Assoc. Dean of Dev. & Alumni Relations

At Johns Hopkins, the mission of Development and Alumni Relations is to build enduring relationships that result in advocacy and philanthropic support for the institution. We are deeply committed to and aligned with the academic mission of the institution. Our work supports its focus on research, teaching, and patient care, and its role as a higher education leader on the global stage. We strive to strengthen Johns Hopkins University and Medicine through partnerships with donors, volunteers, faculty, alumni, friends, and patients.

Located in Baltimore, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is a globally recognized leader in nursing education, research, and practice. In U.S. News & World Report rankings, the school is No. 1 nationally for its DNP program and No. 2 for its master’s. In addition, JHSON is ranked as the No. 3 nursing school in the world by QS World University. The school is an eight-time recipient of the INSIGHT Into Academia Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Distinction (HEED) Award and a seven-time Best School for Men in Nursing award recipient. Dean Sarah Szanton, recently recognized by Forbes 50 over 50 list for her impact on health, leads a school known for excellence, innovation, and a deep commitment to advancing nursing and improving the health of the nation.

The School of Nursing has an exciting opportunity for an Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations to advance the program and support the strongly rooted mission of this esteemed School. The Associate Dean will provide strategic leadership for the program and associated team. This position is responsible for implementation of all fundraising strategies and activities, and for carrying forward the mission and vision of the School. The Associate Dean is responsible for planning and conducting all aspects of fundraising, including orchestration of major fundraising campaigns and other related programmatic activities - involving major and principal gifts, alumni affairs, corporate and foundation relations, and special events. The Associate Dean supports the School’s advisory board, assisting with recruitment of new members and their engagement to advance the priorities of the School. The Associate Dean works closely with colleagues across the institution to harness collaborative fundraising opportunities across Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. This position is required to build exceptional partnerships across the institution in deepening the impact of shared priorities, initiatives, and donor relationships.

The Associate Dean reports to the Dean of the School of Nursing and the Assistant Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. This role has an onsite presence expectation of at least four days per week in Baltimore.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Development Strategy, Execution and Team Leadership

- Provide overall strategic leadership for development and alumni relations.
- Develop and lead effective philanthropic fundraising strategies to obtain, maintain and grow funding support for the School’s priorities from individuals, alumni, corporations, non-profit partners and philanthropic foundations.
- Bring creativity and innovation in the discovery, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of significant prospects and donors. Identify opportunities within and beyond the JHSON alumni base to engage prospective donors on behalf of the school’s mission.
- Manage a staff of professional fundraisers and support personnel in annual work-planning and goal-setting process; navigate institutional changes with poise and stability to ensure the team continues to meet ambitious goals within an ever-changing environment.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that positions the school for success in an ambitious, multi-year campaign. Develop campaign themes, outreach and communications strategies. Partner with the Dean to establish future campaign priorities and budgets – both school specific and collaborative efforts with other divisions of JHU.
- Oversee the development, management and composition of volunteer board and committees, primarily the Nursing Advisory Board. Engage board members with key philanthropic initiatives and campaign giving.
- Define and lead a comprehensive alumni relations strategy. Coordinate, as appropriate, with the University’s alumni relations program to develop and implement an outreach strategy to engage and involve constituents in supporting the school.
- Lead fundraising for strategic priorities and ensure fiscal goals and priorities are achieved.
- Lead efforts to identify and develop prospect pipeline, engaging academic leaders and key volunteers in the process.
- Manage a portfolio of more than 50 major and principal gift prospects.
- Oversee and manage a robust and effective stewardship plan for JHSON including strategic communications and outreach and developing high-quality reports and hosting donor-centered stewardship events.
- Manage a reporting system of development based metrics that align with JHSON strategic goals and objectives.
- Maintain and expand engagement of corporations and foundations and support the JHSON faculty in outreach and applications for grants within this sector.

School of Nursing Leadership

- Actively participate in the School’s leadership team led by the Dean. Work closely with the Dean to develop private support and priorities for the School. Partner with the Dean and senior leadership team to prioritize among competing opportunities and initiatives, bringing structure and rigor to ambitious ideas.
- Participate actively as a member of the JHSON’s leadership team and be engaged in strategic activities and school events.
- In partnership with the budget office, oversee development budget planning and reporting accordingly, including a focus on long-term, multi-year fundraising plans in support of JHSON.
- Establish effective working relationships with faculty and staff to understand their programs and priorities, and increase internal stakeholder participation in external relations initiatives to align activities with the JHSON mission, vision, and values. Provide coaching, counsel, and prioritization to faculty and academic leaders as to philanthropic interest, engagement, and stewardship.
- Represent the Dean and the JHSON to both external and Johns Hopkins audiences, clearly articulating the Dean’s vision and priorities.
- Leverage and position the Dean in initiating, deepening, and stewarding donor and volunteer relationships, both in the United States and internationally, as appropriate.

Institutional Navigation and Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) Leadership

- Work closely with JHU’s Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) leadership on shared trustee and donor relationships. Lead and facilitate compelling stewardship and impact reporting for shared donor relationships as relationship management requires.
- As a leader within DAR, build partnerships with central programs, leveraging all resources and efficiencies in new tools, technology, and capacity-building initiatives.
- Work closely with leadership across DAR to ensure consistency and ambition in goal-setting, portfolio management, organizational culture, and staff development. Align and navigate distinctions in DAR and JHSON team building, local policies, and culture.

Other Duties as Assigned

- Serve on and lead staff task forces, committees, and action groups as necessary.
- Promote a professional workplace culture of mutual respect, collegiality, and collaboration for all members and affiliates of the institution.

Minimum Qualifications

- Baccalaureate degree.
- 10 or more years of progressively responsible development leadership experience;
- 10 years of direct fundraising experience with a proven ability to close seven-figure gifts.
- 7 years of experience in supervision, with proven ability to manage fundraising teams.
- This is a position in which there is an expectation of frequent travel, domestic and international, as well as staffing for evening and weekend events.

Preferred Qualifications

- An advanced degree.
- Five + years of experience in development leadership in a complex higher education environment.
- Experience cultivating and soliciting 8-figure gifts, especially those requiring collaboration with other parts of an institution.
- Experience in corporate and foundation fundraising; ability to align strategy across donor types.
- Proven experience in engaging unaffiliated, non-alumni prospective donors towards a shared mission.
- Ability to understand and articulate academic values/goals; and work collaboratively with academic leadership, students, alumni, and volunteer leadership.
- Strategic thought partnership: Quickly grasps complex or early-stage ideas, makes connections across seemingly disparate opportunities, and helps turn concepts into executable strategies.
- Executive judgment: Knows when to push, when to listen, when to escalate, and when to independently move something forward.
- Ability to establish objectives; set performance standards; organize and motivate staff to achieve fundraising and alumni relations goals; have a strong track record of successfully closing major- and principal-level gifts; and engage in academic and strategic planning at all levels of the organization.
- Strong personal motivation and drive for excellence.
- Demonstrated experience in managing and engaging advisory boards and volunteer leadership.
- Ability to recruit, mentor, and manage development professionals and administrative staff, while also ensuring a comprehensive programmatic strategy is articulated for the office and the dean of the school.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Classified Title: Associate Dean-MGM 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Assoc. Dean of Dev. & Alumni Relations   
Role/Level/Range: ADMOFF/01/EX  
Starting Salary Range: Minimum: $195,000 - Maximum: $240,000 (targeted salary: $220,000; commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:00pm 
FLSA Status: Exempt 
Location: Mount Washington Campus 
Department name: 10001274-Development Office of 
Personnel area: School of Nursing