Laboratory Schools: Director of Alumni Relations and Development
The University of Chicago

Job Info

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Department

Lab School Laboratory Schools

About the Department

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.

No less than scholarship, Lab's mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab's student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members' identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.

Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, LGBTQ+ identified candidates, candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, and candidates with a demonstrated commitment to a deepening diversity, equity, and inclusion practice. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Summary

The Director of Alumni Relations and Development serves as the chief development officer for the Laboratory Schools. Reporting to and working closely with the Director of Schools, the Director of Alumni Relations and Development is the senior administrator responsible for generating annual and endowed philanthropic revenue, building and maintaining alumni engagement, and building and maintaining relations among Lab parents and other community members.

The Director is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive fundraising plan for the Schools that encompasses annual and capital campaign components. In addition to Lab's annual fund, known as the Fund for Lab, the Schools implement significant fundraising events, giving drives, and engagement with scholarship granting organizations. Early strategizing is underway for Lab's next capital campaign, and exciting opportunities have been identified for expansion of planned giving and alumni engagement; the Director will provide strategic vision and execution for these efforts. The Director also bears significant responsibility for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of a portfolio of individual major gifts prospects, supports the management of the Director of Schools' portfolio of prospects, and has a key role in Board development. In addition, the Director provides leadership, mentorship, and support for a staff of seven, with a planned expansion to ten. Together, Lab's Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) team is responsible for implementing fundraising strategies and initiatives, including the Fund for Lab, annual Giving Day and other drives, fundraising events, capital campaign fundraising, planned giving, and giving via scholarship granting organizations. The Director also oversees staff with responsibilities in managing alumni relations and generating alumni engagement, as well as staff with responsibilities in planning and implementing special community events involving parents, students, alumni, representatives of the University of Chicago, and other donors and friends of the Schools. The Director works closely with the University of Chicago's central Alumni Relations and Development Office to ensure a coordinated strategy for Lab Schools fundraising and engagement within the University context.

The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in development and community engagement, preferably in an educational setting, and a proven track record of setting and implementing long-range strategic goals. They will be a seasoned manager with demonstrated success in mentorship and support of colleagues. They will be motivated by enthusiasm for Lab's mission, values, community spirit, and contribution to the lives of students. They will bring a sound understanding of the nuances of a community which is centered around primary and secondary education, as well as the complexities and opportunities of institutions of higher education. The ideal candidate will bring commitment to building and maintaining positive relationships throughout the community, commitment to Lab's values including equity and belonging, enthusiasm for Lab's mission, and the determination to use their responsibilities as an opportunity to foster an engaging and inclusive school culture.

Responsibilities

• Strategy, Vision, and School Leadership 30%
  
• Advises and partners with the Director on the Laboratory Schools' short- and long-range planning, goals, and strategies in fundraising (including annual giving, event-based giving, scholarship granting organizations, planned giving, and capital campaign giving) and community engagement. Plans, develops, and executes a comprehensive fundraising strategy to maximize philanthropic support from alumni, parents, staff, and others.
  
• Works with Lab's Finance team to set appropriate goals for philanthropic revenue in the Schools' annual operating budgets, and maintains team goals in all fundraising categories. Develops plans for attaining goals in annual giving, planned giving, and other fundraising, and monitors progress and performance.
  
• Leads quarterly meetings of the Lab Board's Alumni & Family Relations and Development Committee in collaboration with board member committee chair. Conducts orientations about alumni relations and development for new Board members, and regularly presents to the Board.
  
• Takes a lead role in capital campaign planning, including designing and implementing an inclusive process to identify giving opportunities and priorities, partnering with consultants on feasibility studies, overseeing the writing of a case for support, providing strategic guidance for goal-setting, and launching the campaign itself.
  
• Provides effective support to the Director of Schools and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, taking an active role in advancing the Schools' mission, values, and strategic priorities.
  
• Collaborates with the University of Chicago's Alumni Relations and Development office on goal-setting, fundraising progress, proposal development, and cultivation and solicitation of prospects.
  
• Builds a sound understanding of Lab's mission, values, and programs, and effectively communicates excitement about ongoing work and upcoming opportunities to donors, prospects, parents, alumni, and all community members.
  
• Direct Fundraising, Community Building, and Ambassadorship 20%
  
• Identifies, researches, cultivates, and solicits a personal portfolio of current and prospective donors. Executes strategy and manages a portfolio of prospects who have the capacity to make six- and seven-figure gifts. Travels as necessary to maintain and further donor relations.
  
• Supports and furthers the Director of Schools' cultivation and solicitation of her portfolio of current and prospective donors. Plans, tracks, and supports the Director of Schools' outreach to her portfolio, including visits, events, correspondence, and travel.
  
• Serves as guide and liaison to Lab's Parent Development Committee, and as main administrative point person to the Parents Association.
  
• Stewards and supports members of Lab's Board. Tracks and facilitates appropriate stewardship of Board members by the Director of Schools. Partners with the Secretary of the University and other partners to track Board member terms and Board committee memberships, and oversees the process of identifying, researching, and soliciting new Board prospects.
  
• Serves as a key development officer for a unit with high responsibility for setting the strategy for the identification, cultivation and solicitation of a portfolio of the highest level of individual major and principal gift prospects.
  
• Supervision, Mentorship, and Team Leadership 50%
  
• Uses a collaborative process and empirical evidence to set ambitious but attainable fundraising goals for the Lab ARD team. Ensures accurate tracking of progress towards goals, and maintains a ready knowledge of quantitative progress in programs and annual fund, major gifts, planned giving, and endowment support.
  
• Assigns prospects to team members, ensures appropriate moves management, and oversees research and cultivation of new prospects. Supports team members in developing their professional skillsets in working with donors.
  
• Ensures robust stewardship for ongoing philanthropic commitments by appropriate team members and partners.
  
• Ensures that endowed and other designated funds are used in accordance with gift agreements. Oversees and ensures accurate tracking and reporting of fund utilization and robust communication to donors about uses of funds.
  
• Prepares and monitors the ARD annual operating budget. Manages expenses against approved budgets and takes necessary actions to ensure a balanced budget.
  
• Supervises, sets direction, and supports the goals of each member of the ARD team. Ensures that each individual clearly understands his/her responsibilities and objectives. Provides regular performance feedback, including annual performance appraisals, for the purpose of supporting the professional growth and talents of each team member. Creates and nurtures a culture and environment that encourages inclusiveness and teamwork.
  
• Oversees the planning and implementation of events that promote the connection of individuals and families to Lab, including annual fundraising events.
  
• Supports alumni relations team in designing and implementing programs that bring groups of University of Chicago Laboratory Schools alumni together on the basis of shared interest, vocation, profession, or generation. Develops effective strategies for interacting with and supporting alumni. Supports programs and initiatives that connect alumni with today's Lab students.
  
• Ensures support, recognition, and guidance by the ARD staff for parent volunteers.
  
• Ensures that graduating seniors are welcomed into the alumni community and introduced to the benefits of philanthropic giving.
  
• Supports direct reports in reaching their full potential by means of positive working relations informed by thoughtful goal setting, personalized feedback, ample communication, and performance appraisals. Fosters excellence in direct reports' work through professional development opportunities, leadership coaching and training, mentorship, and support.
  
• Exemplifies and supports a robust commitment among direct reports and teams to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Understands the importance of diversity in hiring to advance the schools' mission. Across departments and teams, ensures ample opportunity and appropriate incentives for personal and professional growth in understanding implicit biases, the role of privilege in communities and cultures, and ensuring equitable systems, policies, and procedures.
  
• Promotes a culture of customer service, excellence, and continuous improvement among direct reports and their departments. Demonstrates and encourages a commitment to lifelong learning and growth.
  
• Develops prospects through visits, events, correspondence, and regular calls. Maintains relationships with donors, various volunteer committees, and top administrators. Solicits gifts and negotiates gift discussions.
  
• Manages managers and professional staff. Establishes performance goals, allocates resources and assesses policies for direct subordinates.
  
• Performs other related work as needed.
  

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Graduate or professional degree, especially in business, marketing, management, school leadership, or other relevant field.
  

Experience:

• Minimum of eight years in progressively responsible leadership positions in institutional development, including experience with alumni/community relations and event planning.
  
• Successful track record soliciting and closing major gifts.
  
• Experience working in a primary or secondary independent school setting strongly preferred.
  
• Experience navigating administration and bureaucracy of a university or other complex organization.
  
• Experience overseeing direct reports with a variety of responsibilities and proven track record of effective and productive supervision, management, and mentorship.
  
• Proven track record of long-range strategic planning as well as daily/routine management of programs and operations, preferably in an educational setting.
  
• Experience in long-range planning in philanthropic growth.
  
• Experience in determining and implementing budget goals.
  

Preferred Competencies

• Strong leadership, listening, and interpersonal skills; ability to listen for nuance and communicate clearly; communication skills to inspire and motivate.
  
• Ability to think strategically, to develop and follow through on long-range plans.
  
• Demonstrated, ongoing commitment to learning and growth in skills, issues, and competencies relevant to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
  
• Skill at building and sustaining excellent relationships at multiple levels with varied constituencies.
  
• Proven ability to manage, support, and mentor direct reports and work collegially and productively with peers.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
  
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
  
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations and information with absolute discretion.
  
• Ability to successfully participate personally in high-level gift strategizing and solicitation.
  
• Ability to simultaneously plan, organize, and manage a wide range of complex activities.
  
• Ability to work under deadline pressure and respond positively and promptly to deadlines and requests imposed by others.
  
• Ability to resolve conflict, build consensus, work collegially and collaboratively, and foster a healthy team culture.
  
• Ability and willingness to travel locally, nationally, and globally for work.
  
• Ability and willingness to attend weekend and evening events.
  
• Facility with personal computers and database applications. Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
  
• An exceptional work ethic and track record of personal initiative and integrity.
  

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment.
  
• Ability to sit for up to 2 hours.
  
• Ability to use computers extensively, i.e., for 4 consecutive hours or more.
  
• Ability to climb stairs up to 2 stories.
  
• Ability to stand for up to 2 hours.
  
• Ability to use standard office equipment.
  

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
  
• Cover letter (required)
  
• Professional References (required)
  

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact

People Manager

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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