and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, providing CFANS a unique and important connection to Minnesotans who may not otherwise be connected with the University of Minnesota.

For more information about CFANS go to: CFANS

About the Position
As a leader of the CFANS advancement team, reporting to the Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), the Chief Development Officer (CDO) provides leadership, planning, implementation, and performance coaching to a team of major and principal gift officers. The CDO works in partnership with the Dean of CFANS,who sets the strategic and long-term vision for the college and who, together with the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF), provides guidance, support and assistance to the CDOr.

The CDO is responsible for securing significant philanthropic support through the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts from various sources including individuals, foundations, corporations, and business. Through leadership in major gifts fundraising, the CDO will enhance and grow the function as they manage a team of professional fundraisers. The annual fundraising goal for the CFANS Development team in FY22 is $15.5 million.

The Opportunity
The successful candidate will be joining a team of successful and seasoned professionals committed to building on the current trajectory and momentum developed during the 10 year, $4 billion Driven Campaign. CFANS raised over $300MM in private support that led to expanded student and faculty support, the new Bell Museum facility and the recent announcement of a $60MM pledge to the Future of Advanced Agricultural Research in Minnesota (FAARM) project in Mower County.

The team includes a CFANS-specific group of four senior development officers, a stewardship manager, and an operations- and annual giving manager. The CDO also co-leads (with the Bell Museum Executive Director) a Bell Museum-specific development team of one senior development officer and one associate development officer.
CFANS and the University of Minnesota Foundation seek a leader that has the vision and energy to build on the past success and future opportunities of CFANS, including its unique outreach and statewide engagement centers (Bell Museum, FAARM and Research and Outreach Stations).

Responsibilities
Development Activities 60%:
  • Consult with the Dean and other academic and administrative leaders in identifying fundraising priorities and translating them into donor priorities.
  • Provide leadership and strategic planning for donor development to ensure that prospect qualification, identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities are seamlessly integrated.
  • Provide leadership and participate in strategic prospect coordination, where appropriate, to advance unit and multiunit cultivation strategies.
  • Support the Dean in the management of his portfolio of key relationships to focus his time on the top prospects on behalf of the college.
  • Maintain responsibility for leadership and principal gifts ($100K and $1M and above) in yours and team’s portfolios. Utilize various giving methods such as current, deferred giving, and non-cash gifts.
  • Work with UMF staff, and other key University staff, to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
  • Meet established metrics and complete and file timely and accurate reports of donor/prospect contacts by utilizing the donor management system, employing discretion while recording information of relevance to appropriate individuals.

Program Management 20%:
  • Lead the planning, implementation, and assessment of the development program for the college, which includes prospect and donor coordination with the Bell Museum.
  • Provide leadership in the planning and implementation of Collegiate goals vis-a-vis fundraising.
  • Collaborate with UM Foundation to develop an annual plan of work, including specific fundraising, prospect development and programmatic goals with emphasis on achieving and exceeding established standards and metrics.
  • Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of the strategic roadmap of CFANS to effectively and compellingly present its case to prospects and donors.
  • Manage the budgeting process for the development team by anticipating costs and prioritizing needs.
  • Incorporate inclusive fundraising practices that take into account the changing landscape of philanthropy.

Staff Management 20%:
  • Lead the development team by guiding strategy and execution in support of College goals.
  • Set clear direction and priorities for the development team. Promote excellence through well-defined and measurable goals.
  • Lead staff, promoting a culture of excellence, collaboration and professional growth. Foster a work environment that recognizes and rewards team-based efforts. Celebrate current achievements. Provide the structure and guidance necessary to promote a high-performance culture.
  • Manage the team, including recruitment, retention, performance management, development and coaching of staff. Actively mentor and train staff, providing professional learning to build capacity and expertise.
  • Represent the Development team and CFANS donors to appropriate levels of leadership within the College, Foundation, and University.
  • Collaborate with the Executive Director of the Bell Museum to oversee success and integration of the Bell Museum development team into CFANS strategic fundraising priorities.

Required qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree and a minimum seven years of progressive experience in development/fundraising or closely related experience in industries such as sales or financial services.
  • Proven ability to cultivate, solicit and steward major gift donors.
  • Master storyteller - excellent and persuasive oral and written communication skills.
  • Evidence of strong interpersonal skills, particularly the ability to lead teams and to work effectively and collaboratively with multiple groups and diverse constituencies.
  • Demonstrated experience leading a fundraising team committed to a donor-centered culture and internal collaboration.
  • Experience working with individuals with diverse identities and from underrepresented communities.
  • Demonstration of development and implementation of strategies to align philanthropic goals with an organization's mission.

Desired qualifications
  • Repeated demonstrated success in cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, and stewardship of six- and seven-figure gifts.
  • Demonstrated experience with fundraising campaigns, prospect management and prospect tracking.
  • Familiarity with development programs in higher education, community non-profit, or in marketing or sales-related positions.
  • Four years experience supervising staff, including selection, performance management, coaching, and budget oversight. Evidence of strong organizational and management skills

We take care of you:
  • Comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes medical, vision, dental, and pharmacy coverage; life insurance; retirement; long-term care insurance; and disability coverage.
  • Regents Scholarship Program, which covers a portion of tuition costs for eligible University of Minnesota employees enrolled in University of Minnesota credit-bearing courses.
  • Commitment to a work-life balance. This position is hybrid and has a flexible schedule.
  • Come. Work. Stay. Play. The U of M is conveniently accessible by light rail, bus, and bike. And we offer discounted bus transportation through our “U-Pass” program.
  • The University of Minnesota embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Diversity
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu.

How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online at http://employment.umn.edu/ (search for Job Opening ID 347337). Candidates should include all of the required application materials combined into one single PDF document. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Required application materials:
  • A cover letter clearly indicating how the applicant addresses the required and preferred qualifications
  • Resume
  • Diversity Statement* (please see instructions below)

For questions regarding this position, please contact HR Generalist Maggie Headlee at werba004@umn.edu

*Instructions for Diversity Statement (include with application materials*
Applicants are required to submit a diversity statement for this position. CFANS values and is actively invested in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout all of our academic programs. Please review the CFANS definition of diversity and the DEI strategic plan for the college.

Please provide a diversity statement that details your professional experiences in DEI.
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