The Director of Community Engagement supports Stetson University by ensuring Stetson University College of Law is present, engaged, supportive of and supported by the community at large. Serving as a member of the Development & Alumni Engagement Team, the Director of Community Engagement will establish and grow relationships with corporations, foundations, government entities and their key stakeholders in the Tampa Bay region and beyond. This results-orientated and relationship-driven individual will identify, cultivate, solicit, negotiate, and steward community stakeholders to advance community and College of Law priorities. In alignment with Stetson’s Strategic Priorities, the Director of Community Engagement will help foster relationships and connections that will support student success and wellness while ensuring students receive an education that prepares them for their careers through experiential and integrative opportunities. This position will be based in Tampa and will work from our Tampa Law Center Campus, with the ability to also work remotely and from our historic Gulfport campus.

Required Skills

• Competitive candidates will possess knowledge of fundraising principles, methods, and standards, or transferable knowledge from related fields
• Disciplined self-starter who works autonomously and regularly sets and achieves work goals using standard key performance indicators
• Ability to establish, cultivate and steward strong relationships with prospects and donors and align their passions with the mission, priorities, and goals of the university
• An eagerness to respond to the goals of corporate and foundation partners to increase their engagement and support
• Exemplary organizational, written/oral communications and project management skills
• Self-directed, self-motivated, able to manage multiple projects well, working both independently and as a team member
• A high degree of efficiency and accuracy
• The ability to welcome and engage diverse stakeholders
• Comfortable and adaptable in the current virtual/remote working environment and can successfully navigate technology to fulfill the position’s responsibilities
• Ability to actively listen with good observation skills
• Maintain personal image and professional demeanor as a representative of the college
• Support the University’s Mission and Values in their role

• Manage a portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects to establish and sustain relationships, and cultivate new sources of support
• Solicit a predetermined minimum number of corporate and foundation gifts annually while growing a pipeline to support additional solicitations in subsequent years
• Travels extensively throughout Tampa Bay and surrounding regions, meeting with community members, public officials, companies, foundations, nonprofit representatives, etc. May also travel around the state and beyond.
• Build and manage relationships primarily through individual meetings (e.g. face-to-face and virtual) totaling approximately 120-150 per year.
• Works with department leader to incorporate the Dean in initial and follow up meetings as warranted.
• Works with the department leader to outline weekly and monthly activities to meet or exceed annual goals. Primary performance indicators are meetings, relationships formed, proposals submitted, total proposals dollar value, and funds raised.
• Employ compelling community engagement strategies to solicit and close gifts
• Work with department leader and other stakeholders to establish and track the economic impact of the college
• Work with Dean, department leader, college leadership, faculty, and staff to ensure community efforts are known and easily able to be relayed to the college community and community at-large
• Works with DeLand campus Division colleagues, especially the Grants Office and Director Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations, and division and department colleagues to ensure a coordinated approach is utilized in outreach and engagement
• Work with department and division colleagues to prepare written proposals, concept and informational materials, presentations, and other materials needed to secure corporate and foundation investment
• Coordinate with Donor Relations for annual reports to foundations and corporations in collaboration with program directors if applicable on funding use
• Participate cooperatively and collaboratively in advancement team meetings and record all visit, contact, and proposal information in Blackbaud in a timely manner
• Lifting occasionally up to 20 lbs. may be needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Skills

• Competitive candidates will possess knowledge of fundraising principles, methods, and standards, or transferable knowledge from related fields
• Disciplined self-starter who works autonomously and regularly sets and achieves work goals using standard key performance indicators
• Ability to establish, cultivate and steward strong relationships with prospects and donors and align their passions with the mission, priorities, and goals of the university
• An eagerness to respond to the goals of corporate and foundation partners to increase their engagement and support
• Exemplary organizational, written/oral communications and project management skills
• Self-directed, self-motivated, able to manage multiple projects well, working both independently and as a team member
• A high degree of efficiency and accuracy
• The ability to welcome and engage diverse stakeholders
• Comfortable and adaptable in the current virtual/remote working environment and can successfully navigate technology to fulfill the position’s responsibilities
• Ability to actively listen with good observation skills
• Maintain personal image and professional demeanor as a representative of the college
• Support the University’s Mission and Values in their role.