Senior Associate Director of Development for the SNF Agora Institute

Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) supports Johns Hopkins’ focus on research, teaching and patient care, and its role as a national and global leader in higher education. We create and foster enduring relationships that result in advocacy and philanthropic support for Johns Hopkins University & Medicine; strengthening the institution through partnerships with donors, alumni, volunteer leaders, faculty, students, staff, and patients.

Johns Hopkins University supports a flexible work model which includes four different work modalities. This role has a hybrid work arrangement with an onsite presence of 3 days per week. The manager will confirm the team’s core onsite days where the majority/all team members will work in the office. Employees who travel on university business can count those days towards their onsite days.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University is an academic and public forum deeply committed to strengthening global democracy through powerful civic engagement and informed, inclusive dialogue, through its academic home within the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. Universities, now more than ever, play an indispensable role in developing the civic capacities of the next generation of scholars and leaders, and promoting modes of discourse and engagement across difference that make pluralistic democracy possible. The scholars at the SNF Agora Institute are leading this charge, and are seeking a collaborative and curious development officer to help advance the institute’s mission and engage with constituents about the topics under research by the faculty, scholars and students affiliated with the SNF Agora Institute.

The Senior Associate Director of Development for the SNF Agora Institute will work in a highly collaborative manner with academic, administrative and development leaders across the Krieger School and within the Johns Hopkins University community to steward and grow philanthropic resources dedicated to the faculty, fellows, programming and operations, including the capital project, of the SNF Agora Institute.

This individual will be responsible for implementing a cohesive fundraising program that leverages internal and external partnerships, and drives innovative strategies for donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship to achieve fundraising and programmatic goals. The Senior Associate Director will also be the primary point of contact for managing the Institute’s relationships with—and proactive, two-way communications with—the SNF Agora Board of Overseers, the volunteer advisory board established with the institute. They will collaborate closely with senior leadership of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation on board matters and ongoing stewardship.

The Senior Associate Director will work across campus to organize, drive, sustain and promote philanthropy in support of the SNF Agora Institute’s mission. This individual will be part of the Krieger Development and Alumni Relations team, working collaboratively with Krieger gift officers and the constituent engagement team. The Senior Associate Director will also be an active partner with development colleagues within the university’s central administration including the Executive Director of Foundation Relations, the Director of Innovation Initiatives and Corporate Relations, the Director of International Fundraising and other partners, as appropriate.

Under the direction of the Associate Dean of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications at the Krieger School, and in close partnership with the SNF Agora Institute Inaugural Director Hahrie Han and the James B. Knapp Dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Chris Celenza, the Senior Associate Director will serve as a major gifts officer responsible for raising funds to support the SNF Agora Institute building, which has been designed by the world-renowned architect Renzo Piano. Additionally, the Senior Associate Director will raise funds in support of faculty research, programming and recruitments, as well as other institute priorities.

This individual will meet regularly with senior development leadership, including with the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and the Senior Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts, to ensure coordinated and sustained forward momentum in fundraising.

SNF Agora Institute Background

The SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University was founded in 2017 with a $150 million grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The institute is a multi-disciplinary academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy by improving and expanding civic engagement and inclusive dialogue, and by supporting inquiry that leads to real-world change.

By building integrated partnerships with scholars, practitioners, students, and the public, the institute uses research to identify and sharpen strategic choices that members of the public and civic and political stakeholders around the world can make to realize the promise of democracy.

The institute draws its name and inspiration from the ancient Athenian agora. Originally designed as a marketplace, the agora grew to become the heart of democratic governance in Athens. It provided a structured forum for debate, disagreement, and deliberation, and a place where Athenians learned both the rights and responsibilities of democracy, and where they developed capacities for participation in public life.

Building on the unique strengths of Johns Hopkins—its world-class faculty, its interdisciplinary focus, and its dedication to bold experimentation—the institute seeks to reinvigorate the ethos of the ancient agora for the 21st century. SNF Agora scholars study the behavioral, organizational, and institutional foundations of democracy; develop and test interventions to reverse trends toward decline; and share lessons learned to promote civic engagement and inclusive dialogue around the critical issues of our time.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising Strategy and Execution (55%):

Constituent Engagement and Board Management (45%):

• Preparing leadership briefings for meetings, preparing quarterly and annual reports (in partnership with institute staff), and meeting minutes.
• Participating in regular meetings and communications with SNF representatives

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Five years professional related experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite of applications is required as is familiarity with other applications, programs and databases as needed with a willingness to learn new technologies.
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of individual, corporate and foundation fundraising in a university setting with a strong understanding of the goals, functions and services of a research university or institution of equivalent complexity.
• Proven skills in developing sophisticated strategies in planning, implementing and administering complex major gift solicitations or other solicitations of a similar nature, level and complexity.
• Deep interest in and ability to synthesize research and funding priorities; strong ability to link funding needs to donor interest and ability to build strategic cases and alliances for fundraising. Fluency in current affairs and particularly related to global democracy.
• Strong self-starter who works well independently to drive strategies for donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship with a strong documented record of gifts solicited and closed in the major gifts range and/or solicitations of a similar nature, level and complexity.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, lecturers, content area experts, development colleagues and donors to raise funds in support of teaching and research excellence in support of diverse academic disciplines connected to issues of democracy.
• Experience working with volunteers and/or volunteer boards.
• Ability to establish priorities, manage multiple tasks and multi-phase projects simultaneously from inception to completion and complete work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment with minimum supervision.
• Ability to communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing, to multiple audiences; equal ability to listen perceptively and convey sensitivity and awareness.
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to produce business correspondence, solicitation materials, appropriate letters of acknowledgement, proposals to individuals, corporations and foundations, and reports. A writing sample may be requested as part of the application process.
• Experience conceptualizing, planning and implementing special events.
• Impeccable integrity and discretion in dealing with donors, alumni, students, administrators and colleagues as well as with confidential information.
• Trustworthy and able to establish rapport with colleagues and leaders across the organization.
• Expectation to meet additional development metrics as identified annually with Associate Dean, including number of donor visits, proposals submitted and gifts closed, annual solicitations and number of substantive actions.
• Ability to travel, including internationally, and work weekends and/or evenings as needed.
• This position is located in Baltimore at the university’s Homewood campus and the expectation is that the successful candidate be able to work on-campus as well as remotely each week.

All applicants are expected to uphold the university’s core values which includes diversity and inclusion. All staff treat people with dignity and respect by being fair and consistent. We demonstrate an open-minded approach to understanding people regardless of their race, gender, age, national origin, religion, ethnicity, disability status or other characteristics. We show respect for the beliefs and traditions of others; encourage and promote practices that support cultural diversity; and discourage behaviors or practices that may be perceived as unfair, biased, or critical toward people with certain backgrounds.

Classified Title: Sr. Development Officer
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Senior Associate Director of Development for the SNF Agora Institute
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PE
Starting Salary Range: Minimum:$72,600 -- Maximum: $127,000; targeted salary: $115,000 commensurate with experience
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am - 5:00 pm
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: JH at Keswick
Department name: 10001349-Development
Personnel area: School of Arts & Sciences