Job Opening: Manager of Business Development

Job Title & Grade: Development Officer 2, Gr. 10

Position Title: Manager of Business Development

Effort:  100%, Temporary 2 years

Reports to:  Assistant Dean for External Relations and Strategic Initiatives, School of Architecture and Planning

Position Overview

SA+P is at an exciting inflection point in its history. With the forthcoming move to the Metropolitan Storage Warehouse and the school taking on leadership roles in MIT-wide initiatives (e.g., MIT Climate Project, MIT Mobility Initiative), SA+P is positioned for significant growth and impact in the years ahead. To build on this momentum, the SA+P Dean’s Office is expanding its fundraising team to secure the resources needed to fully empower our talented faculty and students to advance key priorities, pursue a bold research and teaching agenda, and address urgent global challenges.

 

The Manager of Business Development will play a pivotal role in advancing the mission of SA+P by helping to sustain and expand financial support for School-wide research priorities and faculty-led research efforts. The individual will collaborate closely with senior leadership and faculty in the School to identify and secure new funding sources, including but not necessarily limited to foundations, corporations, and other organizations. Building strong working relationships internally at MIT will be an essential aspect of this role, as it will help ensure alignment and maximize the impact of collaborative efforts. Please note that while this role is intended to focus on organizational giving, it allows for flexibility to pursue fundraising strategies, including by engaging individual donors, in order to drive the most meaningful results.

 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

 

40% Implement strategic initiatives and expand academic research

 

  • Plans, develops and oversees, strategic initiatives, identify research priorities, and execute fundraising strategies.
  • Promotes new financial support for the school, by identifying sponsors/prospects for philanthropy, grants, collaborations, sponsored research, and corporate memberships.
  • Identify, qualify, cultivate, manage, and steward a portfolio of relationships with a range of organizations (e.g., corporations, foundations) to further the School’s academic and research priorities.
  • Maintains a thorough knowledge of research developments and faculty interests to identify opportunities that align with the goals of potential funders, and proactively match those opportunities to prospective donors.

20% Elevate the standard collaboration among faculty and staff pursuing organizational support

  • Advises program leaders and faculty members on strategic plans to engage with sponsors/prospects, maximize operational efficiency, enhance engagement, and resolve problems.
  • Serve as the primary liaison for organizational giving between the Dean’s Office and units in the School and across the Institute.
  • Develop strong working relationships with staff in departments, labs, and centers focused on raising organizational support for the School.
  • Help ensure the School’s organizational fundraising efforts align with best practices and MIT procedures.

40% Serve as a lead liaison for organizational support

  • Identify new funding sources by staying informed about industry trends and emerging opportunities relevant to faculty research.
  • Work closely with leadership and faculty to develop a pipeline of prospects and donors to support academic research.
  • Partner with faculty to draft and submit grant proposals, when appropriate. Prepare written correspondence and briefing materials to support the efforts of the dean, department heads, and faculty.
  • Provide expertise in crafting compelling narratives and cases for support.
  • Ensure work is appropriately documented in the fundraising database of record.
  • Prepare reports, presentations, and other communication materials for internal and external audiences.
  • Represent the School at events, conferences, and meetings, where appropriate.

 

Supervision Received

Reports to the Assistant Dean for External Relations and Strategic Initiatives.

 

Qualifications & Skills

 

REQUIRED

 

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience with increasing responsibility in fundraising and relationship management. Candidates should have excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as superior interpersonal and presentation skills. Ability to work successfully with a diverse, international population of faculty, sponsors, staff, and students required.  Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Experience with CRM systems and proficiency in using other software tools for project management, data analysis, and presentation development. Travel, evening, and weekend work as required. 

 

Hiring Range: $97,100-115,000

 

PREFERRED

 

Experience and/or degree in disciplines represented in SA+P, especially architecture, art, design, media, technology, and urbanism. Experience in a higher education organization preferred. 

 

To apply for this position, please submit your materials on the MIT Careers page, here.