Chief Development Officer

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

?The LSU Health Foundation (Foundation) in New Orleans is seeking an outstanding leader and fundraiser with proven results to serve as the Chief Development Officer (CDO). This is an excellent opportunity for a uniquely qualified individual to create and lead transformative fundraising initiatives in support of the LSU Health Sciences Center.

Organization Overview: The Foundation was formed in 1988 to support and promote the charitable, scientific, and educational mission of the LSU Health Sciences Center which is now comprised of six schools: Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Allied Health Professions, Public Health, and Graduate Studies.

Position Overview: The CDO will be responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive fundraising program that includes major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, professorships, chairs, endowment and scholarship funds, capital campaigns, planned giving, and special events. The successful candidate will manage a team of fundraising professionals and work closely with the CEO and the Board of Directors to develop fundraising goals and strategies that will significantly increase the Foundation’s assets.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Experience in personally securing principal/major gifts of $1M+.
• Experience leading and managing a team of fundraising professionals, support staff, and volunteers to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
• Experience designing and executing major fundraising campaigns.
• Experience in prospect identification, relationship building, and solicitation, preferably in a higher education or healthcare research institution.
• Ability to travel substantially, as well as attend events on evenings and weekends.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple activities, demands, and/or projects simultaneously, while maintaining a high degree of effectiveness, a spirit of collaboration, and a sense of humor.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to write and speak in a clear, sincere, and compelling manner, and to articulate and represent the mission and vision of the Foundation.
• Demonstrated initiative and self-starting capacity.
• Ability and professional style to work with university leadership, trustees, volunteers, and top donors in an effective and sophisticated manner.
• Experience working with sensitive information and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Knowledge of various software systems such as Word, Excel, and a prospect management database.

Required Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of frontline fundraising experience with a proven track record of soliciting and closing principal/major gifts of $1M+ OR high school diploma or equivalent with 10 years of successful fundraising experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in providing strong leadership to inspire, influence, develop, and motivate staff and volunteers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven depth of knowledge and contacts in healthcare and healthcare related industries such as biomedical and pharmaceutical companies.
• Proven success leading $50M+ fundraising campaigns.
• Proven success with frontline fundraising experience soliciting and closing principal gifts ($1M-$20M+) from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Previous experience fundraising in a complex university development setting, hospital, academic medical center, or healthcare research institution.

Compensation

The Foundation’s compensation philosophy reflects their desire to recruit and retain top talent and provide opportunities for growth. Compensation for the CDO will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience level and will include a performance-based bonus. Benefits include medical insurance, employer-paid dental, vision, long-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance, as well as access to contributions to a 403(b) plan, complementary gym membership, paid parking, PTO, and paid holidays.

Application

The Foundation has engaged SSA Consultants to assist them with this search. Qualified applicants are invited to apply through this portal (Indeed Posting) or directly to SSA Consultants at CDOSearch@consultssa.com.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Relocate:

• New Orleans, LA: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person