As a part of the corporate engagement team, this position’s primary purpose is to increase investment from external constituents in support of priorities identified by university leadership, including fundraising production and non-philanthropic commitments. The director will collaborate effectively with ISU Foundation colleagues, campus partners, and faculty to grow and nurture multi-faceted, holistic relationships with top tier corporate partners, with a particular focus on those units that interface closely with these external entities. Relationship management is a crucial skill. A key component of the position is the ability to be collegial and effectively collaborate with various university programs, departments, and faculty, to provide guidance in an appropriate manner, and facilitate connections between university personnel, external stakeholders, and subject matter experts.
Core Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Identify, evaluate, cultivate, and solicit commitments of $100,000 or more, generating support for priority projects and programs at Iowa State University.
- Work in a highly collaborative manner to create and execute comprehensive engagement strategies and proposals for a select portfolio of external partners, focusing on companies.
- Identify and nurture relationships between external stakeholders and Iowa State University representatives who can implement strategies leading to increased investment.
- Act as a liaison to units that represent priority campus projects and initiatives with the potential to enhance engagement with corporate partners. While a scientific background is not essential, this position will manage a portfolio of external partners in the areas of animal health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, and the pharmaceutical industry.
- Develop engagement strategies to increase broad investment activity for assigned portfolio of external partners important to the university. Conduct activities to meet or exceed individual metrics and personal goals, implementing established procedures, policies, and standards of the ISU Foundation and university corporate engagement network.
- Create strategy briefings and provide meeting objectives to university, college, and department leadership in preparation for face-to-face interactions with corporate representatives.
- Coordinate and host visitors for campus meetings.
Qualifications
Education & Work Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree or professional certification preferred.
- 4 years of professional experience in the following areas: relationship management, higher education, proposal development, fundraising, team sales, or another related field.
Desired Skills & Experience
- Ability to achieve ambitious goals. You should have a remarkable track record for leading successful initiatives with measurable results.
- Savvy relationship-building and leadership skills and be an excellent communicator. You should be articulate and persuasive with diplomacy and tact to represent the foundation to multiple constituents, corporate decision-makers, and faculty. You must also have demonstrable skills in persuasive speaking and influencing others.
- Approach strategy and development with an entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and have experience with database management. Ability to learn in-house computer software.
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a team. Must be adaptable, flexible, and self-directed.
- Ability to prioritize and multi-task, working efficiently, addressing a wide variety of considerations while managing a range of activities and deadlines.
- Knowledge of university system preferred.
- Must adhere to strict confidentiality standards.
- Creativity, patience, a sense of humor and a belief in our organizational mission of: Aligning donor passion and generosity to advance Iowa State University’s land grant ideals.
Travel: Travel required
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Ames, IA; potentially hybrid with the expectation of time spent on campus.
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