Senior Director of Development – Shepherd School of Music

Special Instructions to Applicants :

Position Summary :

The Senior Director of Development will serve as the chief development officer for The Shepherd School of Music and will plan, organize, and manage the development functions of the school, including complex major gift support within the Rice University setting.

The Senior Director of Development will provide critical strategic leadership for an advancement program that incorporates development and external relations goals.

The Senior Director of Development will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift donor prospects capable of gifts at the $100,000 level and higher.

They should be knowledgeable of the performing arts and classical music philanthropic landscape and an excellent relationship builder that has experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies to secure major operational and programmatic commitments for special initiatives.

The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University cultivates the mastery of musical performance, combining a conservatory experience with the educational opportunities of a leading research university.

Guided by a belief that talent manifests along unique paths, The Shepherd School of Music limits its student body to 290 gifted young musicians.

Each music major is provided access to world class teachers dedicated to cultivating talent and professional success. The faculty at The Shepherd School is known for their individual instruction and for equipping musicians with the skills and experience necessary to develop their own esteemed careers.

In just over four decades, The Shepherd School of Music has become a leading international music school, making it both one of the youngest and one of the most prestigious university-level programs in the country.

A consistently highly ranked school of music, the Shepherd School is currently number five in the Niche list of best music schools in America.

Alumni of The Shepherd School of Music go on to exceptional careers and include Pulitzer Prize and Grammy winners. They have debuted at Carnegie Hall, appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera, and hold positions in orchestras and chamber music groups around the country and globe.

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university, offering undergraduate or graduate degrees across six schools.

Rice's robust curriculum provides a vast array of courses leading to a holistic undergraduate experience that equips its students with the knowledge, skills, and values to make a distinctive impact in the world.

Located on a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.

S. News & World Report. Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life by the Princeton Review and for best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

The Senior Director of Development Shepherd School of Music will dually report to the Senior Assistant Dean in the Shepherd School and to the Executive Director of Development (Schools) in the Development and Alumni Relations division.

The Senior Director of Development will serve on the school's Senior Leadership Team and will oversee a team of two staff.

The ideal candidate is a highly collaborative leader, strategic thinker, and independent entrepreneur with a demonstrated track record of securing major gift commitments and has a proven ability to refine and actualize fundraising priorities in conjunction with key academic partners and administration.

Workplace Requirements

The office location is at The Shepherd School of Music. Weekly work hours will vary, depending on performance and event schedules.

This position requires travel (approximately 15%).

Must possess (or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and maintain a valid Texas driver’s license with no more than three moving violations and / or at fault accidents within the past 36 months, and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years.

Minimum Requirements :

• Bachelor’s Degree In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
• 7+ years of related professional development work, of which five years are in direct major gift fundraising experience, preferably within performing arts or higher education In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted

Skills :

• Ability to develop and initiate new strategies
• Advanced problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage projects simultaneously
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
• Excellent data analysis skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules
• Adept at problem solving, creating contingency plans and handling issues when necessary
• Excellent client service orientation and attention to detail
• Ability to lead and motivate others
• Strategic skills to craft and implement fundraising and / or project plans
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to quickly understand and remember details about alumni / donors and projects to which they are assigned

Preferences :

• Familiarity with the Houston arts and cultural philanthropy landscape is a plus
• 7+ years of professional development work, of which five years are in direct major gift fundraising experience, preferably within performing arts or higher education
• Experience successfully cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual gifts at the principal gifts level
• Experience working with individual donors capable of making gifts with significant institutional impact
• Experience working in a comprehensive fundraising campaign
• Experience leading a team of development professionals and working with institutional leadership and senior administrators in external relations on fundraising initiatives
• Presence and refined interpersonal skills needed to build relationships at all levels and to engage and motivate groups of diverse individuals
• Ability to stimulate, invigorate, and motivate volunteer leadership
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills
• Advanced problem-solving, data analysis, and project management skills, and attention to detail
• Working knowledge of Tessitura database software and / or Blackbaud CRM.
• Professional development work, preferably within performing arts or higher education

Essential Functions :

• Define, plan, initiate, and direct all aspects of the fundraising program for The Shepherd School of Music including major gifts, annual fund, planned giving, and principal gifts
• Develop and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects through the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 and above
• Serve as a principal advisor to the Dean on all aspects of development, including strategic development, management, and support of the Dean's portfolio of top donors
• Collaborate with Development and Alumni Relations on university- and Presidential-level donor relationships
• Manage all aspects of the school’s development strategies and initiatives, including fundraising, alumni relations, volunteer management, annual giving, capital projects, stewardship, and donor events
• Identify fundraising priorities and devise plans and strategies to accomplish revenue goals
• Manage the officer responsible for establishing Shepherd Society membership growth for increased individual contributions.
• Develop and execute long-term strategies for increasing the engagement and financial support of Rice University and The Shepherd School of Music alumni, corporations, friends, and other targeted philanthropic constituencies
• Establish benchmarking metrics for The Shepherd School of Music's charitable needs in collaboration with Development and Alumni Relations
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Serve on the school's Senior Leadership Team and oversee a team of two staff
• Work collaboratively with the Dean, Senior Assistant Dean, faculty, and Development and Alumni Relations colleagues in support of fundraising initiatives
• Manage, lead, and evaluate staff to achieve fundraising targets, including strategic planning, solicitation strategies, and performance measurements
• Promote a culture of high performance, integrity, and continuous improvement that values learning, collaboration, and a commitment to quality work among the development team
• Oversee management of a volunteer advisory board
• Provide career coaching and personal development for direct reports

Rice Mission and Values :

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity at all levels. It considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.