Director of Strategic Initiatives

Position Summary

Washington University seeks a strategy and operations professional for the position of Director of Strategic Initiatives. University Advancement strives to advance the mission of Washington University School of Medicine by creating a culture of philanthropy among grateful patients, faculty, staff and members of the community.

The Director of Strategic Initiatives is a pivotal leadership position that will be responsible for partnering with the Executive Director to develop, manage and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with their assigned departments' mission and objectives. The Director will lead cross-functional teams, develop and execute high-impact project management and operations, leverage data-driven insights and enhance organizational performance while driving continuous improvement. They will foster deep partnerships and connections with WashU Medicine and Medical Advancement through meaningful donor and faculty engagement including but not limited to managing briefings, written communications, event planning and stewardship activities.

This role requires exceptional leadership abilities, strong analytical skills, and a deep understanding of fundraising practices and trends or a related field. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in strategy development and implementation, project management as well as the ability to engage and mobilize stakeholders towards achieving fundraising goals.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
Serve as subject matter expert (SME) and project manager for the Executive Director's portfolio of prospect/donor strategy, solicitations and team management in their assigned area. Implement annual operational plans (chair/center leader calendar, events calendar, communications calendar, OKR's, etc.). Navigate and manage the development of donor communications, proposals, impact reports, gift agreements and donor expectations with cross-functional teams. Develop strategic engagement opportunities for prospects-in concert with stewardship officer when appropriate. Inform staffing and performance management.
Actively seek, develop, and be able to articulate detailed knowledge about department/division/center priorities in alignment with those of WashU School of Medicine. Maintain and manage Department, Division, and Center fundraising initiatives and gift tables. Oversee and manage reporting on all grateful patient-focused metrics, including faculty referrals, patient prospects at various stages of pre-qualifications, and other metrics as assigned. In concert with gift officer(s), develop department, division, and Center goals annually and broadly for the campaign. Maintain the list and strategies of top department, division, and center prospects.
Support assigned team with briefings and staffing leadership for meetings and events (local and away). Serve as key partner to assigned team in material assembly and meeting preparations for chair, division chiefs, center directors, and other key faculty partner external-related activity. Manage development and distribution of all department, division, and/or center newsletter and broadcast communications.
Manage and coordinate all logistics of department, division, or center -initiated events, as appropriate and in alignment with advancement of our mission, including but not limited to salons (local & away), St. Louis sporting events, donor-funded lectureships, and other cultivation/stewardship events. Implement and support on-campus donor/prospect visits.
Manage all department, division, or center-specific committees. For National Council, lead procurement and packaging of any material needed from assigned area. Manage recruitment/watch list for key engagement volunteer opportunities.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

Job Location/Working Conditions

Normal office environment

Physical Effort

Typically sitting at a desk or table

Equipment

Travel as required to assist with both on-campus and off-campus events

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree
Certifications:

No specific certification is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Relevant Experience (5 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications

Four years of strategy and operations experience in development.
Proven track record in successfully developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies.
Operates with a high level of integrity, confidentiality, and discretion.
Ability to think strategically and analytically, and then implement effectively.
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies within a complex organization.
Demonstrated passion for initiating strategies and developing relationships. Excellent understanding of fundraising principles, techniques, and best practices. Strong commitment to ethical fundraising practices and a comprehensive understanding of relevant laws and regulations.
Project leadership skills, with value placed on organizational loyalty, commitment, pride, integrity, mutual respect, and collegial openness.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

Certifications:

No additional certification beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Skills:

Analytical Thinking, Business Relationship Building, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Data-Driven Decision Making, Fundraising, Fundraising Software, Fundraising Strategies, Interpersonal Communication, Listening Effectively, Oral Communications, Problem Solving, Professional Integrity, Project Leadership, Relationship Building, Strategic Thinking, Written Communication

Salary Range
$84,200.00 - $115,000.00 / Annually

Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email Candidate Questions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We've got you covered.
WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO/AA Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University's policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement
University Advancement is committed to cultivating a diverse and welcoming environment fostering a culture of inclusion excellence where all staff are respected, valued, and provided opportunities to flourish. We encourage individuals who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of our team to apply. You do not need to meet 100% of the preferred qualifications to apply for these positions.

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