Job Description: 

The Associate Director of Major Gifts, Health Sciences and Technology (HST), and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC (FBRI, located in Roanoke, VA) will solicit philanthropic gifts from alumni, families, friends, and supporters which align with the Institute’s fundraising goals, and overall university health sciences strategic priorities. Preferred candidates will be able to work from Roanoke,VA or the Northern Va region.  This highly motivated professional will be involved with the planning and implementation of major gift fundraising in support of current operations, endowment, capital, and other priorities from private sources in support of operations and growth for HST and FBRI. Identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of potential prospects will be the primary focus of this role, requiring travel around the region and nationally. This position will fulfill the duties under the direction of the Assistant Vice President for Health Sciences Technology & Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.

In 2007, Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech joined together to create a unique public-private partnership that was aimed at transforming health care through research and educating the biomedical researchers and physician thought-leaders of tomorrow. The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine allows both organizations to leverage their strengths—Virginia Tech’s sciences, computational and engineering expertise and Carilion’s clinical expertise—to improve the health and lives of individuals in the Commonwealth and beyond.

FBRI, founded in 2010, is led by Dr. Michael Friedlander, the Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology at Virginia Tech. FBRI at VTC has grown its research portfolio to well over $140M in the institute’s first eleven years.

This position is key to the presidential university initiative to deliver innovative solutions that address health challenges affecting millions through advanced research and development programs across VT’s Blacksburg, Roanoke, and greater Washington, D.C. metro area facilities including the new Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The Associate Director of Major Gifts will:

• Assist with fundraising activities nationally, including identification, cultivation and successful solicitations, and stewardship.
• Have a portfolio of between 100-125 prospects.
• Have typical solicitation ranges of $100,000 to $1,000,000.
• Close $1,000,000 per year using a three-year rolling average.
• Close on average 10-13 major gifts per fiscal year.
• Develop and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies which include building, managing, and soliciting a portfolio of major gift prospects.
• Establish strong working relationships with scientists across the HST and FBRI platform, and with other advancement, collegiate and constituent development officers and staff to foster a productive work environment.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree and significant experience or a Master’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, sales/marketing, advertising, public relations, communications or a related field.
• Past experience in medical or basic research fundraising is a plus.
• Willingness to travel on a frequent basis.
• Individuals should demonstrate professionalism, with strong communication skills and be capable of motivating volunteers as well as donors.
• The successful candidate will be self-motivated and have the ability to work as a team member in a complex organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated successful track record in fundraising.
• Preference given to candidates with experience in higher education fundraising.
• Preference for proven success in building productive relationships with senior administrators, key business leaders, faculty, staff, institutional boards, volunteers, and/or donors.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.