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Western Washington University

Director of Corporate Relations

Western Washington University, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127


Position Title

Director of Corporate Relations

About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community.

About the Department

University Advancement supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. The mission of University Advancement is to build relationships through meaningful engagements that foster pride, encourage advocacy, and promote private support for Western Washington University.

About the Position

The Director of Corporate Relations manages an extensive network of relationships on behalf of all colleges and programs across the university. They are responsible for collaborating with members of the Advancement Team, including development directors and annual giving directors, as well as partnering with deans, department chairs, faculty, students, and other divisions on campus including career services, student services, alumni engagement and the AVP of Academic Affairs to ensure that we meet our annual fundraising goals.

As a senior member of the development team, this position is charged with creating and implementing a strategic plan for corporate relations that takes into account potential opportunities to engage and solicit alumni, business and civic leaders and other friends of Western who have valuable connections to our corporate partners. The Director of Corporate Relations is personally responsible for soliciting and closing major gifts of $25,000 or more.

This is a full-time position reporting to the Associate Vice President of University Advancement. The Director of Corporate Relations is responsible for the discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate donors. In this ever-changing profession, multiple channels are utilized to connect with and cultivate donors, including face-to-face, phone and video, with a key success metric focused on substantial contacts. This position requires travel in and out of state with a heavy focus on the Puget Sound area.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

20% - Identification, discovery, and qualification of prospects

Work with campus partners, board members, and prospect research team to establish lead and prospect portfolios

Review prospect background including stated goals for corporate social responsibility, past or current activity with the university, alumni connections, gift history

Contact prospects through various channels (email, LinkedIn, phone, and networking events) to secure initial meeting (in-person or virtual)

Implement discovery visits to qualify prospect based on affinity with university, interest in programming, and capacity to give

20% - Cultivation of prospects with a goal to secure philanthropic gifts

Build relationships with current and potential corporate partners

Share information about Western areas of research expertise, instrumentation, and industry relevant capabilities

Communicate the value of Western students as interns and the impact of alumni as employees within companies and industries

Explore alignment of philanthropic goals with Western programs, activities and projects

Connect corporate representatives with Western faculty and students, with an emphasis on leadership level connections

Engage corporate partners in conversations focused on the impact of philanthropy at Western

20% - Soliciting major gifts from prospects through specific proposals

Develop funding proposals that support face-to-face solicitations for philanthropic gifts

Partnering with deans, chairs, faculty and university leadership to use a team approach where necessary in solicitation

Refining proposals when needed to meet donor desires

Drafting gift agreements that serve as memorandums of understanding between donors and the university

Bringing final resolution to all major gift solicitations, whether yes or no

20% - Stewardship activities focused on gift acknowledgement and grant management

Ensuring the submission of donor required reports

Impact reporting not defined by donors

Direct contacts with funders including email, phone, virtual and in-person meetings

Extending invitations to funders to university sponsored activities as appropriate

10% - Position specific administrative responsibilities

Developing annual plans

Weekly contact reporting responsibilities

Monthly expense reporting responsibilities

Regular meetings with academic partners to ensure strategic and tactical alignment with funders and potential funders

10% - Other duties as assigned

Collaborating across other UA departments for broad success

Serving on campus hiring committees as needed

Interfacing with the WWU Foundation board of directors as required

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum of four years experience in face-to-face donor/client cultivation activity, whether fundraising or sales with transactions of $10,000 or higher

Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Demonstrated ability to develop and write grant proposals including a strong understanding of project budgets and how to work with program partners to develop compelling proposals

Proficiency with MS Office Suite

Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with people of diverse social identities and backgrounds

Proven experience with proposals, presentations, and other professional activities focused on a call to action which produces measurable revenue results

Demonstrated ability to organize, manage and prioritize multiple projects and activities

Welcoming and professional demeanor with a demonstrated ability to build relationships, establish trust, and discuss personal financial matters with the highest level of integrity

Ability to travel at least once a week within Washington State, and occasionally outside the state for overnight travel and availability to work on various nights and weekends throughout the year as required

Preferred Qualifications

Major gift fundraising experience at the $25K level

Experience working on a campus in the higher education environment

Experience in cross-campus collaboration in a large organization

Experience working with a fundraising contact management software system

Experience working with corporations and foundations for philanthropic giving

Experience working on a large scale, organized fundraising campaign

Special Requirements

This position has a specific focus on working with corporate partners in the greater Seattle – King County metro area and serving as a representative of the university in that region. Candidates for this position must be able to flex their time to allot for time needed on the main campus in Bellingham as well as visiting corporate partners. Local travel will be required approximately 40%.

Conditions of Employment

All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.

Salary

Hiring range for position is $86,766 - $99,782/year. Through longevity position tops out at $112,796/year.

Benefits Information

Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.

Application Instructions

Application materials should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

Closing Date Notes

This search is being assisted by Another Source. Please apply via their website: Director of Corporate Relations - Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington | Careers at Bellingham, WA 98225 (icims.com)

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.

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