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Northern Michigan University

Senior Managing Director of Advancement

🇺🇸 Marquette, MI 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $142K - $160K 💻 Communications 🗓️ June 8th, 2026
CRM Rive

Edtech.com's Summary

Northern Michigan University is hiring a Senior Managing Director of Advancement. The role involves leading the university's major gifts, planned giving, and corporate fundraising efforts, while collaborating with leadership to drive strategic decisions and cultivate high-value donor relationships to secure transformational contributions.

Highlights
  • Provide administrative oversight of major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation fundraising, and donor/alumni engagement.
  • Collaborate with the Chief Advancement Officer to foster a team culture and use metrics to measure success.
  • Lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors capable of gifts of $500,000 and above.
  • Drive fundraising for general university purposes and specific campaign priorities.
  • Requires proficiency with CRM and donor management systems.
  • Targeted salary range from $141,760 to $160,000 with 26-50% travel required.
  • Bachelor's degree and eight years of relevant experience, including at least five years in a leadership role in higher education or nonprofit fundraising.
  • Strong leadership, strategic planning, interpersonal, and project management skills are essential.
  • Desirable qualifications include a Master’s degree and experience in planned giving or grant writing.
  • Role demands extensive travel, flexible hours, and the ability to manage a collaborative and inclusive team environment.

Senior Managing Director of Advancement Full Description

 

Position Title: Senior Managing Director of Advancement

Department:  NMU Foundation

Term of Assignment: Continuing

Term End Date, If Applicable:             

FLSA Status:   Exempt = not eligible for overtime

Work Schedule: Traditionally Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with occasional evening and weekend work required.

Salary: Targeted Salary Range: $141,760-$160,000

Travel: 26-50%

Brief Statement of Duties

Brief Statement of Duties: Serve as a key member of the University Advancement leadership team and an active participant in making strategic decisions affecting fundraising for Northern Michigan University and the NMU Foundation. Provide administrative oversight of the University’s major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation fundraising as well as oversight of donor and alumni engagement efforts.

Working collaboratively with the Chief Advancement Officer, foster a collaborative team culture and utilize metrics to drive success. Leading by example, effectively cultivate and successfully solicit a select portfolio of prospects and donors capable of making transformational contributions to NMU.

Serve as a lead principal gifts officer for the university, working to cultivate, solicit, close, and steward prospective donors with the capacity to make commitments of $500,000 and above. Drive gifts for general university purposes as well as those designated for specific colleges, campaign priorities, or other parts of Northern Michigan University.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree

Discipline/Degree Area: 

Required Specialized Training/Certifications: 

Required Minimum Work Experience:  Eight years of experience in higher education or nonprofit fundraising with at least five years serving in a leadership role with responsibility for designing and driving a comprehensive and sophisticated fundraising program, including supervisory experience. Relevant sales or communication/marketing experience with demonstrated success in revenue generation may also be considered in lieu of fundraising experience.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, or Attributes Required for Satisfactory Performance of the Position Duties: 

Demonstrated success in planning and executing fundraising or revenue generating strategies that drive results which exceeded or met annual targets.
Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift donors at the highest levels; similar experience related to sales industry would also apply.
Strong leadership, strategic planning, and project management skills.
Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively and adapt to changing circumstances.
Excellent interpersonal, critical listening, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to translate learned information into actionable next steps for donors.
Ability to effectively navigate CRMs and donor management systems.
Demonstrated ability to provide an inclusive and collaborative work environment by valuing and actively seeking new and diverse perspectives from the team.
Demonstrated success in leading and managing a team which both drove successful organizational outcomes and fostered a positive team culture.
Extensive travel required, including overnight stays and flexible hours to accommodate donor schedules.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

Additional Desirable Qualifications: 

Master's Degree in business management, organization development, nonprofit management, or similar field.
Comprehensive campaign fundraising experience in higher education.
Experience in planned giving and/or grant writing.

Other

Special Instructions to Applicants: Submit application, cover letter, resume and references. This position is not currently available for sponsorship.

Contact Information:  Erica Jean, HR Generalist, 906-227-1087

NMU is an equal opportunity employer.