Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Development Officer

About the Position:

UCLA’s sports championship history stands out as one of the most impressive of any university.  Our student-athletes perform at an elite level in their sports, studies, and public service.  As the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA)’s Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Development Officer, you will lead our fundraising efforts and join us in our commitment to invest in tomorrow’s champions today. This position is a remarkable opportunity to bring your athletic fundraising expertise, proven leadership success, and strong constituent engagement abilities to UCLA’s storied program.

As the Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Development Officer, you will lead the development staff in a comprehensive fundraising program, including DIA and campus-wide campaigns.  You will serve on the DIA executive team and work as a collaborative partner to the Director of the DIA.  Your focus includes management of a robust fundraising portfolio centering around principal and major gifts of $500,000 and above. As Sport Administrator for assigned sport(s), you will ensure that the assigned UCLA sport program(s) remains consistently ranked among the top in the country.

The Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Development Officer will to the Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and the Vice Chancellor, External Affairs and is responsible for the management and supervision of development professional and support staff as assigned.

Duties & Responsibilities:

A.    Strategic Planning and Management/Department Administration 35%

•        Serve as a member of the DIA executive team, collaborating on DIA strategic planning, and execution.

•        In partnership with the Director, Intercollegiate Athletics, and executive team, develop a strategic fundraising plan to achieve DIA funding priorities and increasing giving over time.

•        Design, implement and oversee a strategic planning process to create an annual operating plan with budget and defined annual and campaign fundraising goals.

•        Conduct annual reviews of the development program to quantitatively and qualitatively measure the program’s success. Identify areas for improvement and new opportunities.  Develop and implement program enhancements.
 

•        Broadly oversee the DIA’s development budget for personnel and program expenses.

•        Ensure all assigned units operate in compliance with University, Big Ten Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), and NCAA rules and regulations.

•        Serve as member of University Development Senior Staff.  Represent UCLA Athletics to all internal and external constituencies.

B.    Fundraising 35%

•        Devise and implement comprehensive individual and team fundraising plans to meet annual and longer-term goals.
 

•        Manage a portfolio of high-level prospects and donors, mainly those at the $500,000 and higher giving range. Devise and execute successful fundraising strategies at all stages of donor cycle.

•        Meet or exceed Development’s individual and team fundraising metrics, such as contacts, visits, proposals, solicitations and dollars raised.

•        Oversee annual giving program to ensure acquisition of new donors, appropriate donor count, and movement of donors through giving life cycle from annual fund to major gifts.

•        Oversee a robust stewardship program that ensures continued giving and deepening donor commitment with DIA.

•        Devise and implement a volunteer program to identify prospects and provide engagement and cultivation opportunities to donors.

C.    Staff Management/Supervision 15%

•        Supervise professional and support staff providing leadership, guidance and supervision of daily activities as needed.

•        Provide strategic direction and goal setting for direct reports.

•        Conduct annual performance reviews and provide regular feedback on employee’s performance, addressing issues and providing appropriate training to enable success.

D.    Sport Administration 10%

•        Direct and supervise assigned sport program(s) in all aspects, including the development, management, and review of operational activities and budget.

•        Understand program and department goals, and work with Head Coach and program leadership to achieve goals.

•        Articulate and execute program’s vision to constituents, campus and department staff.

•        Advise Director of Athletics on all program operations, including recruiting, equipment, uniforms and supplies.

•        Understand and assist in program personnel changes with Head Coach and leadership.

•        Represent program interests on campus issues as needed.

•        Ensure all aspects of program elements and student welfare issues are maintained for best possible competitive results.

•        Collaboratively ensure all staff adhere to department, university and state systems, controls and policies.

•        Manage and administer championships for assigned sport(s), including traveling with assigned team(s) to all postseason competitions.

E.    Rules Compliance 5%

•        Comply with all Federal, State, University and Department requirements established pursuant to Title IX, including the mandatory reporting requirements for a “Responsible Employee.”

•        The DIA is governed by the NCAA, BIG10 and University of California.  The incumbent is required to comply with the applicable rules, regulations and policies of those organizations.

·       Review and retain all rules compliance disseminated by the DIA Compliance office.

·       Report all NCAA/BIG10 violations.

·       Sign the annual NCAA Certification of Compliance form.

·       Complete the Athletically Related Income form annually.

·       Comply with California State Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) Law and adhere to mandatory reporting guidelines.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degree preferred.

·       Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively increasing experience and responsibility in athletics administration or development/fundraising, preferably within a major research university or organization. (Required)

·       Demonstrated excellent leadership experience in managing a comprehensive / complex advancement prog. or comparable prog. emphasizing principal & major gift solicitations of similar level & complexity. (Preferred)

·       Working knowledge of the principles and practices of major gift fundraising including athletics fundraising. (Preferred)

·       Skill in personal solicitation techniques with demonstrated ability to conceptualize and implement principal, major gift and annual fund cultivation and solicitation strategies. (Preferred)

·       Excellent skill in donor and constituent relations. (Preferred)

·       Demonstrated knowledge of and familiarity with issues and terminology relating to intercollegiate athletics. (Preferred)

·       Strong verbal and written communication skills to express the mission of the university and the fundraising goals of the campus, especially as they relate to the UCLA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. (Preferred)

·       Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with External Affairs, DIA, Development leadership, administration, colleagues, major donor prospects, volunteers and other constituents. (Preferred)

·       Skill in the development and leadership of team approaches to goal accomplishment. (Preferred)

·       Strong management and supervisory skills, including staff recruitment, retention, professional growth, training, and discipline. (Preferred)

·       Strong strategic planning, analytical and organizational skills to develop and implement creative, credible solutions. (Preferred)

·       Knowledge of and willingness to comply with department, University, Conference, and NCAA rules and regulations. (Preferred)

Application Process:

The University of California, Los Angeles invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Applications must include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and list of references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search’s website. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.

For additional information, please contact:

Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director

Grant Higgison, Principal

Xavier Harper, Executive Recruiting Coordinator

ghiggison@parkersearch.com  | xharper@parkersearch.com 

Parker Executive Search

770-804-1996 ext. 118 | 770-804-1996 ext. 123

The University of California prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person employed by or seeking employment with the University on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy,1 physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services (as defined by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994).2