Vice President of External Relations

Organizational Summary

San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) a nonprofit WASC-accredited university situated in the heart of Silicon Valley in Fremont California seeks an innovative and experienced Vice President of External Relations. SFBUs mission is to offer inclusive innovative and inspirational education for lifelong careers and our vision is to set the standard as a national model of higher education in service of the common good.

At SFBU students come first. We prioritize students needs by fostering personal engagement among students faculty and staff. We are committed to providing affordable quality education with a deep commitment to diversity equity inclusion and social justice.

We encourage you to learn more about SFBU by reviewing our strategic plan at Summary

San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) is redefining education to help empower every student who wants a degree to have access to a school that is transformative in its learning making this a reality SFBU is striving to disrupt the broken higher education system characterized by skyrocketing tuition disconnected curriculum and a system that struggles to serve students. SFBU is the only institution in the country poised to take on this challenge and rethink the experience they provide students. Through inclusive education that inspires SFBUs students the University can innovate and transform not only higher education itself but also the industries they advance and the communities they serve.

Inclusive innovative and inspirational are three words that embody the spirit and culture of San Francisco Bay University and define the qualities that the first Vice President of External Relations will bring to this inaugural role.

Reporting to President Nick Ladany and serving on the Presidents Leadership Cabinet the VP of External Relations will have the rare opportunity to build an External Relations Program from the ground up. Entrepreneurial and innovative the VP will initially focus on creating and building the infrastructure and systems of the External Relations program. Resources have been allocated to begin hiring an External Relations Team in the first year. SFBU is implementing Salesforce as their integrated CRM and plans to utilize it for External Relations and Alumni and Community Relations efforts. The VP of External Relations will create a five-year plan for external relations with a goal of reaching a minimum of $5-7M raised and $2M received annually by year five.

SFBU is seeking a seasoned non-profit leader with expertise in building and elevating high-performing and progressive fundraising teams and programs. The VP of External Relations will be a critical thought partner to President Ladany and the Leadership Cabinet.

Essential Responsibilities

• Design create implement and lead external relations strategy.
• Develop and implement a five-year fundraising plan for SFBU in collaboration with President Ladany and colleagues.
• Collaborate with the CFO in creating a department budget with realistic assessments of projected revenue and expenses in alignment with the organizations budget and programmatic needs.
• Establish performance measures to monitor results and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising efforts reporting regularly on progress toward fundraising goals.
• Identify and implement strategies that support program and administrative staff members role in donor engagement and stewardship.
• Support the Board of Directors related committees and provide leadership in pursuit of private fundraising.
• Work in close partnership with the President faculty and members of the Board to identify and cultivate prospective donors to the University.
• Identify qualify cultivate solicit and steward a portfolio of individual major gift donors.
• Develop relationships with Silicon Valley corporations and both national and regional foundations; oversee the development of compelling partnership opportunities grant proposals and impact reports.
• Build community partnerships and represent SFBU externally at a variety of civic and business events.
• Hire train and supervise team members.
• All duties as assigned by the President.

Qualifications

• 10 years of front-facing experience in nonprofit fundraising.
• Proven record of building and maintaining fruitful relationships with donors including individual corporate and foundation funders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; including grant writing experience.
• 2 years of successful management experience leading outcomes-driven teams.
• Leadership capabilities: experience in planning leading and managing development projects including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes and tracking and reporting on progress to leadership/board of directors.
• Coaching: enjoys coaching others and being coached.
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity equity and inclusion.
• Entrepreneurial spirit: takes initiative and actively seeks to deepen current donor relationships and to forge new ones.
• Communications: skilled in creating powerful and compelling written and oral communications for fundraising. Able to convey complex ideas through brief simple materials.
• Experience with and credibility in presenting materials to external audiences.
• Influencing: creates win-win situations and responds appropriately to key stakeholders.
• Collaboration: effective at working with others to reach common goals and objectives.
• Establishing and cultivating strong relationships across different levels of the organization and externally.
• Adept with technology.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• A record of leadership and accomplishment in external relations with a proven track record of fundraising success.
• Strong organizational supervisory and leadership capabilities.
• Ability to successfully solicit numerous major and principal gifts and present a history of building external relations/ advancement programs and fundraising performance.
• Ability to influence favorably sophisticated volunteers and donors.
• Work effectively with many diverse constituencies in a university environment should be evident.
• Skilled in creating powerful and compelling written and oral communications for fundraising.
• Ability to convey complex ideas through storytelling and concise materials.
• Skilled at establishing and cultivating strong relationships across different levels of the organization and externally.
• Ability to network and meet new people and maintain relationships.
• Ability to foster and instill a culture of philanthropy institution-wide.

Salary range: $215000 $250000 annually commensurate with education and experience.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Job duties are typically performed in an office environment.
• Physical demands may include lifting up to 20 lbs bending sitting and driving.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit or stand for long periods.

Application Process:

1. For full consideration please submit:

   1. Your completed application and resume.

   2. A letter of interest describing your experiences based on the stated responsibilities and leadership approach and your demonstrated commitment to diversity equity inclusion and social justice.

   3. Names and contact information of 3 references.

This position description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

SFBU is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer: SFBU is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. SFBU does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race color religion sex age national origin disability veteran status sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

In accordance with federal and state disability laws San Francisco Bay University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance during the application or interview process please contact SFBU Human Resources at .