Working/Functional Title
Executive Director, Constituency Programs
Position Summary
Michigan State University’s Office of University Advancement is seeking an experienced, highly motivated individual to serve as one of three Executive Directors providing oversight to Constituency Programs. The executive directors are responsible for the hiring, direct management, supervision and evaluation in partnership with each Dean/Director of 29 constituency unit fundraising programs across MSU (each director responsible for a respective subset of 29 direct reports); serves as the primary University Advancement liaison with leadership within the constituency units; assists and monitors the development of principal and major gift strategies; helps resolve problems as well as removes barriers to assure that development officers can be successful in furthering the fundraising and alumni/donor engagement within their respective units. The Executive Director maintains a personal prospect portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and employs a strategic moves management program to ensure movement along the development pipeline.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities
- Identifies, interviews and hires staff to execute the fundraising for a subset of constituency units; supervises and mentors constituency unit staff on methods of prospect identification, solicitation and cultivation in order to achieve successful solicitations for funds.
- Manages, supervises and evaluates the lead development officer for each constituency unit in alignment with university and advancement policies and procedures.
- Educates constituency unit staff on policies, programs and strategies of University Advancement across the constituency units and staff accountable.
- Prepares detailed reports on the KPIs of the development program and presents reports to the VP for University Advancement and other groups as designated.
- Directs the management of tracking top prospects according to established policies and procedures.
- Maintains positive relations with the constituency units and other units of the University to work collaboratively with them.
- Assists in budget preparation to ensure consistency with departmental goals.
- Assists in setting both long- and short-term goals for constituency units
- Prepares and analyzes annual fundraising and campaign progress for constituency unit leadership
- Plans and implements methods of prospect identification, solicitation, and cultivation in order to achieve successful solicitations for funds and match donor's interest with the needs of the university.
- Collaborates with colleagues across campus to ensure that donors’ philanthropic interests are being met.
Communications/Interpersonal Relationships
Interacts with:
- Deans/Directors, Department Chairs and faculty/staff of Constituency Programs – in order to advise on the progress of development activity across constituency units, to develop fundraising strategies, to supervise the constituency unit staff and to educate on advancement.
- Constituency Unit Staff - in order to supervise, evaluate and coach staff in alignment with university and advancement policies and procedures.
- Senior Advancement Leadership Team - to provide updates on KPIs for constituency units.
Supervision Received
Direction is received from the Vice President for University Advancement.
Supervision Exercised
- Functional and administrative supervision is exercised over all constituency unit staff through the Senior Directors and Directors of Development.
Education/Experience
The job requires: knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business; eight to ten years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional and higher education fundraising, public relations, marketing, development of budgets, preparation and presentation of case statements and analysis of operations; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Michigan State University’s Office of University Advancement is seeking an experienced, highly motivated individual to serve as one of three Executive Directors providing oversight to Constituency Programs.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Bachelors -The job requires: knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business; eight to ten years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional and higher education fundraising, public relations, marketing, development of budgets, preparation and presentation of case statements and analysis of operations; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum Requirements
The job requires: knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business; eight to ten years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional and higher education fundraising, public relations, marketing, development of budgets, preparation and presentation of case statements and analysis of operations; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Application Materials
Cover letter
Resume
Special Instructions
If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact:
University Advancement has contracted TurnkeyZRG to conduct the search for this position. Any interested candidates should contact Tonya Malik-Carson, Search Director at www.zrgpartners.com
All candidates must submit an application and resume through the Michigan State University Human Resources web-based system the URL for that website is www.careers.msu.edu. Please indicate the posting number 1114096 when submitting your application.
Review of Applications Begins On
03/01/2026
Remote Work Statement
MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.
Website
https://advancement.msu.edu/
Department Statement
Michigan State University’s Office of University Advancement is seeking an experienced, highly motivated individual to serve as one of three Executive Directors providing oversight to Constituency Programs.
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
