Assistant Vice President, Corporate Partnerships

GENERAL SUMMARY: 

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Corporate Partnerships oversees a team of six to raise $10 million+ annually in corporate philanthropic support for the Institute. This role will have a proven track record developing, implementing and/or participating in successful corporate relations efforts for a high quality, complex, academic Assisor medical research-based institution. The AVP will formulate strategies to: increase corporate major and principal gift opportunities to fund breakthrough research and improve patient care; build mutually beneficial cause marketing relationships; secure sponsorships for DFCI fundraising events and symposiums; and, through gifts-in-kind donations, garner the critical tools needed to support discovery efforts.

This position will have the ability to reach out to and engage a broad community to promote the mission of an institution. This role will be a results-oriented professional who uses an entrepreneurial approach to building and guiding a development program. The AVP will manage and inspire a team to meet aggressive fundraising goals. Responsible for assisting the entire Division with reaching financial goals.

The onboarding of this role will include a comprehensive training process which includes completion of online modules, shadowing colleagues, as well as hands-on learning experiences throughout the first calendar year in the role.

Embody Dana-Farber’s Core Values: Impact; Excellence; Compassion & Respect; and Discovery every day. Add value to the Dana-Farber community by seeking opportunities to collaborate across the Institute.  Foster an ethical, positive, results-oriented culture founded on open communication. 

Dana-Farber is currently undertaking an ambitious fundraising effort to change the future of cancer research and care: The Dana-Farber Campaign. This multibillion-dollar campaign is the largest in the Institute’s history and one of the largest ever in the U.S. focused solely on cancer. Philanthropy raised through The Dana-Farber Campaign is focused on accelerating the Institute’s strategic priorities by supporting revolutionary science, extraordinary care, exceptional expertise, and essential opportunities—helping us prevent, treat, and Defy Cancer.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: 

Resume and cover letter required with application submission. If you wish to disclose your personal pronouns, please include them within your resume and cover letter submission.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management

• Formulate short-term and long-range strategic plans for generating funds that may be used to support critical new research initiatives, large-scale transformational projects, investments in new ideas and programs, and enhance patient care; implement corporate partnership best practices to ensure significant and sustained growth in the level of support received by DFCI from this key constituency.
• Clearly define corporate philanthropy for internal partners and external constituencies, ensuring compliance with conflict of interest policies and any other parameters that influence engagement of corporate entities; establish, track, and achieve key metrics and measures of success.
• Oversee effective stewardship of corporate supporters and leading business partners; convey to donors that DFCI and its leaders care deeply about its supporters and appreciate what they have done for the Institute; demonstrate the impact their contributions have had on DFCI, faculty/physicians, and patients and their families.

Engagement of Key Leaders

• Partner with DFCI leaders to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward corporations whose charitable objectives and business interests are consistent with the Institute’s mission of teaching, research, clinical care and service.
• Ensure the CEO is advised on efforts to cultivate and solicit key corporate partners; appropriately and strategically engage the CEO in development efforts.
• Engage faculty/physicians and key investigators in the fundraising process, ensuring their time spent is highly productive and personally rewarding; build strong and mutually beneficial relationships between faculty and corporate partners.

Collaboration Across DFCI

• Instill confidence in and excitement about corporate partnerships among key staff and internal constituent groups by fostering an atmosphere of cooperation, mutual respect, and collegiality within DFCI Philanthropy; ensure coordinated and collaborative effort with appropriate DFCI constituencies through consistent and effective communication.
• Partner with colleagues in marketing and communications to determine the case for corporate support for DFCI, define what differentiates DFCI research from efforts undertaken at peer institutions, and determine outreach strategy; build brand and visibility in national, regional, and local markets; identify stories that will elevate awareness and understanding of Institute funding priorities and communicate those stories in clear and compelling terms to potential and existing corporate partners.
• Recognizing that corporations may have multiple interests in partnering with DFCI (philanthropic, sponsored research, technology transfer), provide seamless first point of entry for corporate representatives and guide them to the appropriate Institute contacts.

Management

• Oversee team of six dedicated to engaging corporate donors at DFCI; ensure staff members are well prepared to meet the goals and aspirations of Institute leadership and employ a proactive, externally-focused approach to generating corporate philanthropic support; establish appropriate metrics to assess individual and team performance.
• Foster an environment that rewards risk-taking and creativity and strives for excellence through mastery of best practices and implementation of new ideas; maintain a leadership style that is open and fluid and that empowers staff through active communication and delegation.
• Provide staff members with opportunities for professional development; ensure that team members stay abreast of trends in corporate philanthropy and factors that may impact corporate giving.

Fundraising

• Lead identification, strategy and solicitation activities for top 20-25 institutional-level, corporate relationships that will generate significant resources (seven- and eight-figure) for the Institute’s highest priorities in teaching, research, and patient care; leverage network of trustees, key volunteers, DFCI leaders, and existing individual donors to identify new corporate partners.
• Work in tandem with Institute administrative and clinical leadership, and similarly aligned offices, in designing and implementing corporate visits, events, and informational exchanges; optimize opportunities for engagement.
• Formulate a keen understanding for research initiatives within DFCI, the vision and aspirations of key leaders, and identify and engage appropriate corporate partners for support; partner with development colleagues whose prospects hold senior level positions with existing and potential corporate partners and strategize with them on a holistic approach to engaging these key donors.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Reports to the Vice President, Annual, Planned, & Institutional Giving. Supervises one Senior Assistant, two Directors, one Senior Associate Director, two Assistant Directors.

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree required and at least 10 years of professional experience with progressively responsible positions in a complex academic or medical environment.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Demonstrated ability to be part of a collaborative leadership team committed to advancing the institutional mission and a strategic plan.
• Proven management skills in establishing a team- and goal-oriented environment that empowers staff through active communication and delegation and that builds confidence, promotes diversity of thought, and celebrates achievements.
• The political savvy to navigate a complex environment; the ability to build bridges and collaborative relationships with all members of an operation across an institution and a diverse constituency.
• A track record of success realigning a team and leading organizational change to improve effectiveness of a development program.
• Knowledge of best practices in field; experience introducing innovative approaches to increase private philanthropic support.
• Experience involving senior leaders and key volunteers in the fundraising process, ensuring they are meaningfully engaged.
• Demonstrated track record organizing successful corporate engagement activities and the ability to develop high-level proposal and solicitation strategies, with an entrepreneurial and creative approach to building corporate partnerships.
• Exemplary interpersonal and listening skills, as well as the intellectual depth, maturity, and confidence to garner the trust of a CEO; senior clinical, administrative, and corporate leaders; trustees and other key volunteers; faculty and staff; alumni; and other constituents.
• Superior written and oral communication skills; the ability to understand and translate complex technical information for all audiences.
• Ability to evaluate problems, think strategically, and display sound, confidential judgement in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

This position will evaluate current programs and create and execute approved plans to expand and diversify the donors and participants for the events assigned in order to broaden our donor base and create even more inclusive events. Experience with diverse donors is a plus.

PATIENT CONTACT:

No.

 WORKING CONDITIONS:

This position is considered remote, up to 1 day in the office at 10 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA each week. Some evening or weekend work may be required. 

DIVISION OF PHILANTHROPY INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, & EQUITY COMMITMENT STATEMENT:

We’re stronger together. In the Division of Philanthropy, we believe in the power of different voices. We encourage authenticity and diversity of every individual within our community. Our collective voices – donors, volunteers, staff, and patients alike – allow us to work together towards a world without cancer. Committed to being a place of inclusivity, belonging, and change, these are our core values. 

Inclusive interview practices are a priority in the Division of Philanthropy. We incorporate an Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (ID&E) Interview Panel in all searches. In this 30-minute interview, we connect with candidates on four main ID&E competencies: empathy, collaboration, inclusivity, and compassion.

DFCI DISCLAIMER:
The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.  Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

DFCI offers a competitive benefits package including generous healthcare and retirement plans, at minimum 3-weeks’ vacation time in addition to 10 paid holidays, a flexible work environment, and work/life balance.  Dana-Farber offers a variety of personal, professional, and leadership development opportunities to all members of its workforce through Institutional programming. Division of Philanthropy offers 75+ specialized professional development sessions designed for staff each year through its in-house learning program, the Center for Advancement Training.*

*All benefits subject to Institute changes

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong.  As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff.  Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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