Careers at Virginia Tech

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts, the Principal Gifts Officer is a senior development officer assigned to the highest-level prospects for Virginia Tech. The individual will serve as a visible front-line fundraiser and manage a portfolio of 15 to 35 principal gifts prospects. This position focuses on strategy development as well as staff support, planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives for individuals assigned to the prospect pool. The Principal Gifts Officer's primary emphasis is identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding high-level prospects who have the capacity to make transformative gifts of $5 million or greater to the University. The Principal Gifts Officer will work closely with the Senior Vice President for Advancement, the Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts, the President, Dean, and with other key academic leaders to set short and long-term donor centric strategies and develop initiatives to advance each prospect's meaningful connection to the college and university, setting the stage for solicitation in accordance with university priorities. The Principal Gifts Officer must champion the strategic engagement, creativity, and poise required to inspire and mobilize the aspirations of internal partners and prospective donors alike and exemplify the sophisticated stewardship essential to maintaining and expanding donor relationships.

This position must have the ability to:
- Effectively strategize and engage various groups and constituents.
- Think strategically and to shape messaging in order to move individuals and institutions across the spectrum of prospect development, culminating in significant and potentially game changing solicitations appropriate to organizational priorities and donors interests.
- Penetrate the most elite philanthropic networks seamlessly, and with aplomb.
- Understand and distill complex academic and scientific topics and projects for development audiences.
- Extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about donor strategy and process.
- Travel nationally and sometimes internationally for the purpose of conducting field research, cultivation, and solicitation of prospects.
- Travel utilizing standard, commercial and/or personal modes of transportation.
- Work nights and weekends and participate in college or university programs when possible.

Bachelor's degree and significant experience, or a Master's degree.

Significant progressively responsible experience in development positions with progressive levels of responsibility, preferably within an institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or other environment of similar complexity with multiple stakeholders.

Experience with both individual and institutional principal gifts.

Particular strength in developing the case and support for strategic and complex fundraising plans, and executing against those plans to achieve goals and objectives.

Experience working directly with the most senior levels of an organization and its transformational donors is critical, as is a sophisticated, nuanced understanding of the confluence of relationships that facilitate principal gifts discussions and propel them forward.

A track record of personally closing gifts at seven figures or greater, and of staffing organizational leadership in soliciting seven and eight figure gifts.

Steeped in philanthropic networks as they relate to education, arts and culture, science and technology, and other charitable endeavors, with particular sensitivity and responsiveness to the culture and trends of those networks.

Experience identifying, nurturing, and motivating volunteers, and having an appreciation for their role in building an effective fundraising network.

Experience identifying and coaching project spokespeople.

Demonstrated familiarity with financial planning, tax and charitable gift laws, and planned giving vehicles and methods.

A working knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques, including database information systems, data modeling, and analysis.

An advanced degree and strong academic credentials that will be credible to donors and alumni is preferred.

Previous work experience in a hybrid centralized decentralized fundraising model or similar structure involving many units, departments, and/or teams.

Participation in a major capital campaign.

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Regular

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.