Senior Director of International Advancement, International Studies and Programs

Senior Director of International Advancement, International Studies and Programs

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY:

Michigan State University seeks a results-oriented individual to lead its successful international advancement engagement team as the Senior Director of International Advancement in International Studies and Programs. Throughout its 50+ year history, MSU’s International Studies and Programs has provided leadership to facilitate cross-college and cross-content research and project collaborations. MSU’s global network includes over 50,000 international alumni, donors, prospects and friends abroad and thousands of supporters across the United States. MSU is poised to significantly expand its fundraising activity from prospects abroad and/or within the United States who are interested in MSU’s international agenda. The successful candidate will lead the efforts to secure funding and supervise a team responsible for ISP’s international advancement engagement.

Serving as MSU’s chief international development officer, the Senior Director maintains a personal prospect portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and employs an aggressive, strategic moves management program to ensure movement along the development pipeline. Leading by example, the Senior Director will oversee the team and work closely with the Associate Provost & Dean of International Studies & Programs, senior administrators, and volunteer leadership to ensure that the MSU reaches its philanthropic potential from international and domestic individuals, corporations and foundations.

As MSU strategically positions itself to prepare for its next campaign, the Senior Director will assume a leadership role in planning and assessing the feasibility of MSU’s internationally-related fundraising goals and priorities in both international and domestic markets. This includes recruiting and training volunteers, conducting a needs assessment of programs, preparing case statements, identifying and cultivating prospects, developing and reviewing proposals, and actively soliciting contributions.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Associate Provost & Dean of International Studies & Programs and Executive Director of Constituency Programs, the Senior Director of International Advancement for International Studies and Programs:

Fundraising

• Plans and implements methods of international and domestic prospect identification, solicitation and cultivation in order to achieve successful solicitations for funds, and match donor interest with the needs of the unit and University.
• Develop strategies, systems, and procedures for advancing the goals and priorities of MSU’s key colleges, units and International Studies and Programs
• Act as liaison to an assigned donor and prospect portfolio to develop and maintain their interest in MSU’s internationally focused research, programs, and initiatives with the objective of increased funding.
• Plans and implements the major, planned and principal gifts program for the Unit.
• Provides assistance to donors regarding tax laws, policies and procedures and resolves problems in order to maintain a positive image of the University.
• Coordinates with regional and constituency fundraising colleagues to increase donor support for international initiatives across the University.

Personnel Management

• Supervises, directs, motivates and evaluates staff in order to assure consistency, quantity and quality of work performed.
• Sets clear direction and priorities for professionals and administrative support staff.
• Promotes excellence through well-defined and measurable goals.
• Leads by example; fosters a work environment that recognizes and rewards cross functional collaboration and team-based efforts. Celebrates current achievements and sets clear expectations for future success.
• Actively mentors and trains staff, providing frequent opportunities for professional learning and growth; emphasize retention as a means of increasing capacity and expertise of the team. Fully leverage human and financial resources and promote greater efficiency.
• Provides the structure and guidance necessary to promote a high-performance culture that meets the needs and expectations of a successful and diverse alumni community.
• Recruits, trains, motivates and evaluates volunteers in order to accomplish fundraising goals and objectives.

Programmatic Management

• Audits internal operations in order to develop standardized procedures and to ensure conformity with established policy.
• Plans, hosts and communicates at meetings of the public and University personnel in order to provide information on the unit and/or University.
• Assists in budget preparation in order to ensure consistency with Unit goals.
• Assists in setting both long- and short-term goals/plans in order to determine resources required.
• Collaborates and/or coordinates with external relations staff, including development, alumni, public relations and communications, in order to ensure consistent messaging/information to alumni and friends of the Unit and/or University.
• Coordinates the composing, editing and publishing of unit and/or University literature related to international fundraising priorities in order to provide staff and volunteers with campaign case statements and progress reports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Business, or related field; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional and higher education fundraising, public relations, marketing, development of budgets, preparation and presentation of case statements and analysis of operations; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Travel is required.

Desired:

• A Bachelor’s degree; Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business preferred. 
• Knowledge of a foreign language and/or experience living abroad is highly desirable. 
• Demonstrated experience operating within multiple cultural contexts. 
• Eight years of successful alumni engagement and/or fundraising experience with individuals (preferably in higher education). Several years at a director/manager level is highly desirable.
• Experience in related fields such as public relations or marketing may be taken into consideration. 
• Demonstrated organizational, interpersonal and written/oral communications. 
  Advanced degree preferred. 
• Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving. 
• Travel involving automobile. 
• Extensive international travel required. 

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Recruitment at karampat@msu.edu. 

All candidates must submit an application and resume through the Michigan State University Human Resources web-based system, the URL for this website is careers.msu.edu.  Please indicate the position number 738844 when submitting your application.

Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.

MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.

MSU is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities.