Assistant Dean of and Chief Development Officer

Assistant Dean of Advancement and Chief Development Officer

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance invites applications for the position of Assistant Dean of Advancement and Chief Development Officer. Reporting to the Dean, this individual will be the primary officer overseeing all activities related to advancement, major gift solicitation, foundation relations, planned giving, and donor stewardship. They will work closely with the Dean to align fundraising priorities with the school's strategic vision and goals.

Additional responsibilities include campaign planning and management, prospect identification/research, grant writing and advancement communications.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished development professional to partner with visionary academic and artistic leadership to advance the School's mission of excellence in dance education, performance, research, community engagement, and innovation.

The Assistant Dean of Advancement and Chief Development Officer will develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising and engagement strategy to support the School's strategic priorities. The successful candidate will build meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, foundations, corporations, community leaders, parents, and arts patrons while serving as a trusted advisor to the Dean and senior university leadership.

The Assistant Dean of Advancement and Chief Development Officer will manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and lead initiatives that increase philanthropic support for scholarships, faculty excellence, artistic programming, facilities, research, and strategic growth. In addition, this individual will be responsible for all aspects of foundation relations, including research, cultivation, solicitation, program development, proposal development, reporting, grant management and stewardship.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with the School's strategic plan and university fundraising priorities.
• Serve as a member of the School's senior leadership team and advise the Dean on fundraising opportunities and donor engagement.
• Collaborate closely with central advancement, alumni relations, communications, and university leadership.

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift prospects.
• Identify and develop new donor pipelines among alumni, parents, arts patrons, foundations, corporations, and community partners.
• Lead fundraising initiatives in support of campaign priorities, endowments, capital projects, scholarships, and programmatic needs.
• Prepare compelling fundraising proposals, case statements, and donor communications.

• Build effective partnerships with Kaufman faculty, students, alumni, Board of Councilors, and cross-campus stakeholders.
• Facilitates programs and deans' initiatives designed to engage Kaufman alumni, supporters, and the external community. Maintains relational cohesiveness and engages donors through performances, events, campus visits, and personalized stewardship opportunities.

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and supervision to Kaufman advancement staff, resource workers, and student employees. Establishes and monitors performance goals, provides performance feedback and coaching, and supports professional developments. Sets appropriate deadlines to ensure timely completion of work.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and high performance.

Perform other related duties as assigned. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, development, fundraising, or related leadership roles
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts and managing complex donor relationships
• Experience developing and implementing strategic fundraising plans
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior leaders, volunteers, faculty, and donors

• Master's Degree in related field (Business, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Arts Administration/Leadership)
• Experience in higher education advancement, particularly within an R1 research university
• Experience fundraising for the performing arts, arts education, cultural institutions, or creative disciplines
• Track record of…