Executive Director of Advancement

Job Description

TITLE: Executive Director for Advancement

DEPARTMENT: Advancement

Classification (FLSA): Exempt, Salary

REPORTS TO: Vice President of Advancement

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Executive Director of Advancement oversees the day-to-day operations of the Advancement Department in its work to identify, cultivate, secure, and steward benefactor relationships and build alumni community in support of Christendom's mission "to restore all things in Christ." The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring that the Advancement Team operates efficiently and effectively, drawing on the available resources and gifts of the team to ensure that the team operates at its full potential. The Executive Director oversees the process to create and implement a fundraising plan, implements campaign plans, and directly manages department directors. As part of this work, the Executive Director oversees goal setting and tracking, budgeting, and continuous improvements to Advancement Department processes.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manages directors and oversees day-to-day Advancement operations.

CHIEF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Fundraising Plan Creation and Implementation
o Plans and coordinates annual planning processes and meetings, translating them into actionable, measurable strategies and goals that directly achieve fundraising priorities set by the Vice President of Advancement.
o Implements traction meeting system.
o Ensures the implementation of clear, data-driven objectives that provide a strategic scorecard for the Advancement Department, ensuring every initiative has a direct, measurable impact on goals.
o Develops annual Advancement budget to optimize resource allocation and ROI, balances financial constraints with ambitious Advancement objectives, and monitors budget throughout the year in conjunction with directors.

- Team Management
o Leads day-to-day operations for the Advancement Department, bringing together staff, resources, and data to ensure that departmental operations are running well and achieving the team's goals.
o Directly manages Director of Alumni and Donor Engagement, Director of Advancement Communications, Director of Advancement Technology and Services, and Planned Giving. Co-manages Advancement Executive Assistant, Director of Planned Giving, and Prospect Manager.
o Cultivates a collaborative work environment that encourages communication and promotes innovation.
o Manages departmental onboarding and personnel decisions, overseeing performance evaluations.
o Works with Director of Advancement Technology and Services to ensure implementation of essential technology solutions that enhance operational capabilities.
o Implements continuous improvement in Advancement departments, systematically identifying and implementing strategic innovations in advancement practices.
o Creates standard operating procedures that standardize best practices, ensure consistency in donor interactions, and maintain the highest levels of professional excellence.

- Campaign Project Management
o Oversees execution of campaign plan in conjunction with the Vice President of Advancement to achieve long-term institutional goals that advance the mission of Christendom.
o Serves as campaign project manager, ensuring that strategic objectives and internal resources are aligned to meet campaign goals.
o Ensures that overall Advancement messaging and communications are aligned with campaign priorities.

- Content Marketing Oversight
o Provides strategic oversight for content marketing initiatives that effectively communicate the college's mission, impact, and unique value proposition.
o Guides the strategic development of Advancement donor acquisition, as well as the Christendom College Free Online Courses initiative and quarterly journal Principles to attract new subscribers and donors, as well as continue to engage current constituents in the college's mission.
o Ensures all content is shaped by the mission of the college, maintaining brand consistency while ensuring the connection between content offerings and the right audiences.

- Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time for the needs of the College, but a discussion between the employee and supervisor will take place prior to the change.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

- This position must be held by an individual who is an active, practicing Catholic who is committed to the Church's mission on earth.
- A graduate degree in leadership, management, or a related field is preferred.
- Must have 10-15 years of experience in management and Catholic apostolates.
- Must have excellent verbal communication.
- Must have excellent writing and editing abilities.
- Must be proficient in using MS Office programs.

PHYSICAL / MENTAL / EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Must be able to
o Travel to occasional conferences and business meetings.
o Work occasional evenings and weekends for donor and alumni events or other Advancement events.
o Work for prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
o Lift up to 40 pounds.
o Make quick decisions.
o Appropriately balance urgent and important tasks.
o Be calm in stressful situations.

About the Employer

Christendom College (http://www.christendom.edu) is a Catholic coeducational college institutionally committed to the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. The particular mission of Christendom College, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, is "to restore all things in Christ," by forming men and women to contribute to the Christian renovation of the temporal order. This mission gives Christendom College its name. www.christendom.edu