The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc (UTFI) invites applications and nominations to fill the position of Assistant Dean for External Relations and Senior Director for Advancement for the College of Communication and Information (CCI)on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement and working alongside the Dean of the College of Communication and Information, the Assistant Dean for Advancement will be responsible for the College’s fundraising and external relations efforts, building relationships across CCI, as well as serving as a senior advisor to the Dean.

This role will oversee a dynamic team of advancement practitioners, consisting of three frontline fundraisers, a stewardship and events professional, and an administrative support professional. In addition to their leadership responsibility, the Assistant Dean will manage a portfolio of current and prospective major gift donors to CCI with the goal of cultivating and soliciting gifts of $50,000 or more. The Assistant Dean will serve on the Dean’s executive team and the Associate Vice Chancellor’s unit leadership team. This position will also aid the Dean in managing the college's Dean's Advisory Board, including selecting members, collaborating with the Dean to set the group’s agenda, and organizing meetings on a regular cadence.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Major Gift and Annual Giving: Secure significant philanthropic resources that will profoundly impact the college's students and faculty and allow it to reach its full potential. These efforts include identifying, cultivating, soliciting (major and annual gifts), and stewarding alumni and friends, regardless of gift size, for CCI. The current goals for this position are 100 annual visits, 15-20 proposals over $50,000, and $3,000,000+ in private gift support. The Assistant Dean will also manage a portfolio of 60-80 of the College’s top current and prospective prospects.

Leadership and Management: Lead CCI's advancement office to ensure each team member meets or exceeds their annual metrics. This includes meeting regularly to evaluate the team’s progress toward assigned goals, provide timely coaching, and advocate on the team’s behalf.

Administrative: Serve as a senior advisor to the Dean on matters pertaining to fundraising and alumni and external relations, managing the Dean’s travel for fundraising and alumni engagement, interacting with CCI leadership (dean, budget director, department heads, etc.), campus leadership, and serving as the face of the UT Foundation within CCI and to alumni and friends.

Required Education and Experience

The candidate who fills the Assistant Dean for External Relations and Senior Director for Advancement position is required to have:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 8+ years of experience in a position related to development, such as fundraising, sales, marketing, or financial planning
• 2+ years of supervisory experience

A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record is required due to travel responsibilities of the position. UTFI reserves the right to consider all appropriate circumstances. In general, any significant driving offense less than 12 months old will eliminate the application from consideration for the position.

Preferred Education and Experience

In addition to meeting the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will have:

• Master’s Degree
• 6+ years of experience in a position related to development, such as fundraising, sales, marketing, or financial planning

Application Process: Applications must include a completed candidate profile, cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.

When determining minimum qualifications, only information entered into the candidate profile can be considered. Please ensure your candidate profile is completed in its entirety as it relates to qualifying education/work experience.

Questions about the search may be directed to hr@utfi.org.

Benefits: Recognized as a Top Employer by Knoxville Top Workplaces in 2022 and 2023, the Foundation’s greatest asset is our team. Foundation employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes:

• Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days
• Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members
• Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses
• Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods

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The Foundation: The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that serves as the preferred channel for private contributions benefiting students and faculty within the UT System. With a vision of being one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, UTFI is committed to enhancing the educational landscape across the University of Tennessee campuses.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been advancing knowledge and enriching lives since its founding in 1794. Tennessee’s flagship public research university, UT Knoxville is a diverse community whose shared commitment to discovery, creativity, and education combines with a tradition of service and engagement to carry the Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. UT’s campus—home to more than 36,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff members—is part of the vibrant city of Knoxville, located on the Tennessee River with the Great Smoky Mountains nearby.

At the College of Communication and Information, we strive to ignite students’ passions so they can carry on the torch of excellence. Once they become a part of the CCI community, they’ll learn to be innovative leaders, thinkers, and Volunteers in whatever calling they choose to follow in the communication and information world. We are part of a Land Grant Institution embedded in communities to make those communities a better place. Our alumni, students, faculty, and staff strive to positively impact the lives of people in our state through our teaching, scholarship, creative work, and through our engagement and service. CCI as a college is well poised to deliver upon all of those areas to become the most nationally distinctive but locally relevant College of Communication and Information in the country.

The UT System: The University of Tennessee System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Institute of Agriculture; and the Institute for Public Service.