This search is being conducted by the Aspen Leadership Group. To be considered for the Director of Development - Shepherd School of Music opportunity at Rice University, please visit https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/1248.

Position Summary

The Director of Development - Shepherd School of Music will serve as the chief development officer for The Shepherd School of Music and will plan, organize, and manage the development functions of the school including complex major gift support within a university setting. The Director of Development will provide critical strategic leadership for an advancement program that incorporates development and external relations goals. The Director of Development will manage development staff; oversee the membership and annual fund function for the school; and identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donor prospects capable of gifts at the $100,000 to $4.9 million level. The Director of Development will be knowledgeable of the performing arts and classical music philanthropic landscape and an excellent relationship builder that has experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies to secure major operational and programmatic commitments for special initiatives.

The Director of Development will report dually to the Senior Assistant Dean of the Shepherd School of Music and to the Executive Director of Development (Schools) in the Development and Alumni Relations division. The Director of Development will serve on the Shepherd School's Senior Leadership Team and will oversee a team of two staff.

The ideal candidate is a highly collaborative leader, strategic thinker, and independent entrepreneur with a demonstrated track record of securing major gift commitments and has a proven ability to refine and actualize fundraising priorities in conjunction with key academic partners and administration.

The office location is at the Shepherd School of Music. Weekly work hours will vary, depending on performance and event schedules.

This position requires travel (approximately 15%).

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Seven years of professional development work, of which five years are in direct major gift fundraising experience
• Valid Texas Driver's License (or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment) required with no more than three moving violations within the past 36 months and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years
• Skills Required
  • Ability to develop and initiate new strategies
  • Advanced problem solving skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills
  • Ability to work well under pressure and manage projects simultaneously
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
  • Excellent data analysis skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules
  • Adept at problem solving, creating contingency plans and handling issues when necessary
  • Excellent client service orientation and attention to detail
  • Ability to lead and motivate others
  • Strategic skills to craft and implement fundraising and/or project plans
  • Excellent attention to detail and ability to quickly understand and remember details about alumni / donors and projects to which they are assigned

Essential Functions

• Define, plan, initiate, and direct all aspects of the fundraising program for The Shepherd School of Music including major gifts, annual fund, planned giving, and principal gifts
• Develop and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects through the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 and above
• Serve as a principal advisor to the Dean on all aspects of development, including strategic development, management, and support of the Dean's portfolio of top donors
• Manage all aspects of the school's development strategies and initiatives, including fundraising, alumni relations, volunteer management, annual giving, capital projects, stewardship, and donor events
• Collaborate with Development and Alumni Relations on university- and Presidential-level donor relationships
• Identify fundraising priorities and devise plans and strategies to accomplish revenue goals
• Establish Shepherd Society membership growth for increased individual contributions
• Develop and execute long-term strategies for increasing the engagement and financial support of Rice University and The Shepherd School of Music alumni, corporations, friends, and other targeted philanthropic constituencies
• Establish benchmarking metrics for The Shepherd School of Music's charitable needs in collaboration with Development and Alumni Relations

Additional Functions

• Serve on the school's Senior Leadership Team and will oversee a team of two staff.
• Work collaboratively with the Dean, Senior Assistant Dean, faculty, and development colleagues in support of fundraising initiatives
• Manage, lead, and evaluate staff to achieve fundraising targets, including strategic planning, solicitation strategies, and performance measurements; and
• Promote a culture of high performance, integrity, and continuous improvement that values learning, collaboration, and a commitment to quality work among the development team.
• Oversee management of a volunteer advisory board
• Provide career coaching and personal development for direct reports

Preferences

• Familiarity with the Houston arts and cultural philanthropy landscape is a plus
• Seven years of professional development work, of which five years are in direct major gift fundraising experience, within performing arts or higher education
• Experience successfully cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual gifts
• Experience working with individual donors capable of making gifts with significant institutional impact
• Experience working in a comprehensive fundraising campaign
• Experience leading a team of development professionals and working with institutional leadership and senior administrators in external relations on fundraising initiatives
• Presence and refined interpersonal skills needed to build relationships at all levels and to engage and motivate groups of diverse individuals
• Ability to stimulate, invigorate, and motivate volunteer leadership
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills
• Advanced problem-solving, data analysis, and project management skills, and attention to detail
• Working knowledge of Tessitura database software and/or Blackbaud CRM
• Professional development work preferably within performing arts or higher education

Rice University HR | Benefits

https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values

Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19, currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies