Assistant Vice President, Development & Constituent Engagement, Law School at The George Washington University

I. JOB OVERVIEW

Job Description Summary:

.The Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) is seeking an Assistant Vice President, Development & Constituent Engagement for the George Washington University Law School (GW Law). DAR is responsible for leading the university’s constituent engagement and fundraising program for the Law School and university community, including alumni, families, friends, students, faculty, staff, corporations and foundations, patients and other friends. Our goal is to advance GW’s mission of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and patient care.

The Assistant Vice President, LAW will report to the Associate Vice President, Schools and Academic Units which reports directly to the Vice President of Development and Engagement, and will manage and oversee the fundraising engagement efforts for the Law School and its development and constituent engagement team. This role includes working collaboratively with Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) staff across the division, including the Associate Vice President of Principal & Legacy Gifts, to create and execute an annual development and constituent engagement program that will broaden GW’s base of philanthropic support for GW and the school’s top priorities. In doing so, this position will work closely with the Dean of GW Law, leadership volunteers, and key faculty and staff.

This school-focused position leads the development and constituent engagement strategy for GW Law and works with top school and central development leadership to develop and execute annual and long-term development plans that include ambitious but realistic goal-setting for fundraising, constituent engagement, and donor base expansion for the school. Top-line goals include Attainment in dollars; Scholarship Attainment in dollars; Total Number of Engaged Alumni; and Total Number of Donors.

The AVP is also directly responsible for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of major and principal gift prospects, and works closely with the Associate Vice President of Principal & Legacy Gifts and the Associate Vice President for Development, Schools and Academic Units to develop strategy for leadership prospects. The AVP position manages a pool of approximately 75 major and principal gift prospects capable of making six-, seven- and eight-figure philanthropic gifts and will be expected to produce at least 15 proposals ($50K+) and complete at least 50 visits, 325 substantive contacts, and 50 qualify attempts to build the pipeline annually.

In addition to being responsible for managing the schools top-line goals and performance metrics and your individual performance metrics, this position will be responsible for partnering with the Dean in the management of annual individual performance metrics of the Law-DAR team. As a senior leader, this position will work together with the Dean to manage the Law-DAR team performance: make hiring decisions: provide coaching, training and mentoring; and determine future staffing needs.

Coordination and collaboration with the University, Law Dean, and Law Marketing and Communications team to build brand identity and awareness, and alignment of key messaging is critical.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Collaborate with the University and Dean to create an annual philanthropy and metrics- driven engagement plan for Law constituents of alumni, families and friends supporting the top-line and secondary goals established for DAR.
• Collaborate with the University and Dean to create a comprehensive travel plan supporting Law philanthropy and constituent engagement strategies.
• Directly responsible for principal and major gift fundraising for Law and manages an individual prospect pool of 75 individuals.
• Oversees and is responsible with the Dean for the performance management of a team responsible for major gifts, annual giving donor retention, and constituent engagement through the use of DAR performance metrics tools including, prospect moves management reports, strategy development reports, individual metric reports and other Power BI performance analytics.
• Demonstrates a strong sense of teamwork and a commitment to an environment of mentoring and support within the University and Law School.
• Serves as primary philanthropic advisor and strategic partner to the Dean. Proactively works to understand and maintain an in-depth knowledge of Law School programs, key faculty, research, and notable initiatives. Partners with Dean and Law School top faculty in the work of DAR.
• Works collaboratively with other school- and centrally-based colleagues, including Principal & Legacy Gifts, Planned Giving, Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, Donor Relations and Stewardship, Family Philanthropy, Central Initiatives, and Corporate and Foundation Relations, to 1) identify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors with Law School interests, and 2) build capacity for the execution of a comprehensive fundraising and engagement strategy for constituents of the School.
• Participates collaboratively in team planning and solicitation strategy efforts within DAR
• Ability to build brand identity and awareness, in coordination with GW’s Marketing and Communications team, through strategic development and engagement storytelling is essential.
• Contributes to a positive and professional culture for GW.

Performs other work-related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 9 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 7 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrate a record of excellence as a strategic thinker, persuasive communicator, and experienced team manager and mentor to build an unparalleled development and alumni relations program for a professional school with a large alumni base and inspiring mission.
• Proven major and principal gift fundraising success.
• Seasoned professional able to guide and support the Dean as a thought partner, co-strategist, mentor and coach in her role as chief spokesperson and fundraiser for the Law School.
• Ability to effectively organize, inspire, and unleash the potential of a team of 13, maximizing their success through clearly defined goals, celebration of achievements, and consistently supportive coaching and mentoring.
• Experience in higher education or the non-profit sector is preferred. Prior professional school/unit management experience, particularly in a complex organizational environment.
• Master’s degree in a related field is desirable.

Hiring Range

$159,858.19 - $268,505.39

GW Staff Approach to Pay

Healthcare Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location:

Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department:

Development & Alumni Relations

Family

Dev & Alumni Relations

Sub-Family

Major Gifts

Stream

Management

Level

Level 4

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time

Hours Per Week:

40

Work Schedule:

Monday – Friday (daytime hours); Some evenings/weekends

Will this job require the employee to work on site?

Yes

Employee Onsite Status

Hybrid

Telework:

Yes

Required Background Check:

Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants:

• Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status
• This search is currently being handled with the partnership of the search firm: Isaacson, Miller (
  www.imsearch.com
  ). Please apply to this posting as well as by contacting Isaacson, Miller at the below link. Please also direct confidential nominations and inquiries to the below link.

Internal Applicants Only?

No

Posting Number:

S013518

Job Open Date:

01/10/2025

Job Close Date:

03/31/2025

If temporary, grant funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

Background Screening

Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement:

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.