Assistant Dean for Development and External Relations for the School of Science and Engineering

Merrimack College is a selective, private college in a beautiful, residential setting — just minutes from Boston, Massachusetts.

Position Overview and Responsibilities
The Assistant Dean for Development and External Relations for the School of Science and Engineering provides strategic leadership for an advancement program that incorporates development and external relations functions for the School. Reporting to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, with a secondary report line to the Dean of the School of Science and Engineering, this position directly supports the Dean in engaging donors, alumni, corporate partners, and volunteers to advance the School’s educational, research and service mission.

Fundraising

• Develop and reinforce best-practice fundraising programs to improve private support over short-, medium-, and long-term horizons in support of the School’s research, teaching, and service mission.
• Manage a portfolio of 125-150 donors and prospective donor relationships across the advancement continuum. Annual individual performance metrics are determined collaboratively with the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations in consultation with, and agreement of, the Dean of the School.

Leadership Initiatives

• As a member of the Dean’s Senior Leadership Team and other committees as appropriate, and meaningfully contribute to school strategy, performance, and culture.
• Serves as the primary staffing liaison to the School’s Board of Advisors, providing strategic support for volunteer resource development, alumni, and community engagement activities.
• Collaborate with campus-level Corporate and Foundation Relations team to deepen corporate and foundation relationships leading to increased charitable grant support for faculty and student research, teaching, and service initiatives, improving grantor satisfaction with their support of the College of Science and Engineering and continuously finding opportunities to engage charitable foundations in supporting the scholarly work of faculty and students.
• Establish effective working relationships with academic and administrative deans, department chairs, and faculty within the School in order to understand their programs and priorities. Ensure that development activities are aligned with the College’s vision, mission, and goals of its strategic plan and align with the vision, mission, and values of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
• Work collaboratively with the O’Brien Center for Career Development to increase placement and internship opportunities for Science and Engineering students.
• As a member of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, contribute to overall campus support, constituent engagement, and alumni relations with regard to the Agenda for the Future priorities and objectives.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues across the College in support of the School of Science and Engineering.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required. Advanced degree is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with the major components of development, including fundraising, communications and public relations, alumni relations, and special events.
• At least five (5) years of successful experience in development or related fields with experience working on annual and major gifts and/or building and growing a school-based advisory board.
• An understanding and dedication to the research, teaching, and service mission of the School of Science and Engineering with strong preference granted to advancement professionals with a record of achievement in a School of Engineering or research-intensive advancement program of comparable scope and complexity.
• Ability to work effectively with deans and directors, College academic and administrative leaders, alumni, community volunteers, and corporate and foundation partners to achieve fund-raising and alumni and constituent engagement goals.
• Unquestionable integrity and a strong demonstration of professional ethics.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and work in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Possess traits of good judgment, confidentiality, positive demeanor, and discretion in communicating with colleagues and constituents.

Application Materials Should Include

• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Required Vaccinations & Remote Work
Unless otherwise stated above, this is an on-campus position. This is not a remote or hybrid position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

All Merrimack College students, faculty and staff are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and up to date with booster recommendations as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), or attest to a medical, religious or personal concern about being vaccinated. Every member of the Merrimack College community must take personal responsibility and complete an attestation that validates each individual’s compliance with the College’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Augustinian mission, our Catholic faith and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 5,000 undergraduates and graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries, and comprises schools of liberal arts, science and engineering, health sciences, education and social policy, and business. The college’s 260-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges & Universities/Medium Programs institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions

of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, coming in 46th out of 170 schools ranked in the Regional Universities North category in 2020. Merrimack is also listed as one of the top 10 most innovative schools and placed 35th for best undergraduate teaching programs among schools in the U.S. News category.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Internal Applicants - Apply Now

External Applicants - Apply Now