Director of Organizational Development

Apr 3

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL

Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible after the closing date.

Description

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement (OVCIA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign seeks a full-time Director of Organizational Development to play a critical role in facilitating organizational growth. The ideal candidate will possess a collaborative spirit, intellectual curiosity, and strong analytical and critical thinking skills along with a proven track record of building and maintaining trusted, collaborative relationships in complex environments. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a global, preeminent university.

Since its founding in 1867, it has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. In 2022, the University successfully completed its most ambitious philanthropic campaign, “With Illinois,” raising $2.7 billion during the eight-year campaign and remains resolute towards its future philanthropic efforts. Investing in ongoing organizational development and program improvements is critical to fulfilling the University’s Boldly Illinois strategic plan and future fundraising campaign goals.

Organizational Relationships and Job Summary

As part of the recently reimagined Office of Strategic Planning and Organizational Development (SPOD) within OVCIA, and reporting to the Senior Director, the Director of Organizational Development will enhance fundraising outcomes by improving operational efficiency and effectiveness through designing, developing, facilitating, and implementing programs that enhance productivity and overall performance.

The role will focus on aligning fundraising strategies with the data and operational processes that support them by partnering with leadership and unit advancement staff, analyzing program strengths and opportunities, leading and facilitating change initiatives, and supporting large-scale efforts to grow organizational capacity.

Responsibilities

Planning, Organizational Development and Change Management

Translate strategic plan and leadership priorities into proposed initiatives, projects, or programs aimed at growing organizational capacity and driving bottom-line success.
Identify misalignments between operational processes, technical solutions, and fundraising strategies and design and implement initiatives to address them.
Convene and lead cross-functional groups across the advancement operation (UIF, UIAA, Campus and Unit) in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing solutions that support operational effectiveness.
Partner with the Senior Director on strategic and annual planning.
Iterate upon and execute existing efforts that drive fundraising outcomes.
Apply best practices in organizational change to manage, implement, and monitor high-level advancement projects and special initiatives, including activities like communication strategies, facilitating focus groups and meetings, conducting surveys, and monitoring adoption.
Advance efforts in support of staff readiness and success, like skills-based onboarding and training. Serve as a subject matter expert as needed.

Analysis

In partnership with the Director of Data Management, Visualization & Analysis, develop and implement reports for use in strategic decision-making in the areas of fundraising, advancement operations, staffing and performance.
Leverage data to communicate potential impact of initiatives and interventions. Make project prioritization recommendations.
Communicate project-specific reporting needs and monitor progress.
In partnership with the Senior Director, benchmark systems, processes, and organizational structures at peer institutions and across industries to gather best practices. Develop and implement strategy for application in Illinois advancement operations.
Conduct strategic assessments of program strengths and opportunities and identify misalignment between operational processes, technical solutions and fundraising strategies.

Liaison and Relationship Management

Build strong working relationships with stakeholders across the Urbana advancement operation and the University of Illinois Development program.
Work collaboratively with OVCIA People & Culture to ensure skills-based training supports individual contributor success and desired outcomes and initiatives are aligned with competency framework and organizational consistency efforts.
Advocate for Urbana campus interests in cross-organizational conversations (UIF, UIAA, campus units) about data, technology, business process, policy, documentation, and training.
Represent the office on cross-campus teams, including the Information

Technology Governance Project teams Supervision

Provide supervision, guidance, support, and mentorship to (Asst/Assoc Director of Organizational Development), fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
Attend and represent OVCIA at Advancement-wide professional development sessions and employee engagement activities.

Impact in Your First Year

At Advancement at Illinois, we value our employees and provide resources to help you continually learn and grow. We foster a strong, collaborative community of people who are driven by their ability to make a difference.

Within 3 months, you’ll:

Become familiar with the strategy, values, and priorities of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement (OVCIA), with a specific focus on the Senior Leadership team and Strategic Planning and Organizational Development (SPOD).
Understand the structure and goals of the broader Advancement Operations team and how SPOD contributes to the overall goals.
Attend trainings, professional development, and networking activities for newcomers within Advancement.
Meet regularly with colleagues across OVCIA Advancement Operations to begin to understand the work and current documentation systems of the team.
Begin onboarding business processes and data structures that will inform your role.

Within 6 months, you’ll:

Become familiar with the strategy, values, and priorities of the unit-based fundraising operations, the University of Illinois Foundation, and the University of Illinois Alumni Association.
Become increasingly comfortable with business processes and data structures that inform your role.
Begin playing an active role in existing efforts that drive pipeline development and best practices in portfolio management, such as portfolio reviews and qualification-focused initiatives.
Grow familiarity and understanding of advancement data and begin exploring how it could be leveraged to uncover opportunities.

By the end of the first year, you’ll:

Understand the strategy, values, and priorities of OVCIA, UIF, UIAA, and unit-based fundraising operations and apply them to ongoing and new work.
Cooperatively set annual goals with your supervisor.
Receive one-on-one coaching from People & Culture to help your transition to your new role.
With support from the Senior Director and other team members, lead initiatives, projects, and efforts independently. Craft proposals and recommendations for program growth, including business process changes, data structure opportunities, and specialized initiatives.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree
Minimum of five years of professional experience in organizational development or business development or related field, which requires strong analytical acumen, relationship management, and data translation components.
Experience analyzing and summarizing complex data in a variety of formats and structures and creating clear, concise reports for management and administrators. Attention to detail is critical.
Demonstrated track record of strategic and creative approaches to pipeline analysis and collaboration with frontline teams teammates, and senior level management, or transferable experience, preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree with a preference for business, communications, psychology, change management, or organizational leadership and development.
Experience in data governance, data stewardship, and related roles
Experience in higher education advancement data and applications.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems using logical, effective approaches.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including collaboration in cross-team, matrixed environments.
Exceptional organizational skills for managing moderate to complex projects, ensuring timely completion.
Proficiency in learning and navigating information systems and using various computer applications independently.
Commitment to values-driven work practices and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Knowledge of or ability to learn advancement concepts, best practices in fundraising, and community service.
Strong facilitation skills.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

This is a 100% full-time academic professional position. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close date. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The expected salary range for this position is $90,000-$100,000.

Health insurance is available to employees (with the option to purchase coverage for spouse and dependents), required participation in State Universities Retirement System (SURS), with several options for participation in additional retirement plans. Learn more about employee benefits at the University of Illinois. Newly hired employees are covered by the Medicare portion of Social Security and are subject to this deduction.

The University of Illinois has a strong commitment to work-life balance and family-friendly programs for faculty and staff:

Work-Life Balance & Family-Friendly Programs and Other Work-Life Programs.

When you pursue a career with Illinois Advancement, you’ll join our tight-knit community of professionals who treat each other with as much care and respect as we treat our donors. At Illinois, we invest in you.

Our leaders are eager to partner with you on the next phase of your career and have the tools and experience to help you succeed. Illinois Advancement values creativity and fosters a collaborative, flexible environment to develop new ideas that become best practices – and we’re looking for your unique skills. Learn more about what others have to say about their experiences: Opportunity Awaits.

How to Apply for this Job

Apply Now

To ensure full consideration, application materials must be received by April 28, 2025 at 6:00pm CST. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close date. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload a resume, cover letter, and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references. Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered.

For further information about this specific position, please contact Amanda Wahba at wahba3@illinois.edu and/or visit our Application FAQ site for tips. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

Please note: Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position. The Illinois Advancement community is committed to an ongoing, proactive process to foster and achieve diversity and inclusion in its development, alumni relations and communication activities. We will respect and encourage different voices, perspectives and ideas as we strive to represent individuals of all backgrounds and cultures which incudes but are not limited to the following: nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, spirituality, age and ability who represent our alumni, donors and friends of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

About the Organization

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a comprehensive and major public land-grant university (Doctoral/Research University-Extensive) that is ranked among the best in the world. Chartered in 1867, it provides undergraduate and graduate education in more than 150 fields of study, conducts theoretical and applied research, and provides public service to the state and the nation. It employs about 3,000 faculty members who serve over 33,000 undergraduates and 15,000 graduate and professional students. More information about the campus is available at www.illinois.edu.

The university is located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana (total population 207,000) in east-central Illinois, and is situated about 140 miles south of Chicago, 125 miles west of Indianapolis, and 180 northeast of St. Louis. The University and its surrounding communities offer a cultural and recreational environment ideally suited to the work of a major research institution.

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