Senior Director Of Corporate Strategy And Engagement

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

For over 160 years, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Supporting this legacy and important public mission—with the goal of making the UW the world’s greatest public university, as measured by positive impact—guides everything we do in University Advancement. Bringing together development; alumni and stakeholder engagement; marketing and communications; and advancement operations, we advance the UW’s impact by developing meaningful connections that foster pride, advocacy and philanthropic support.

The mission of the Development team is to facilitate private resources to enhance and protect the University’s reputation and support equitable community building and service. This starts with creating a culture of belonging within our organization that values the diverse experiences and expertise of our team members, allowing everyone to thrive and to contribute their unique talents as we strive to achieve our shared goals.

The Foster School of Business has an exciting opening for a Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and Engagement. This is a full-time, permanent position.

The Senior Director leads and manages strategy to maximize corporate engagement and support across the Foster School of Business. The Senior Director works proactively with Foster’s Advancement leadership, the dean and other stakeholders to determine strategy, priorities and outcomes. This position will also manage and develop a team of advancement staff.

What You Will Do:

Strategy Planning (30%)

Conduct an assessment to determine opportunities for corporate engagement and funding that aligns with the Foster School’s purpose and giving priorities.

Create a long-term strategic plan for corporate engagement with annual targets and clear, measurable goals.

Provide regular progress reports to the Advancement leadership, dean and relevant internal stakeholders.

Work with center directors, executive education, academic leaders and faculty across the Foster School to attain a strong understanding of corporate engagements, priorities and opportunities and how they advance the strategic priorities and goals of the school.

Coordinate with internal stakeholders to develop and refine engagement and funding priorities in alignment with the dean and Foster’s strategic plan.

Work with key business partners to assess their corporate-academic engagement priorities and help identify alignment with Foster's strategic priorities.

Leadership and Team Management (30%)

Collaborate with Foster School leadership in designing and implementing strategies to increase organizational support, and coordinate the participation of these colleagues in engagement, solicitation, and stewardship activities.

Work collaboratively across Foster and advancement to ensure corporate relationships and organizational requests for proposals are handled effectively and efficiently. Publicize funding opportunities and provide responsive and well-informed advice regarding organizational funding sources and solicitation strategies to faculty department leaders and center directors.

Manage and mentor a team to ensure timely and strategic execution of tasks. Seek appropriate professional development opportunities and provide training to staff and volunteers on foundation and corporate development.

Corporate Engagement and Programming (30%)

Work with Foster leaders and career management teams to build and manage impactful programs and initiatives that benefit faculty and students while also garnering financial support of Foster.

Lead and manage the Advisory Board Corporate Engagement Committee, including helping develop goals and manage execution of tasks.

Develop and manage the cultivation and engagement plans for corporate and foundation funders, aligning this effort with Foster’s strategic priorities, the UW’s Corporate and Foundation Relations Office and central UW donor relations and marketing activities.

Frontline Fundraising (10%)

Manage a portfolio of high-capacity corporations and foundations, ensuring long- and short-term strategies are developed and carried out. Identify new sources of organizational support for Foster’ highest priorities and develop strategies to qualify, engage, solicit and steward supporters.

Work proactively to forge relationships among academic leaders across disciplines in order to secure interdisciplinary funding opportunities for foundations and other organizational donors in support of their work.

Develop major proposals, with an emphasis on requests of $100,000+ and funders with the potential to make eventual awards of $1 million and greater. Provide guidance and support to others making solicitations.

Travel to foundation, corporate and organization offices to represent the UW for the purpose of qualifying new prospects, presenting proposals and cultivating and stewarding relationships, as needed.

Identify, recruit and work with volunteers who can assist with the cultivation and solicitation of organizational donors.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree and 6 years of progressively responsible experience in institutional development/advancement, with experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

What You Bring:

Demonstrated ability to establish, cultivate and steward strong relationships with industry partners; ability to align corporate/foundation partners’ goals with the UW’s strengths and opportunities.

Strong communication, both written and verbal, and cross-functional facilitation skills.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite for correspondence, special reports, spreadsheets, databases, forms, etc.

Ability to navigate complex organizations and support others in doing the same; equipped with a problem-solving orientation.

Ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations and exercise good judgment in a fast-paced, dynamic, deadline-driven environment while remaining organized and professional.

What You Can Expect:

Some evening and weekend hours are necessary, on short or limited notice.

Some local and national travel is expected.

Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you log into your “My Jobs” page. If you choose to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

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