Tarleton State University

Job Title

Director, Foundation Relations and Public Partnerships

Agency

Tarleton State University

Department

Division of Institutional Advancement

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Stephenville, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Tarleton State University is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Foundation Relations and Public Partnerships for University Advancement to oversee a comprehensive resource development program centered on regional and national private foundations and federal and state government opportunities for enterprise-wide funding. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development and working closely with the President of the Tarleton State University Foundation and the TSU Foundation staff, the Director of Foundation Relations and Public Partnerships will be a critical contributor to the growth and development of a best practice, leading-edge fundraising and grants program for Tarleton State.

The successful candidate will celebrate Tarleton State’s service-based mission and record of providing access to first generation students throughout the state of Texas to initiate and sustain outreach with key funders. Emphasis will be placed on alignment with Tarleton State’s unique strengths and its position as a catalyst for economic development, quality of life, and positive community engagement across the North-Central Texas region.

Enabling internal alignment among university stakeholders therefore will be essential. The Director will provide clearinghouse services, expected to coordinate campus-wide foundation and government requests to leverage distinct university strengths, ensure alignment, and differentiate request for support.

Additionally, the Director will be expected to work with colleges and units throughout the university to facilitate and codify enterprise-wide grant requests, and account for successful requests. Spearheading and facilitating requests through the Tarleton State University Foundation will be a core responsibility, with the Associate Director to play a pivotal role in expanding the TSU Foundation’s positive impact on the university.

Position is located on the main campus in Stephenville, Texas with in-office hours of Monday to Friday from 8am to pm or as work requirements indicate, which may include after hours, evenings, weekends, and some holidays.

Must have the ability to work remotely at the request of the university in times of inclement weather or other special circumstances.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Director of Foundation Relations will be expected to:

• Team with university development colleagues, Tarleton State University Foundation leadership, and TSU Foundation staff to build, sustain, and expand a best-practice grants program that delivers revenue aligned with strategic university initiatives.
• Codify / catalogue private foundation and governmental requests at Tarleton State to achieve unprecedented levels of organization, efficiency, and impact.
• Leverage the Tarleton State University Foundation’s 501c3 status to expand private foundation fundraising opportunities, grow private foundation support, and deliver core operational revenue to the TSU Foundation.
• Coordinate campus wide collaboration as necessary to leverage distinct campus strengths aligned with prospective funders.
• Execute a comprehensive prospect research strategy that yields funding opportunities from foundations and governments aligned with Tarleton State’s strategic plan and student-centered excellence.
• Execute local and regional outreach to build synergy with North Texas stakeholders.
• Develop, deliver, and close major gift and grant proposals aligned with Tarleton State’s rise as one of the nation's premier national public research universities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• The successful candidate will have University based foundation relations experience, with a demonstrated track record of closing major level foundation proposals.
• The successful candidate will exhibit exceptional, writing, and communication skills, and will also have experience with prospect research at a four-year university.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
• Five years of successful experience in foundation relations, grant-writing or a related field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

This position encompasses a variety of tasks related to communication strategies, negotiating with vendors and internal customers, listening actively, and analyzing arguments, evaluating information sources, gathering and synthesizing information, organizing tasks, and evaluating completed web projects. Further, the Director must be able to work in an at times high-stress, demanding environment, thus requiring exceptional ability to stay focused on the task at hand

• Excellent organizational skills.
• The ability to be customer service-oriented and bring together various institutional partners with varying interests is essential.
• A superior attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five (5) years of similar or transferable professional experience, including:
  • Demonstrated written and oral communication skills;
  • Exceptional professional interpersonal and team-building skills including collaboration with others to establish and maintain good working relationships;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of fundraising.
• Master’s degree preferred
• Deep knowledge of prospect cultivation, solicitation, and recognition strategies.
• Knowledge of federal and state government grant-making ecosystems.
• Proficient with Blackbaud - Raiser’s Edge or a similar CRM / fundraising database system.

Registration, Certification, or Licensure

None.

Salary

Commensurate with experience

Salary Range

The target base annual salary range is $70,000 to $80,000 and may be negotiable based on funding availability and candidate experience/skillset in relation to the minimum requirements of this position. Tarleton State University offers a career filled with purpose and opportunity in addition to competitive wages. As part of the Tarleton family, the following benefits are also available to full time and qualifying part time employees:

Educational Benefits - employee perks that help enrich, grow, and foster career and professional development:

• Family Education Benefit (Tuition Scholarship) – scholarship opportunities for Tarleton employees, their spouses, or their dependents available after 6 months of continued full-time employment. Click the link to learn more about this incredible Texan benefit!
• Masters Educational Assistance – is designed to invest in and assist employees further their knowledge, skills, and job effectiveness through 100% of eligible tuition and fees being paid on enrollment. Click link for additional guidelines and details!

Employee Health, Wellness, and Financial Planning

• Fully covered employee health insurance
  • Reimbursement of Insurance Premium Deductions! The State of Texas contributes to eligible employees’ insurance coverages as of the 1st day of the month following 60 days of employment in an eligible position. For those who elect coverage PRIOR to the first of the month after 60 days of employment, Tarleton State University will reimburse employees the State contribution towards health coverage during those first 60 days.
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Retirement and Insurance programs

Paid Leave

Tarleton employees enjoy one of the greatest PTO packages in the area!

• Paid sick leave
• Holiday pay
• Vacation
• Longevity pay
• Paid Birthday Leave – Tarleton State University awards all leave-eligible employees paid time off for their birthday!

Other

• Complimentary tickets to all Athletic and Performing Fine Arts events!
  • Tarleton Employees enjoy two complimentary general admission tickets for athletics and performing fine arts events on campus! Join Texan Nation on the bleachers or in the auditorium.
• Employee Wellness Release Time
• Staff Gym Membership Discount with Campus Recreation
• and other Tarleton Discounts

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit a completed application for consideration. Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.

Application Procedure:

During the application process applicants have one opportunity to enter the requested information, upload documents and Submit the application. Applicants will not be able to make changes or add additional documents once the application materials have been submitted via "Submit" action.

Employment applications must include:

• Completed online application
• Cover Letter / Letter of Interest addressing qualifications
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• At least 3 current professional references and their full contact information

Applications received by Tarleton State University must have all job application data entered. Failure to provide all job application data could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. “See resume” is not an acceptable entry in the job application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

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