Executive Director of Advancement - Corporate Relations, University Advancement

Location

ST. LOUIS, MO 63105



Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

The Executive Director oversees the Office of Corporate Relations for the Danforth Campus within the Development Vertical of University Advancement and leads corporate fundraising efforts for the schools and units affiliated with the Danforth Campus.

This role provides strategic leadership to a team of corporate fundraisers charged with advancing Washington University’s priorities through corporate philanthropy. The team aligns corporate interests with university priorities through both proactive and responsive fundraising, connecting institutional priorities and emerging needs with corporate funding opportunities across the university. Each team member, including the Executive Director, manages a portfolio of corporate donors and prospects.

The Executive Director partners with academic and administrative leaders, as well as colleagues in the Philanthropic Strategy Vertical and Business Intelligence Unit, to identify funding opportunities, strengthen corporate fundraising readiness, develop proposals, and steward corporate relationships and gifts. The role works closely with the Executive Director of Corporate Engagement, the Executive Director of Foundation Relations, and, when appropriate, corporate fundraisers on the School of Medicine Advancement team to coordinate strategies and maximize university-wide corporate philanthropy and engagement.

The Executive Director of Corporate Relations reports to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Corporate and Foundation Relations.

Job Description

• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major and principal level corporate prospects. Create and manage strategic relationships with companies, focusing on their priorities and aspirations. Travel as needed to key locations.

• Supervise direct reports to build a fuller and more robust pyramid of corporate donors at every giving level. Establish team fundraising goals and provide coaching, support, and mentorship as staff work to achieve their performance targets. Monitor portfolio and pipeline progress, guide solicitation strategies, and report on fundraising results. Evaluate performance through regular meetings and annual reviews.

• In partnership with the Executive Director of Corporate Engagement, advance the strategic vision for building effective, mutually beneficial corporate partnerships across the university. Serve as a trusted university-wide leader in developing strategies to engage companies and corporate executives, and drive collaboration across Philanthropic Strategy, Business Intelligence, Foundation Relations, School of Medicine Corporate and Foundation Relations, and individual fundraisers.

• In partnership with the Executive Director of Foundation Relations, provide faculty training and support to ensure fundraising readiness. Assess initiatives for corporate philanthropic funding, prepare for conversations with prospective funders, develop compelling proposals, and steward funded projects.

• Maintain regular communication with counterparts at peer institutions to monitor emerging trends, streamline administrative practices, and support continuous improvement in systems and processes. Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment
• Ability to travel to various on- and off-campus locations

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at a desk or table
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement
• Occasional lifting (25 – 50 lbs.)

Equipment

• Office equipment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Relevant Experience (8 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in corporate relations or development work that includes a concentration in corporate relations, including direct personal interaction with corporate executives or officers in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation stages.

• A record of success in playing a lead role in securing gifts and grants from corporations at the seven-figure level or above.

• Supervisory experience including professional and support staff.

• Experience supervising corporate fundraisers.

• Experience at a large regional or national organization or within higher education.

• Demonstrated success as a strategic thought partner working effectively toward development objectives.

• Desire and ability to collaborate with colleagues at all levels.

• Capacity to travel, as needed, for solicitation and stewardship purposes.
• Ability to work inclusively with diverse groups of constituents and colleagues.

• A passion for higher education and an understanding of complex institutions.
• Ability to represent the university in a highly professional and effective manner.
• Ability to effectively operate in a highly complex environment.

This position is located in St. Louis, MO.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

Leadership (10 Years)

Skills:

Analytical Thinking, Communication, Corporate Relationship Management, Curious Mindset, Customer Service, Detail-Oriented, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, Fundraising, Goal-Oriented, Interpersonal Communication, Leadership, Mentorship, Positive Thinking, Problem Solving, Professional Etiquette, Relationship Building, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Supervisory Management, Work Relationships

Grade

G00

Salary Range

Base pay is commensurate with experience.The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email[email protected]or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity or shared ancestry, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. As a federal contractor, the university maintains affirmative action programs to implement its equal employment opportunity policy for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended.