International Development Director, Duke Alumni Engagement and Development

International Development Director, Duke Alumni Engagement and Development (AED)

Occupational Summary

Plan and implement an international advancement program that reflects and builds upon changing alumni patterns, emerging fundraising potential, and the university's strategic priorities globally. This position has one core responsibility, soliciting for major gifts from a growing international student, parent, and alumni network. Maintain a personal portfolio of 175 rated prospects, and is responsible for the strategic identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual prospects at the $100,000 level. International travel is required and this position reports to the Managing Director of International Development. 

Primary Responsibilities

Move qualified prospects through the philanthropic giving cycle

Qualify, Cultivate, Solicit and Steward Prospects

• Manage, coordinate, and solicit a portfolio of international prospects, including alumni, parents, and friends of the university.
• Identify, cultivate and solicit international major gift prospects in all phases of the fundraising cycle, with a focus on those with the potential capacity to make gifts above $100k. Develop and manage a portfolio of international prospects and maintain active efforts to evaluate prospects identified through fieldwork, screening, and research.  Identify and develop opportunities among high net worth individuals and international corporations with and without Duke ties.
• Serve as a primary administrator for international advancement activities for the university's senior leadership; work with the president, deans, and other senior administrators to maximize the effectiveness of international travel for development, alumni relations, government relations, and academic purposes; arrange trips and accompany leadership as necessary.
• Develop, execute and lead strategies for involvement, cultivation and solicitation of single and multi-interest donors, including appropriate referrals to and/or joint work with university leadership and colleagues in schools and units.
• Invite prospects into collaborative discussions. Manage a disciplined approach to confirming details of a proposal verbally with prospects by asking clarifying questions.
• Strategically utilize resources for cultivation and solicitation. Collaborate with higher-level Duke representatives and effectively leverage other donor stories to illustrate the ways in which others partner with Duke.
• Demonstrate decisiveness and sound judgment to predict how a decision will affect individuals and groups in the department or university and develop strategies to build support for the decision.
• Develop thoughtful stewardship plans for key donors; initiatives involve high-level impact reports, dedications and special events. Maintain a focus on re-qualifying donors when they move from stewardship back into the donor engagement process.
• Create, evaluate and refine plans and timetables for regional, departmental or theme assignments; assist with planning and/or directing cultivation events or programs.
• Maintain a robust knowledge of University-wide funding priorities, and a general knowledge of school and unit funding priorities. Assist administrators and faculty in the recognition and prioritization of institutional and departmental funding needs; keep abreast of institutional and departmental priorities, programs, personalities and events
• Coordinate with the Duke Alumni Association and Duke Clubs and officers abroad to develop and implement an alumni relations international plan.
• Represent the international advancement program to alumni, parents, and friends of the university; present at board and committee meetings as requested.

Collaborate with partner Duke departments to support a successful international fundraising program

• Coordinate activities with the partner departments such as Regional Engagement, Annual Fund, Major Gifts and Special Initiatives, Foundation Relations, Gift Planning, and Principal Gifts; coordinate activities with school and unit-based development offices.

Participate in internal retreats and regular staff meetings to support a collaborative approach

• Attend staff and campus meetings as required to stay informed of Duke initiatives and departmental programming.

Preferred Experience / Skills

Experience working in a university setting.

Appreciation and interest in languages and culture, and a desire to work with individuals of different backgrounds is helpful.

Leadership, initiative, creativity, team spirit, and sound judgment.

Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.

Proven ability to grasp complex subjects, meet project deadlines, and build productive professional relationships.

Ability to think strategically about identifying prospects and connecting donors to Duke.

Demonstrated interest in international alumni relations/development preferred.

Sophisticated understanding of the entire university and effectively communicate the greatest needs, top priorities and practices. Independently manage relationships with key faculty, chairs, etc.

Ability to understand the needs and interests of leadership and prospects in order to align those with Duke priorities. Interest in all aspects of education and a dedication to promoting Duke’s fundraising priorities.

Demonstrates a high probability of gift closure.

Strong collaborative abilities and enthusiasm for working in teams.

Significant experience staffing major gift volunteers; campaign volunteer management preferred.

Demonstrated ability to handle multiple, complex fundraising activities simultaneously.

Excellent oral and written communication skills; demonstrates active listening.

High level of creativity, initiative, and motivation.

Maintain a high level of confidentiality with respect to prospects and donors.

Required Behavioral Competencies

• Collaborating with others: Ability to work collaboratively, formally and informally within one’s team and across the organization.
• Goal & Task Management: Prioritize and coordinate tasks with attention to deadlines, concurrent management of projects and ability to create and follow a set strategy for short and long-term goals and objectives.
• Curiosity & Information Seeking: Expresses an underlying curiosity in people and an ability to go beyond questions that are routine to gain an understanding of the prospects capacity, affinity and inclination.
• Decisiveness & Judgment: Uses sound judgment to make appropriate, timely decisions in complex situations for which there are no set procedures.
• Ability to influence: Ability to move or persuade others to act in a desired way. Uses indirect influence.
• Flexibility: The ability to adapt to and work effectively with a variety of situations, and with various individuals. Adapts tactics appropriately.
• Dealing with Ambiguity: Makes decisions and takes action with limited information. Anticipates impact of change and directs self and others in smoothly shifting gears.
• Expressing ideas orally and in writing: Ability to effectively and persuasively communicate ideas, thoughts, and facts orally and in writing.
• Listening: Is an “active listener”. Establishes rapport with and is receptive to speaker. Picks up on underlying messages; “hears between the lines”.
• Organizational Awareness: Ability to learn and understand organizational relationships and dynamics. Uses networks, alliances and individuals to achieve objectives.
• Leadership: Ability to effectively manage and guide group efforts. Takes an active role in developing motivational strategies.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.