Associate Athletic Director for Development

The University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles and a global center for arts, technology, and international business, USC is also one of the largest private employers in the City of Los Angeles.  We are searching for exceptional individuals to help us fulfill our mission: developing individuals and society as a whole through the cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit. As an employee of USC, you will be part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

USC Athletics aims to inspire champions in competition and in the classroom. We exist to enrich the lives of students to positively impact our community and world for generations to come. Operating with the four core values of Competitive Spirit, Togetherness, Passionate Pride for USC, and Our Courage to Blaze the Trail, the Trojans choose to lead by example. With over 600 student-athletes competing throughout USC’s 23 sports programs, USC Athletics is committed to serving as the unmatched, unquestioned top destination for talented student-athletes to reach their fullest potential in all that they do and offering student-athletes the ability to compete for NCAA and Big Ten championships while working toward a degree from one of the world’s leading universities.

Job Description:

USC Athletics is looking to hire an Associate Athletic Director for Development to join our staff and student community of 600+ individuals.  This individual will report to the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and will manage the day-to-day operations of principal and major gift fundraising team, including oversight of the strategic road map for all fundraising activities for the immediate campaign and long-term Athletics goals. The Associate AD is charged with building valuable relationships within the USC community, including faculty/staff, coaches and administrators, top level donors, and other key community contacts for the purpose of increasing all giving to USC Athletics. This position will oversee three major gift officers.

Knowledge of and experience working in higher education preferred. Understanding of the unique culture and needs of college athletes preferred.

This position serves a diverse student and staff population, must demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for historically under-served populations, and is expected to contribute to the program’s diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts. USC Athletics is committed to increasing diversity in its staff and welcomes applications from persons of all backgrounds, ethnicities, races, genders, and sexual orientations.

Roles and responsibilities:

Strategic Planning for USC Athletics Development

• Plan, budget, assess, and oversee all long- and short-range fundraising programs, working with the Senior Associate Athletic Director for establishing goals for various areas of fundraising within the Department.
• Oversee the strategic development of major gift operational plans.
• Responsible for daily operations of the major gift giving programs and campaigns.
• Work in collaboration with the Associate Athletic Director for Advancement to develop marketing and communication strategies around the Trojan Athletic Fund.
• Analyze existing major gift strategies with the Development leadership team to find new opportunities for membership growth and incremental revenues.
• In coordination with the Senior Associate Athletic Director and Associate Athletic Director for Annual Giving, assist in the management and activity of the Board of Counselors.

Intercollegiate Athletics Philanthropy

• Lead the development of a leadership giving unit for all major giving strategies including capital, endowments and planned giving.
• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects with emphasis on gifts of $100,000 or more, and develop and implement cultivation/solicitation strategies for each assigned major gift prospect.
• Identify and maintain a portfolio major gift prospects, including Top 25 prospects who will be solicited for a major gift within 12-18 months.
• Develop and implement a solicitation strategy for each assigned major gift prospect which will include 200 contacts annually (120 of these contacts will be in person).
• Participate cooperatively in the University’s prospect management and tracking system.
• Prepare and complete timely contact reports, written proposals, background reports, and other development materials for use during donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities.
• Work with the Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs to ensure strategic solicitations are made and to further develop fundraising opportunities in both annual and major gifts areas.
• In collaboration, establish personal goals, objectives and strategies, and develop an annual operating plan.
• Work with the staff to track pledge schedules, endowment agreements, customize acknowledgement letters, and coordinate special annual fund activity.
• Work cooperatively with staff in the Office of Gift Planning, Office of Regional Gifts, and Principal Gifts Programs in preparing cultivation and solicitation strategies for assigned prospects. 
• Provide fundraising training opportunities for development staff, academic leaders, and volunteers.

Other Responsibilities:

• Compliance with the rules and regulations of the University, the NCAA, the Big Ten Conference, the State of California, and any other governing body is of paramount importance to the University.
• The overall responsibility of this position is for the successful operation of the program in full compliance with all such rules and regulations. As a condition of employment, the Employee shall be required to participate in rules education programs offered by Athletics.
• Promotes an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and creates unbiased opportunities for contributions through ideas, words, and actions that uphold principles of the USC Code of Ethics.

• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred) and a minimum of 5 years of experience (7 years preferred). Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.
• Progressive experience in professional development, higher education, academic fundraising, public relations, or marketing preferred.
• Experience working in higher education and/or a sports related field ideal, preferably Division I athletics.

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion, well-being, open communication and accountability.

Salary Range:

The annual base salary range for this position is $141,000- $170,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To Apply:

All candidates must submit a resume with their application. Additional materials may be requested at a later date. All USC employees will undergo reference checking and background screening prior to hire.

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance. 

USC Athletics is looking to hire an Associate Athletic Director for Development to join our staff and student community of 600+ individuals. This individual will report to the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and will manage the day-to-day operations of principal and major gift fundraising team, including oversight of the strategic road map for all fundraising activities for the immediate campaign and long-term Athletics goals. The Associate AD is charged with building valuable relationships within the USC community, including faculty/staff, coaches and administrators, top level donors, and other key community contacts for the purpose of increasing all giving to USC Athletics. This position will oversee three major gift officers. Knowledge of and experience working in higher education preferred. Understanding of the unique culture and needs of college athletes preferred. This position serves a diverse student and staff population, must demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for historically under-served populations, and is expected to contribute to the program’s diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts. USC Athletics is committed to increasing diversity in its staff and welcomes applications from persons of all backgrounds, ethnicities, races, genders, and sexual orientations.