• Flexible location + hybrid work arrangements
• Full-time and continuing
• HEW 10 $142,074 + 17% Superannuation

Why work with us?

At Deakin you will have access to benefits such as a variety of leave options including generous parental leave and the ability to purchase additional leave; flexible working arrangements to help manage your work-life balance; ongoing learning and development opportunities to grow your career; an inclusive and supportive culture and environment to work in, both online and on campus.

Who are we?

Deakin is a cutting-edge public university in Victoria, revolutionising education with 61,000 students across seven campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, Deakin University Lancaster University Indonesia (DLI), GIFT City, India and our dynamic online Campus. We're proud to be a progressive and open-minded university, delivering the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world's universities.

Deakin Advancement aims to complement Deakin's vision to be a catalyst for positive change to benefit our students, staff, and the communities we serve. We build and maintain relationships with our cohort of over 350,000 alumni and facilitate generous philanthropic gifts to the University from our growing community of over 8,000 donors.

The Associate Director, Development is a senior role within Deakin Advancement. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Associate Director has specific responsibility for maximising Deakin’s philanthropic income through the raising of major and principal gifts. An inspiring and energetic leader, the Associate Director, Development is also responsible for the management, performance, coaching and mentoring of a number of major and principal gift fundraisers. Demonstrated expertise developed within similarly large, complex environments is key to succeed in this critical, high-profile role.

As Associate Director, Development, you will:

• Assist the Director of Development in developing, implementing and delivering a University-wide fundraising strategy to maximise philanthropic income for Deakin priorities. This includes shaping, setting and supporting annual performance targets relating to relationship management with donors and prospective donors, such as number of meetings, ‘asks’ made, gifts closed, pipeline built, and funds raised.
• Provide leadership, direction and support to staff responsible for the delivery of successful major and principal gift fundraising and cultivate a positive culture of collaboration and cooperation within the broader Advancement division.
• Lead the creation and implementation of diverse donor/prospective donor engagement strategies and activities aligned to the University’s and Advancement’s strategic vision.
• Provide advice, guidance and support to senior University staff – particularly Executive Deans and Heads of Schools – on fundraising-related opportunities.
• Effectively manage a personal portfolio of prospective major and principal gift donors – focused primarily on those who are capable of making gifts of $1 million plus. This includes meeting a set of annually agreed KPIs in line with overall fundraising strategy.
• Display leadership in your field, through understanding and demonstrating best practice and emerging trends - and weaving this into the build of programs and processes to engage prospective donors with Deakin.  

To be successful, you’ll have:

• Relevant postgraduate qualification or applicable combination of qualifications and substantial experience.
• A strong track record of successfully leading fundraising programs and teams to achieve stretch philanthropic targets in complex environments – ideally in an educational setting, and ideally at a 7- figure plus level. This includes success in major and principal gift fundraising, ideally also at the 7-figure plus level.
• Demonstrated success in utilising strong processes, frameworks, and data analysis to achieve most effective and efficient fundraising practice.
• Outstanding interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, appropriate to dealing with senior stakeholders (internal/external) and supporters including donors, volunteers and friends of Deakin.
• High level skills in influencing, negotiating, motivating and communicating across a large complex organisation and the ability to influence relationships at a senior level to manage successful change.

Here's how to apply: 

Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience.

Click here for more information about Advancement at Deakin.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Frank Hofheins, Director Development, on f.hofheins@deakin.edu.au

For a copy of the position description, please see below:

PD - Associate Director Development.pdf

Applications for this position close on Monday 27th January at 11.55pm.

Are You Ready?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.

We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.