Santa Clara University

Director, Corporate Relations

Development Office

Full-Time

Requisition Number (please reference): 1001098

Overview:

Santa Clara University is a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located in California's Silicon Valley, offering its 8,800 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, plus master's, Ph.D., and law degrees.

Distinguished by the highest retention rate and ranked second among all master's universities in the West by U.S. News and World Report, Santa Clara University is California's oldest operating institution of higher-education. The University is focused on creating an academic community that educates citizens and leaders who will build a more just, humane, and sustainable world.

Purpose:

The Director of Corporate Relations will be the primary catalyst behind the launch and implementation of a reinvigorated University-wide corporate giving program that will build upon SCU's history of successful partnerships with leaders in industry. The Director will design and oversee the activities of the corporate relations program with the goal of significantly increasing corporate investment in support of the University's strategic priorities and will manage a portfolio comprised of the University's top corporate donors and prospects. S/he will partner with the University's academic and administrative leadership, colleagues in University Relations, and as well as with Trustees and volunteer leadership, to develop and Santa Clara University seeks outstanding candidates for its Director of Corporate Relations. The director leads the Corporate Relations program in the Division of University Relations.. The Corporate Relations unit seeks to maximize corporate support for the University's highest needs and priorities. This position reports to the Assistant Vice President of Foundation, Corporate, and Government Relations.

Primary Purpose of Position

The Director of Corporate Relations will be the primary catalyst behind the launch and implementation of a reinvigorated University-wide corporate giving program that will build upon SCU's history of successful partnerships with leaders in industry. The Director will design and oversee the activities of the corporate relations program with the goal of significantly increasing corporate investment in support of the University's strategic priorities and will manage a portfolio comprised of the University's top corporate donors and prospects. S/he will partner with the University's academic and administrative leadership, colleagues in University Relations, and as well as with Trustees and volunteer leadership, to develop and implement strategies to secure corporate investments. This position serves as a key advisor to the University community on best practices and new strategies to promote deep, productive and lasting engagement with corporations.

The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the business and marketing needs of corporations and will be able to develop strategies and tools to address them. S/he will be able to provide new ways of thinking about the University's corporate relationships that will maximize corporate engagement, philanthropy, revenue, and multi-year partnerships. This position will serve as a partner to the Assistant Vice President of Foundation, Corporate and Government Relations and other Development & External Affairs leaders;; and, will regularly staff and advise the senior staff and faculty leadership on matters pertaining to the corporate program.

I. Job Responsibilities

1. Design and implement an innovative high-level corporate relations program that attracts and engages both new and current corporate investors with large revenue potential in support of institutional priorities
2. Help position the President and other senior University faculty, center directors, and administrators to build relationships with C-level executives at key companies
3. In partnership with Alumni Relations and Development, cultivate strategic partnerships with key target companies through cultivation and stewardship of executive level alumni
4. Drive a process of maximizing existing corporate relationships so that they become multi-year financial contributors by leveraging other involvement, such as sponsored projects, internships, executive education, volunteer initiatives, event sponsorship, equipment/technology donations, and corporate representatives for boards or panels
5. Responsible for personal fundraising metrics; maintain a portfolio of active and potential corporate funders; handle all aspects of relationship management: set strategy and plans with company leaders and internal partners; personally initiate and manage corporate relationships, representing the University and its needs to the business community, and attracting significantly increased resources for institutional priorities, in a manner consistent with institutional policies and procedures
6. Personally visit key corporate prospects and arrange visits for the President and other senior University faculty, center directors, and administrators
7. Solicit financial, in-kind, and all other identified forms of support from prospective corporate partners
8. Work collaboratively with internal University partners to deliver seamless interface and relationship management to target companies and executives, and to achieve overall corporate engagement, revenue and fundraising goals
9. Work with institutional partners to frame fundable projects within institutional priorities; create persuasive proposals with exciting benefits packages for new and renewed corporate support
10. Lead the expansion of workplace giving and matching gifts with corporate partners
11. Ensure proper stewardship and acknowledgement of corporate gifts and engagement
12. Ensure comprehensive documentation of information on all corporate prospects using the University's donor management system, Raiser's Edge
13. Plan and supervise corporate-funded events, as needed
14. Facilitate education and compliance across the organization with regard to policies and procedures, best practices, and future trends related to corporate affiliations and partnerships
15. Create a quantitative and qualitative measurement system to evaluate the effectiveness and success of the Corporate Relations program, utilizing data to improve standards and further the success of fundraising goals.
16. Create a culture of high performance, excellence and quality.
17. Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned

II. Qualifications

1. Understanding and appreciation of the vision and values of Santa Clara University and itsJesuit Catholic educational mission.
2. Bachelor's degree and at least 5 to 7 years of proven, documented, successful years of experience in development or equivalent experience, with a strong emphasis on corporate relations or corporate-focused work. Must be a strategic, experienced leader with a history of developing strong corporate partnerships and relationships.
3. Demonstrated evidence of a strong network of relationships with corporations and other key stakeholders and institutions within Silicon Valley, including experience dealing with high-level management within the corporate sector.
4. Experience in managing business relationships in a role such as account manager of corporate relations.
5. Broad industry knowledge of the Silicon Valley economy (tech, biotech, software, social media, venture capital, etc as well as supporting services of legal, accounting, consulting).
6. Thorough understanding of the dynamics of corporate partnerships and giving, business trends and priorities, and economic conditions that may impact corporate investments in educational institutions, acquired through regular contact with those organizations.
7. Ability to coordinate and implement initiatives that deepen the level of understanding of and commitment to the institution and enhancing its resources, reputation and relationships.
8. Exceptional verbal, writing, research, and editorial skills, preferably demonstrated in an academic setting; ability to synthesize information and compose clear and effective prose. Strong writing and editing experience; gift proposal or other fundraising writing experience preferred. Advanced written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including skill to produce information that is appropriately presented and effectively received by target constituencies.
9. Experience managing and coordinating complex projects that have multiple tasks with competing deadlines. Superior organizational skills; a work style that is thorough, accurate, and detail-oriented; the ability to follow through on projects.
10. Strong attention to details and the ability to quickly understand and remember details about donors and projects to which they are assigned.
11. Demonstrated leadership experience, particularly with cross-departmental teams.
12. Strong customer-service focus; excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven ability to work patiently, persuasively, and effectively with a wide variety of people, including students, faculty, staff, donors and alumni.
13. Proven ability to anticipate needs, identify and analyze a variety of issues, including problems, making recommendations and/or taking action to resolve or prevent them.
14. Demonstrated sound judgment in situations requiring independent decision-making and in handling confidential and sensitive material.
15. Excellent computer skills; proficiency in using advanced functions of word processing, database management and reporting, Excel spreadsheets, Power Point, web resources, and finance systems.
16. An understanding of the entire development enterprise-particularly within an academic setting-and the ability to work within that framework; knowledge of the full spectrum of development principles and activities including gift acceptance policies, stewardship, donor recognition, gift administration, endowment management, working with high level university faculty, staff and volunteers, and the ability to apply this knowledge creatively.

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Santa Clara University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, committed to excellence through diversity and inclusion, and, in this spirit, particularly welcomes applications from women, persons of color, and members of historically underrepresented groups. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with a disability.

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website at http://www.scu.edu/cs/. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.