Major Gift Officer (Regional Director of Development)

| | | --- | | **Job Summary:** | The Major Gift Officer (MGO) will serve as the Regional Director of Development for the Southwest Region of the United States and will be responsible for developing a regular cadence of strategic opportunities focused on engaging existing and prospective major donors with the end goal of qualifying, soliciting, and closing major gifts. This role will serve as the primary strategist and staff person for the Texas Triangle Executive Council. The MGO must collaborate with and convene other Development & Alumni Engagement stakeholders in the region to ensure a coordinated and thoughtful approach to all activities meant to engage RPI’s leading prospects and donors. These stakeholders include but are not limited to Principal Giving, Major Giving, Alumni Relations, and School-/College-affiliated colleagues. Additionally, the Regional Director of Development carries a portfolio of approximately 75 major gift prospects who have the capacity to make gifts in the range of $100,000 - $2.49 million This position will oversee various special projects in the region as assigned by their AVP. | | **Who we are:** | Founded in 1824, **Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)** is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, *RPI Forward,* charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. [Explore the RPI Forward plan. ↗︎](https://president.rpi.edu/rpi-forward) Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world. With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth. | | **Minimum Qualifications:** | Bachelor’s degree in related field Five (5) or more years of experience in fundraising or closely related field, Or a Master’s degree and 3 years of fundraising experience Demonstrated record of cultivation and closing major gifts Valid US Driver License Required Applicants must meet stated minimum education and experience requirements. | | **Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:** | Proven ability to establish and maintain relationships with major gift prospects and to close gifts Ability to set priorities while also contributing to team effort in Institute Advancement Excellent oral and written communication skills Strong organizational skills Ability to deal with very technical information and to translate this information into a product salable to non-technical internal and external people Flexibility in dealing with a wide variety of people; ability to process information quickly and accurately Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet established goals and objectives Ability to demonstrate an understanding of Rensselaer and the major initiatives Ability to multi-task, handle multiple projects and deadlines Ability to work in a team environment | | **Representative Job Duties:** | Raise new commitments from prospects capable of gifts of $100,000 - $2.49 million as identified in Goals/Objectives Prepare and submit proposals as specified in Goals/Objectives Conduct pre-planned face-to-face prospecting and cultivation visits as specified in Goals/Objectives Conduct major moves as specified in Goals/Objectives Manage and increase membership in the Regional Leadership Council and other effective, high-level volunteer structures designed to provide counsel, to identify prospects, and to assist with specific solicitations and other programmatic initiatives as necessary Work in collabora…