Director of Corporate Engagement

Job Description:

The Director of Corporate Engagement is a critical fundraising role within the FIT Foundation, responsible for developing and nurturing strategic partnerships, sponsorships and collaborations with corporate entities. This position will serve as the lead with all corporate funders for FIT, developing engagement programs and initiatives that range from six to eight-figure or more gifts for program and event sponsorship, underwriting, naming, and capital improvements. This role plays a pivotal role in expanding the Foundation's reach, impact, and financial sustainability. The Director of Corporate Engagement will work closely with senior leadership to identify, engage, and maintain relationships with corporate partners who share our mission and values.

Responsibilities & Essential Functions:

Strategic Partnership Development

• Create and implement unique engagement strategies to secure six-figure plus program sponsorships, naming rights deals and collaborative partnerships and alliances.
• Individual fundraising goals will be set according to financial goals of the college, with a minimum threshold of six figures for all gifts, partnerships and sponsorships cultivated.
• Identify, cultivate and secure significant major gifts from a variety of sources, including individuals, board members, trustees, alumni, foundations, and corporations throughout the United States and globally. Key efforts will be devoted to identifying and cultivating potential major donors, while strengthening and enhancing FIT's relationships with current donors. Cultivation will take place through a combination of personal visits, phone calls, letters, e-mail, and networking events and programs.
• Identify and prioritize potential corporate partners that align with FIT's mission and goals.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive corporate engagement strategy that includes short-term and long-term partnership goals.
• Conduct research and compile data analysis to understand corporate partner needs, objectives, and priorities.
• Develop engaging strategies and programs that meet the goals and objectives of corporate partners while generating significant revenue for FIT, focusing on six-figure and above partnerships.
• Assist the Vice President with management of their prospect list, helping with a strategy and engagement process for ultimate solicitation by the Vice President.
• Other development projects/events as assigned.

Relationship Building

• Manage a portfolio of corporate and individual donors and prospective donors.
• Initiate and build strong relationships with key decision-makers and stakeholders in target corporations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for corporate partners, ensuring a positive and productive relationship.
• Regularly engage with corporate partners to maintain and deepen the relationship.
• Serve as host and manager of cultivation events and programs both on-campus and off-campus to build corporate prospects and partners.
• Participate fully in the life of the college in order to be able to communicate the extraordinary FIT story with donors and prospective donors.
• Develop a detailed understanding of the college's key fundraising priorities and articulate these in both written and verbal terms.

Proposal Development

• Write and develop proposals that engage and activate prospects to partner with the college to raise funds to support key initiatives.
• Collaborate with program teams to develop customized partnership proposals and sponsorship packages.
• Create compelling presentations and materials to effectively communicate the Foundation's mission and impact.
• Negotiate partnership agreements and contracts with corporate partners.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure seamless integration and delivery of partnership commitments.
• Coordinate and participate in meetings, events, and presentations to promote the Foundation's work and engage corporate partners.
• Develop effective strategies to cultivate, manage, and maintain donor and supporter relationships.
• Create strategic cultivation plans for donors, in order to ultimately secure sponsorships, major gifts and budget-relieving in-kind gifts for the college.
• Familiarity with major and planned giving vehicles for ultimate bequests.
• Include campus faculty and/or staff in fundraising strategies and visits, in order to develop and foster long term financial relationships with the college.

Impact Measurement

• Establish metrics and key performance indicators to measure the impact of corporate partnerships.
• Regularly report on partnership outcomes and successes to senior leadership and corporate partners.

Budget Management

• Develop and manage the corporate engagement budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and cost-effectiveness.

Event Planning

• Collaborate on planning and execution of gatherings and events intended to raise significant funds.
• Collaborate with the Foundation team to strategize and implement cultivation events on-and off-site, attract funding prospects, and enhance the organization's reputation among target constituencies.
• Develop and execute non-traditional fundraising events, programs and strategies.

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, nonprofit management, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• 10-12 years of experience in corporate advancement, development or an equivalent combination of experience.
• Proven track record of successfully developing and managing corporate partnerships and sponsorships yielding strong financial returns, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
• Strong understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability trends, as well as corporate alliance strategies and sponsorship development.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively to drive partnership growth.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Proven ability to solicit and close financial agreements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to compel, cultivate, and solicit high net worth individuals and their advisors.
• Strong analytical skills to research and identify potential donors.
• Strong strategic thinking and vision setting skills, coupled with ability to work independently to bring that vision to fruition.
• Excellent communication skills including writing, editing, and presenting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an engaging and innovative personal style and a high level of sophistication and maturity in social and professional settings, including the ability to work diplomatically with partners and represent the Foundation and FIT.
• Demonstrated ability to work with high-level prospects, donors, and campus/trustee leaders.
• Ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and goals, and present solutions (vs. identify challenges).
• Ability to collaborate closely with colleagues in development and across departments.
• Highly developed leadership and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability in problem identification and resolution with excellent analytical and critical thinking skills is essential
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Proficiency in Raiser's Edge or similar CRM database system.
• An understanding of and the ability to articulate the accomplishments and goals of a complex organization.
• The intelligence, maturity and sound judgment necessary for interacting with board, trustees, administrative and academic leadership, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships and effective channels of communication at multiple levels inside and outside the organization with a proven ability to successfully interact with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of sound judgment and diplomacy, with a commitment to confidentiality.
• Strategic planning, organizational, administrative and budgetary experience is a plus.
• An ability and willingness to quickly learn FIT and the College's history, mission, demographics, faculty, current programs, departments, etc., as well as the College culture to be able to persuasively articulate how FIT distinguishes itself from peer institutions.

Additional Information:

Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process.

Salary

Salary: $140,000 per year

Work Schedule

Days/Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm, in person; work schedule subject to change based on needs of the department.

Benefits

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures.

• Retirement Plans
• Health Care Plan and Dental Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit Plan
• FIT Tuition Exemption Program
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holidays)
• 4-day Summer Workweek

For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage.

Pay Equity by State Employers

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Visa Sponsorship

Fashion Institute of Technology is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. By providing a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability, the FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military service status, genetic information, pregnancy, familial status, citizenship status (except as required to comply with law), or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Chief Diversity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212 217.3360, titleix@fitnyc.edu .

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements

This position will be required to constantly read and comprehend, occasionally perform calculations, constantly verbally communicate, frequently analyze, and constantly write. The working conditions for this position will be on campus, primarily in an office environment. The physical requirement for this position will require occasional sitting, constant standing, occasional bending, frequent walking, and occasionally lifting 10 lbs. or less.

Application Instructions:

In order to be considered for the position, you must submit the following documents online:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial transcript
• A list of three references with telephone numbers and email addresses

Returning Applicants - Login to your FITNYC Careers Account to check your submitted application materials.

Review of applications will begin immediately until the position is filled.

Please note that due to the volume of applications, we will not be able to contact each applicant individually.

Additional information about the Fashion Institute of Technology can be found at http://www.fitnyc.edu .

About Fashion Institute of Technology:

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), part of the State University of New York and an internationally renowned college of art, design, business and technology with a strong emphasis on liberal arts, invites nominations and applications for a Director of Corporate Engagement.