Senior Director of Advancement

University of Southern California | Rossier School of Education

Los Angeles, CA

*This position is located on the UPC campus and has a hybrid work schedule.

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the "Trojan Family," which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

The mission of the USC Rossier School of Education is to prepare leaders to achieve educational equity through practice, research, and policy. We work to improve learning opportunities and outcomes in urban settings and address disparities affecting historically marginalized groups. We teach our students to value and respect the cultural context of the communities in which they work and to interrogate the systems of power that shape policies and practices. We strive to solve the most intractable educational problems through innovative thinking and research.

The Rossier Advancement team seeks a full-time team member for the Senior Director of Advancement position. The role will report to the Associate Dean for Advancement. The position develops and implements strategies for securing major gifts from alumni, donors, and friends for the School of Education. The person holding this position must be detail-oriented, have strong verbal and written communication skills, utilize database and communication platforms, multi-task effectively, deal with confidential information with complete discretion, and have excellent organizational skills. The candidate must possess a cooperative and team-oriented attitude and demonstrate sound judgment and decision-making skills. Occasional evening and weekend travel is expected.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage a portfolio of active major gift prospects, develop, coordinate, and implement fundraising strategies to secure major gifts for several initiatives, including scholarships, chairs, professorships, and program support.

• Develop, prepare, and present formal fundraising proposals to major donors and prospects.

• Assume and achieve fundraising financial and activity goals set annually.

• Collaborate with the Rossier development team and other USC units and schools in creating and implementing cultivation, solicitation, and closure strategies.

• Facilitate new and existing relationships between Rossier faculty and individual prospects and donors.

• Identify volunteers who will assist the school in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewardship of major prospects and evaluate volunteers as major gift prospects.

• Ensure an effective stewardship plan for each donor, which is functional and systematically implemented, using university best practices.

• Responsible for following all prospect and donor management protocols, contact reports, and any other prospect and donor reporting and monitoring established by USC Advancement and ensuring compliance with University fundraising policies, goals, and procedures.

Preferred Experience:

• Five years of major gift fundraising experience;

• Demonstrated track record of personally closing gifts;

• Background in development and alumni relations;

• Seven years of major gift fundraising experience;

• Knowledge of K-12 and higher education;

This position's annual base salary range is $122,600-$125,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Applications should be submitted via and should include the following:

• Resume

• A cover letter (Our system will allow you to add additional documentation by clicking the "upload" button in the same section where you attach your resume.)

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Addtional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 5 years Minimum Skills: Major campaign, fundraising, public relations and/or volunteer management experience. Preferred Education: Master's degree Preferred Experience: 7 years