Assistant Dean for Advancement - Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University
: Job Details :

Assistant Dean for Advancement - Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne UniversitySalary: Commensurate with experience Benefits: Generousbenefits include paid time off including holidays and vacation, retirementmatch, and tuition remission for employee and dependents. Details at www.duq.edu/benefits Location: Thomas R. Kline School of Kline Position Status: Full-time Hours: Varied Position Number: 220022/10-948 FLSA Status: ExemptPOSITIONSUMMARY: Reporting directly to the Dean, School of Law (Dean) and equivalentlyaccountable to the Senior Vice President for University Advancement (SVP), theAssistant Dean for Advancement, School of Law (School) will be a strategicleader for the School focused on the developing and executing a comprehensivefundraising plan for the School to include alumni engagement, annual giving,leadership annual giving, major giving, planned giving and donorstewardship. Serving as the chief developmentofficer for the Kline School of Law of Duquesne University, the successfulcandidate will provide counsel to the Dean and faculty of the School onadvancement matters, help set philanthropic strategies and organize and set theSchool's philanthropic priorities in order to maximize external support. The successful candidate will plan, lead andgrow all aspects of alumni engagement, fundraising and comprehensiveAdvancement initiatives within the School, with a heavy emphasis on cultivatingand closing major and planned gift commitments. DUTIESAND RESPONSIBILITIES: Serves as a member of the Dean's cabinet as well as the University AdvancementLeadership Team.Serves as a strategic partner to theDean and SVP in the development of annual and long-term advancement strategiesand plans for the School.Identifies and cultivates sources ofphilanthropic support through near, mid, and long-term fundraising strategiesand initiatives to meet the current and future needs of the School, incollaboration with University Advancement colleagues and the Dean. Responsible for helping achieve thefundraising objectives of the School in support of the University'scomprehensive fundraising campaign.Provides strategic support to the Deanin the engagement of major and planned gift prospects/donors and general alumnito advance the School's educational, research and service agendas.Directs and coordinates allfundraising efforts for the School in partnership with the Dean and SVP todevelop a comprehensive Development strategy for School fundraising. Creates and nurtures a culture ofphilanthropy within the School and among its constituencies, establishing andmaintaining strong and mutually beneficial relationships with external contactsand constituents on behalf of the School.Supervises and directs the work of theDirector of Law Alumni Relations and Annual Giving.Establishes and persuasivelycommunicate the funding needs and priorities of the School to keystakeholders., providing leadership of annual, leadership annual, major, and plannedgift cultivation and solicitation strategies.Provides regular performanceevaluations of the Director of Law Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. Serves as the liaison between the School and the University divisions ofUniversity Advancement and Marketing and Communications and the local andregional legal community. Works collaboratively with keyUniversity Advancement partners, including Alumni Engagement, Major Giving,Planned Giving, Annual Giving, Conference & Events Services, and DonorRelations colleagues to plan and execute strategic Development activities,donor recognition programs, and alumni/donor engagement and recognition eventsfor the School.Advises and assists UniversityAdvancement frontline fundraising colleagues in their preparation for,execution of, and follow-up with their assigned School donors and prospectivedonors.Partners with Advancement Research andDevelopment Services colleagues, the Dean, and faculty to identify newprospects for future major and planned gift opportunities within theSchool. Collaborates and strategizes closely with the Dean, SVP and central UniversityAdvancement gift officers on major and planned gift fundraising strategiesassociated with School prospects/donors assigned to central staff.Conducts prospect review and strategymeetings with the Dean and SVP to maximize their and the University President'srespective strategic engagement with donors. Coordinate and facilitate the Dean's fundraising strategies andengagements with donors to ensure consistent communication, effectivepartnership, and timely follow-through with donors and prospective donors.Maintains an active portfolio of up to120 (alumni, law firms, and corporations) major and planned giving donors andprospective donors, cultivating and soliciting those assigned prospects formajor and/or planned gift commitments (gifts of $25,000 or greater). Meet quantifiable performance metrics,including successful major and principal gift solicitation.Provides leadership and engagement strategyfor the Dean to meet with School alumni working in law firms and corporationsin the greater Pittsburgh region and nationally. Accompany Dean on these engagements asneeded/required.Assists the School's deans, businessoffice colleagues, and other School colleagues with appropriate/compliantspending of donor funds. Coordinates and produces special reports, proposals, and analyses formanagement, including monthly financial statements and funds distributionreportsCompletes otherduties as assigned.REQUIREMENTS:Minimum qualifications:Bachelor's degreefrom and accredited institution with a minimum of 7 to 10 years successfulexperience in major gift and/or planned gift development or related field. Preferred Qualifications: J.D. or otheradvanced degree preferred from an accredited institution. Alternately, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination ofexperience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilitiesrequired to perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is notlimited to, the following: High level of emotional intelligence. Ability to collaborate effectively. A proven track record of closing six-and seven-figure-major and planned gifts. Experience working on a comprehensive fundraising campaign in a complexeducational setting. Willingness and ability to travel locally and throughout the United States tomeet with prospects and donors. Demonstrated progressive experience and successful results in fundraising/sales. Demonstrated ability to initiate, analyze, monitor, evaluate and modifystrategic advancement plans. Ability to effectively connect and engage and communicate with donors andpotential donors of all levels. Experience managing or leading a development team; strong organizationalskills; strong interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diversecommunity. Effective computer and database management skills. Ability to plan and manage and the department budget. Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports. Ability to organize resources and establish priorities. Commitment to the University's values of diversity, equity and inclusion, andrecognition of the importance of treating each individual with dignity and respectconsistent with the University's Mission. Demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, the broad diversityof the University community (students, faculty, staff and others). Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with theUniversity Community. Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the Universityand to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University. Themission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit ofservice, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and anecumenical campus community.APPLICATIONINSTRUCTIONS: Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and contact informationfor three professional references. Catholic in its mission and ecumenical in spirit, Duquesne University valuesequality of opportunity as an educational institution and as an employer. Weaspire to attract and sustain a diverse faculty and staff that reflectscontemporary society, serves our academic goals and enriches our campuscommunity. We particularly encourage applications from members ofunderrepresented groups and support dual-career couples through our chartermembership in this region's HERC ( We invite applicants for this position to learn more about our university andits Spiritan heritage byvisiting invited to campus for an interview may be asked about ways in which theysee their talents contributing to the continued growth of our community andfurthering its mission. Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community,the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Duquesne University is Catholic inmission and ecumenical in spirit. Motivated by its Catholic identity,Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution andas an employer.