Careers

The Director of Advancement works as part of an advancement team of 25 and specifically as a member of a team of 6 major gift officers and one special gift officer responsible for the comprehensive major gifts fundraising efforts in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. The position is responsible for managing relationships with domestic major donor prospects determined to have the ability to make gifts of $100K to $1M+.

Major gifts officers work independently and coordinate their activities with those in other units of University Advancement and other schools at the university.

This position is charged with developing and implementing strategies for securing financial support from a portfolio of approximately 75-100 prospects, including identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts for the engineering school from alumni, parents, and friends. This position reports to the Assistant Dean for Advancement.

*** PLEASE INCLUDE COVER LETTER AND RESUME WHEN APPLYING***

Job Accountabilities:

• Develop and manage a portfolio of active major gifts prospects, develop, coordinate and implement fundraising strategies to secure major gifts in the $100K-$1 million-plus range, for several initiatives including chairs, professorships, early career chairs, graduate fellowships, capital projects, and program support.
• Develop, prepare and present formal fundraising proposals to major donors and prospects.
• Assume and achieve fundraising financial and activity goals set annually.
• Collaborate with the Viterbi development team, and other USC units and schools, in creating and implementing strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and closure.
• Determine whether an individual is capable of making a major gift and devise appropriate strategies to bring this individual to successful solicitation and ongoing stewardship.
• Make numerous decisions on cultivation time committed vs. expected gift response, determine who needs to be involved in the relationship with the prospective donor, and decide the most effective and productive use of travel time.
• Facilitate new and existing relationships between Viterbi faculty and individual prospects and donors.
• Ensure compliance with University fundraising policies, goals, and procedures.
• Ensure an effective stewardship plan for each donor; which is functional, and systematically implemented, using university best practices.
• Identify volunteers who will assist the School in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major prospects, and evaluate volunteers as major gift prospects.
• Responsible for following all protocols for prospect and donor management, contact reports, and any other prospect and donor reporting and monitoring established by USC Advancement and implemented and adhered to by the Viterbi School. Ensure compliance with University fundraising policies, goals, and procedures.

Job duties may be added or modified as needed. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the mission of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Viterbi staff are expected to facilitate a culture of support and service, to model civility and respectful engagement at all times, and to maintain the highest ethical standards and to maintain strict confidentiality across all facets of their work. 

Additional Information: 

This is a hybrid position. The Director of Advancement will be expected to work onsite at the USC Tower for a minimum of one day per week. This position is not eligible for fully remote work.

The annual base salary range for this position is $121,951 - $140,033. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Preferred Position Qualifications:

Experienced senior fundraising professional with a demonstrated track record of personally closing gifts of $100k - $1M+. Expertise in major campaign fundraising, preferably at a complex research university. Solid relationship-building skills, ability to interface with donors, leading faculty, administrators, board members, trustees, and cross-campus partners. Excellent communication skills, including public speaking and fundraising proposal writing. Demonstrated technical proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and skill in using digital technology to manage prospect contact documentation and portfolios. A valid driver’s license is required; with travel, weekend and evening work expected. A Master's degree.

Minimum Position Qualifications:

Minimum Education:  Bachelor's degree Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 5 years Minimum Skills: Major campaign, fundraising, public relations and/or volunteer management experience.

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About University of Southern California (USC)

USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.

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