Senior Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Advancement

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Meet or exceed established metrics related to visits, qualifications, solicitations, and gifts closed. The candidate will, in coordination with the Associate Vice President of University Advancement & Philanthropic Campaigns and the Director of Athletics, establish goals, objectives, and key performance indicators for the Athletic Advancement unit and its personnel.

• Build and implement a comprehensive athletics campaign as part of the University Comprehensive Campaign with particular focus on comprehensive athletics capital projects, including renovations and new athletic facilities on the Park Avenue campus, West campus, newly acquired ND Prep campus, Great River Golf Club, and other off-site locations (current and developing).

• Spur growth in athletic fundraising, specifically capital projects, and current-use gifts.

• Work closely with University Advancement resources, in consultation with Athletics, on strategies for engaging top athletic donors and prospects.

• Manage a portfolio of 100+ leadership gift prospective donors, with independent responsibility for developing and executing strategies that lead to successful solicitations.

• Identify and cultivate an Athletics Board of Visitors (BOVs) in conjunction with the Director of Athletics.

• Partner with the leadership of the Parent Engagement & Philanthropy team and the university's Annual Giving program to increase athletic parent giving.

• Set goals for overall Athletics Advancement activity and bolster the Athletics Annual Giving Program.

• Provide education and guidance to coaches in support of sport specific fundraising opportunities.

• Lead the stewardship and philanthropic efforts of the Pioneer Club, the athletics giving vehicle focused on providing superior customer service to our fans, alumni, donors, and community partners.

• Liaison with Athletic Communications and Marketing team on all external revenue-generating opportunities.

• Strategically develop and manage the VIP invitation list of VIPs for events such as the President's Tent (football) home games, the President's Suite for sporting events in the Martire Family (Ice) Arena, and basketball courtside seating/Park Avenue Club.

• Responsible for metric driven activity goals to include face-to-face visits.

• Foster an environment for successful fundraising at SHU by providing ongoing information for athletic leadership and administration regarding fundraising initiatives and by preparing coaches and administrators to participate effectively in cultivation and solicitation activities.

• Prepare gift proposals, solicitation letters, and other cultivation and presentation materials for significant donors.  

• Responsible for adhering to policies and procedures governing the Department of Athletics and SHU and any applicable rules and regulations associated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Atlantic Hockey (AH) and any other conference or organization with which the University is or becomes associated with which affects SHU athletics.

• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Other Attributes

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.

• Five years of successful fundraising experience, with direct experience in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors at higher gift levels

• Demonstrated team leadership.

• Analytical thinking, complex problem solving, and planning.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Comfortable with change and associated ambiguity.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both oral and written.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in collegiate athletics, non-profit fundraising, and/or higher education environment

• Demonstrated leadership, ability to develop strategic plans, implement, organize, initiate, and motivate.

• Proven success in gift closure at the $50,000 to $250,000 level.

• An appreciation for the unique role of a Catholic liberal arts and sciences in the context of a rapidly expanding/growing mid-major university.

• Knowledge of NCAA, MAAC, and AH rules and regulations.

Unusual Working Conditions

The position will require working occasional evenings and weekends.

Travel throughout the region or country.