Location: Cleveland,OH, USA
Job Description
POSITION OBJECTIVE
Working with a high degree of independence and in collaboration with the Executive Director, Senior Director and Director of Foundation Relations, the Assistant Director of Foundation Relations will oversee foundation relations research, prospecting, strategy development, and stewardship activities of the School of Medicine. The office of Strategic Initiatives seeks to build philanthropic support for research and education in the School of Medicine by building and fostering relationships between biomedical and health-driven foundations and the school. The assistant director will lead the design and implementation of comprehensive foundation prospect research to include: identification of each funder's scientifically complex interests; development of strategies and critical insights to generate foundation interest; and cultivation of targeted funding opportunities and gifts from $25,000 to $750,000 with medical school faculty, leadership, and foundation partners leading to subsequent funding.
ESSENTIAL FUNCITONS
1. Research, Analysis, Strategy: Build and implement a comprehensive foundation prospect research program to identify, strategize, cultivate and secure private philanthropic organization funding. The assistant director will provide market research and analysis on organizations, such as their strategies and initiatives, using a wide variety of data mining resources and create targeted cultivation strategies for medical research and education philanthropic support. Independently utilize online and print resources to gather, analyze, and interpret information, making sound judgement calls on potential fit with medical school faculty based on understanding funder's complex scientific focus interests and explicit definitions of faculty eligibility requirements. This includes the analysis of nuanced changes in funding support opportunities over time, tracking funding trends, and identification of highly applicable request for proposals (RFPs) and competitive funding opportunities aligned with top priorities and strengths of the medical school to help determine and develop a competitive advantage. The assistant director will secure detailed information about opportunities through research, and then analyze that often voluminous information in order to distinguish and discern key usable, actionable information that most precisely and concisely describes the opportunity. Incumbent will correctly classify complex funding interests and requirements for the formation and execution of proposals, store information in appropriate database(s), identify potential contacts that can be leveraged with Case Western Reserve University relationships, and effectively and efficiently communicate funding opportunities and key findings with targeted faculty, leadership, and potential partners. This process includes accurately translating the subject matter focus of each opportunity (broad or narrow, disease specific or profession specific, adult or pediatric, etc.) to the most appropriate of over 60 faculty member research areas of interest. Must correctly prioritize the top subject areas by the degree of alignment between the opportunity and the faculty subject areas. The Assistant Director will cultivate gifts in the range of $25,000 to $750.000, and will be expected to collaboratively advance solicitation to foundation prospects in support of the School of Medicine. Maintain knowledge of the university's fundraising priorities and align efforts to priorities. Collaborates with colleagues within the university's central administration. (60%)
2. Stewardship: Oversee and manage the foundation stewardship program of the school including the development of acknowledgement materials such as grant reports and letters to communicate the use of funder grants and gifts, convey impact and gratitude, and include a scientific description of the research in addition to budget reports. High-priority foundation grant reports will be done in collaboration with the principal investigator, department administrator, and/or department chair /leadership as appropriate. Collaborates and maintains the stewardship reporting system with central administration colleagues. (25%)
NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Proposal Development: Assist with proposal development including drafting of institutional and other support letters, writing/reviewing proposal narrative including developmental editing of complex scientific research descriptions, budget development, and working with principal investigators and key staff members to submit. Develop and maintain required institutional documents and information needed for submissions. (5%)
2. Utilizes the central advancement electronic system to report attainment for the Office of Strategic Initiatives (senior director, director, and assistant director) and manage prospect activities. (5%)
3. Perform administrative responsibilities and other duties as assigned. (5%)
CONTACTS
Department: Continuous contact with the senior director and director of foundation relations to facilitate projects, present information, coordinate work processes, review progress, ensure success, and prioritize work when conflicts in timing arise. Regular contact with the School of Medicine executive director for external affairs and other departmental staff on high priority strategic funding initiatives. Continuous contact with faculty, center directors, department chairs and chiefs, and department administrators to communicate funding opportunities, assist with proposal development, and manage the stewardship process. Regular contact with the medical school office of Grants and Contracts. Occasional contact with the medical school dean, and moderate contact with the vice deans of research, medical education, and external affairs.
University: Regular contact with Case Western Reserve University central administration foundation relations, and the technology transfer office staff to achieve cooperation to meet external foundation expectations regarding grant agreements, intellectual property agreements, and stewardship. Regular contact with the university office of sponsored projects. Regular contact with advancement services staff to record attainment.
External: Frequent contact with hospital affiliate faculty members, department chairs and chiefs, and department administrators to communicate funding opportunities, assist with proposal development, and manage the stewardship process. Frequent contact with potential funding organizations to engage principal investigators with foundation leadership, and fully explore and define funding interests and requirements.
Students: Infrequent contact with students.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: 3 to 5 or more years of experience in foundation relations and/or relevant development writing position; experience in higher education preferred.
Education: Bachelor's degree required.
REQUIRED SKILLS
1. Fundamental or working knowledge of medical or general science including scientific vocabulary.
2. Read, write and speak in English at native speaker level of fluency.
3. Should have a high level of professionalism, excellent customer service, and mature and sound judgement. Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to collaborate constructively with others to solve problems and share knowledge in this team-oriented environment. Ability to interact with colleagues, faculty investigators, and leadership effectively and collaboratively. Must demonstrate and present a professional appearance and demeanor.
4. Strong critical thinking skills, well-developed logical reasoning. Ability to apply expert organizational, analytical and problem solving skills, synthesize information, while bringing creativity, and intellectual curiosity to tasks. Attention to detail at all times.
5. Ability to work independently and in a self-directed fashion with minimal supervision.
6. Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment that is deadline driven. Skill at taking appropriate action to manage competing priorities and meet high expectations. Meeting deadlines and goals in a timely manner is essential. Ability to prioritize key tasks when confronted with limited time and/or resources. This includes meeting deadlines, adapting to shifting priorities, and managing multiple projects at one time.
7. Strong written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.
8. Ability to write a broad range of types of formal communications including scientific letters support.
9. Ability to perform wide range of editing tasks including developmental and substantive editing to improve the content and structure of scientific proposals, reports and letters, as well as final editing.
10. Ability to read a large volume of technical information and comprehend the information being conveyed with attention to detail and a long attention span, as well as summarize it accurately and succinctly. Ability to understand, analyze, and categorize individual RFPs accurately into one or more of 60 medical fields. Includes accurate classification and organization.
11. Expert understanding of Excel and other relational database software. Proficient in Microsoft Office. Expert at internet based searching and website navigation. Ability to search various databases, utilize internet research databases and relationship management software.
12. Ability to meet consistent attendance.
WORKING CONDITIONS
General office environment. Requires the ability to sit and be stationary for prolonged periods, normal or corrected vision, and manual dexterity sufficient to perform work on a personal computer. Will perform repetitive motion using computer mouse and keyboard. Some night and weekend work will be required. Visits to foundation funder offices within the Cleveland region may be required. Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.
Hybrid Eligibility
This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.
Diversity Statement
In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
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Reasonable Accommodations
Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at 216-###-#### to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.
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