Senior Director of Leadership Programs

The Senior Director of Leadership Programs for Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) plays a pivotal role in the universitys comprehensive volunteer leadership ecosystem with a strategic focus on high level engagement of Vanderbilts top community members of parents alumni and friends who have significant expertise and networks.

The Senior Director of Leadership Programs will have three main functions: 1) provide oversight guidance strategy interconnectivity and enhancement in the advisory council space across the university including leading the Council of Chairs a leadership summit of all school and unit chairs 2) be a key leader of the Chancellors Circle building meaningful consulting projects in partnership with university leadership and the Executive Director of Donor Relations and Events and 3) build new strategic initiatives in the volunteer leadership space including more robust data tracking trainings and resources.

About the Work Unit:

The Department of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) assists Vanderbilt University in securing the resources both human and financial that are required to achieve its mission and goals.The Department is responsible for the identification cultivation solicitation and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Vanderbilt Universitys teaching and research programs. Learn more about our department at Functions and Expected Performance:

The Senior Director is expected to have experience in higher education with a broad knowledge in volunteer leadership strategic advising consulting facilitation presentation development research and benchmarking program management and writing. Intellectual curiosity and collaboration across the university are important aspects of this position. The positions key functions will include:

Provide oversight guidance strategy interconnectivity and enhancement in the advisory council space across the university.

• Maintain update communicate and implement university-wide guidance best practices and templates for advisory councils.

• Create additional resources to enhance and build efficiencies for common efforts across all school and unit councils.

• Build and facilitate trainings and provide them on an ongoing basis in both DAR and across the university.

• Provide ongoing consultation to schools and units on best practices and enhancements.

• Support a strong partnership and collaboration with the Office of the Board of Trust related to trustee council members and other interconnected efforts.

• Create networking events and opportunities for advisory councils across campus.

• Collaborate with the Family and Next Generation team in support of Next Generation volunteer efforts.

• Plan and help facilitate the Council of Chairs a leadership summit for the chairs of all school and unit advisory councils hosted by the Board of Trust chairman.

Be a key leader of the Chancellors Circle building meaningful consulting projects in partnership with university leadership and the Executive Director of Donor Relations and Events.

The Chancellors Circle is an initiative that leverages the expertise of 40 of Vanderbilts top community members. Members participate in consulting projects that help inform opportunities or challenges that are university priorities.

• Plans and implements the Chancellors Circleensuring successful outcomes for everyone involved.

• Partners with university leadership DAR management and other stakeholders to ensure exceptional volunteer experience for participants in the Chancellors Circle.

• Oversees tracking and maintaining key projects with data metrics and outcomes enabling program impact to ensure achievement of goals.

• Plans and facilitates a Chancellors Circle annual gathering.

Build new strategic initiatives in the volunteer leadership space including more robust data tracking trainings and resources.

• Work closely with the Research and Prospect Development team to create processes for tracking and maintaining data in the council ecosystem.

• Train coordinators and other staff across DAR who are involved with council data input.

• Lead a biannual effort to track and coordinate movement within the volunteer leadership ecosystem.

• Create innovations in data and volunteer pipeline tracking.

Enhance departmental performance standards by:

• Maintaining a level of reliability that generates stability in thedepartment

• Meeting or exceeding department performancestandards

• Fostering a spirit ofcooperation

• Understanding and effectively communicating departmental policy and procedures

• Clearly communicating concerns and questions to team

• Conveying thoughts/ideas to the leadership team on improving departmentalperformance

Approach each situation with a professional attitude by:

• Exercising good judgment in discussing issues and results with theteam

• Maintaining composure and a calm demeanor during challengingsituations

• Respecting the need for confidentiality of donors andcolleagues

• Performing other duties asassigned

Supervisory Relationships:

This position has the supervisory responsibility for one team member the Associate Director of Leadership Programs.

This position reports administratively and functionally to the Executive Director of Donor Relations and Events.

Work Environment:

This is a hybrid role based in Nashville. The expectation is for this position to be on campus 1 day per week or more depending on business needs.

Education and Certifications:

• A bachelors degree or the equivalent isnecessary.

Experience and Skills:

• Eight years of relevant experience or the equivalent isnecessary

• Five or more years of development experience preferred with a background in a higher education settingpreferred

• Experience engaging with university leadership and top donors

• Experience with advisory board management consulting and/or facilitating

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to articulate the needs interests and accomplishments of VanderbiltUniversity

• Interpersonal skills and judgment suitable for exercising appropriate discretion anddemeanor when dealing with alumni parents friends andemployees

• Ability to exercise good judgment in the handling of confidentialinformation

• Ability to use current computer technology such as Windows Excel Word andVanderbilts

  donor management system

• Excellentwrittenandoralcommunicationskillsspecificallyintheareasofpresentationdevelopment

• Demonstrated success in working across teams and disciplines facilitating solutions designing new ideas and driving forwardpriorities

• Familiarity with Vanderbilt and/or solid understanding of a major researchuniversity environment ispreferred.

• The capacity to perform in an intellectually rigorous and complex academicenvironment

• Abilitytoworkindependentlytakeinitiativemanagemultipleprojectssimultaneouslymeet deadlines and adapt to ever changing priorities areessential

• Exhibit personal characteristics enabling effective interaction with importantconstituencies

• Driving is considered an essential job function for this role. Must have and maintain a valid drivers license and a satisfactory driving record. Vanderbilt University engages a third party to provide up-to-date notifications regarding negative changes to motor vehicle records.

• Some evening and weekend work as needed