Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

: Posting Details Title Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Posting Number S01227JP Department Development Administration Job Summary Reporting directly to the president of Bowdoin College, Safa Zaki, the senior vice president for development and alumni relations (SVP) will be a key strategic leader and will partner across the College in gathering the financial support and broad engagement of alumni and parents to propel Bowdoin to further success. There are few colleges and universities that can claim a prouder and more engaged alumni community than Bowdoin. The College boasts a network of more than 23,000 alumni throughout the U.S. and world; many alumni enjoy lifelong involvement with the College through social, cultural, athletic, educational, and volunteer programs. This new leader will develop and articulate a comprehensive strategic advancement plan to amplify Bowdoin's identity and impact, broaden awareness, and increase the visibility of its achievements. As a representative for the organization in a public setting, they will work closely with the board of trustees and help the trustees navigate fundraising responsibilities and external engagement. The SVP is expected to cultivate, solicit, and steward transformational philanthropic support to advance the College's mission. Leadership gifts will be core to the current and future efforts and will represent the majority of the SVP's personal portfolio. This new leader will also be responsible for helping a team identify and manage all donor and partner relationships to build a robust pipeline for Bowdoin. The successful SVP will engage development and alumni relations staff, College leadership, and alumni volunteers to implement exceptional fundraising and engagement plans. The College has a long history of alumni involvement. Successive comprehensive campaigns under the last three presidents have focused on core priorities such as financial aid, the academic program, career readiness, and facilities. In June 2024, Bowdoin will complete From Here campaign and expects to exceed the $500 million goal. The campaign also has a goal to engage 85 percent of alumni using engagement metrics; as of June 30, 2025, alumni engagement was at 73 percent. In addition to strategic and operational leadership, the SVP will manage a leadership gifts portfolio and oversee the president's portfolio. The SVP will have the opportunity to guide an outstanding team of development and alumni relations professionals devoted to engaging Bowdoin's dedicated alumni, families, and donors. This leader will have full responsibility for the annual budget of the Division of Development and Alumni Relations and will manage an approximately 55-person team. This role is located in Brunswick, Maine, with travel as needed. Education/Skills Requirements Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred. CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic, aspirational, and authentic professional who will inspire the team and the broader community through the following critical skills. Strategic Fundraising Vision -

• Working in conjunction with the president, board, senior leadership, and broadly across the College to identify gift objectives and translate Bowdoin's fundraising goals into a clear, specific, and compelling set of objectives and measures of success;
• Managing both a presidential and personal portfolio of leadership gift prospects and donors while building a robust fundraising program, significantly expanding the College's constituency of large-gift donors;
• Acting as a public-facing leader for Bowdoin, deftly engaging with diverse constituencies both within and external to the College to achieve desired outcomes; and
• Seeking creative pathways to identify, activate, and engage new prospects.

Results-Driven, Entrepreneurial Spirit -

• Embodying a readiness to set ambitious goals and take intelligent risks while accepting responsibility, leading by example, and translating strategies into measurable actions that deliver results;
• Enhancing Bowdoin's philanthropic efforts and processes by benchmarking against industry best practices;
• Encouraging the Bowdoin culture of experimentation and risk-taking, bringing a fresh perspective while evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the division, seeking best-practice improvements and new creative ideas, keeping apprised of market trends, and seizing opportunities as they arise;
• Building a palpable sense of confidence and pride about philanthropy and fundraising across Bowdoin; and
• Communicating regularly about long-term goals to reinforce the bigger picture, frequently reviewing progress toward goals, giving critical feedback to team members, and providing strong, inclusive leadership.

Relationships, Impact, and Influence -

• Building strong, authentic, collaborative relationships with and bridges to colleagues at all levels across the organization and earning trust by working effectively across functions;
• Collaborating with the development team as well as leadership to manage projects, creatively solve problems, discuss challenging issues, and lead the philanthropic efforts;
• Galvanizing the board, division staff, and broader College staff around fundraising while guiding and mentoring as needed to help each individual reach their fundraising commitments; and
• Motivating, inspiring, and mentoring their team, with a rigorous understanding of capability and potential, creating uniquely tailored career development plans for employees.

Other Personal Characteristics -

• An inclusive, respectful, and team-oriented leader who enjoys learning from other perspectives and takes pride in shared success.
• Emotional intelligence, with the ability to interact effectively in a broad range of situations and with a variety of personalities.
• Desire and ability to communicate clearly, listen attentively, and engage and persuade others as a trusted colleague, partner, and mentor.
• High level of integrity and demonstrated use of good judgment.
• Creative thinker who is able to respect, honor, and balance the long-standing strengths of Bowdoin's development operations while envisioning and implementing innovative approaches.

Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents IDEAL EXPERIENCE

• Senior management experience: Progressive leadership experience, with time spent at the executive or senior level, and a track record of leading a cross-functional advancement team within a complex organization.
• Fundraising acumen: Proven ability to raise large-scale resources, exceptional track record of working with a wide range of donors, comfort interacting with high-net worth donors and securing significant investments in support of the College's strategic priorities.
• Team-building and talent development: Experience building strong teams of highly functioning and collaborative individuals, as well as an exemplary background in recruitment and retention of talented staff; track record of building staff skills and experience and of preparing the division for growth and more creative approaches.
• Mission alignment: Passion for working in an institution committed to the premise that higher education should serve the common good by transforming lives and developing “leaders in all walks of life.”

Standard Work Days and Hours This is an exempt position requiring time commitment necessary to satisfactorily complete job requirements. Hours are primarily Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with occasional work after 5:00 pm or weekends. Travel required. About Bowdoin Bowdoin embraces diversity in all forms, and the College is home to talented students, faculty and staff—with a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; religious beliefs; and gender identities, among other factors. We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College's multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed. Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin's reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine. Bowdoin's campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston. Shift Employment Category Full Time Year Round FTE 1.00 Benefits Eligible Yes Pay Type Salaried Background Check Package Requirements Administrative Staff + MVR + Credit Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Bowdoin vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job? Yes Is a pre-placement physical required for this position? No Posting Date 01/12/2024 Applications Accepted Until Open Until Filled No Type of Posting Internal/External Special Instructions to Applicants If you wish to submit application materials or nominate someone to serve as the next senior vice president for development and alumni relations at Bowdoin College, please email View email address on us.fitly.work . EEO Information Bowdoin College complies with applicable provisions of federal and state laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment, admission, or access to its educational or extracurricular programs, activities, or facilities based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry and national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, place of birth, genetic predisposition, veteran status, or against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities on the basis of disability, or any other legally protected statuses.