Director, Global Advancement, Europe

Company: University of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

Department ADV Regional Advancement (Global) About the Department The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute. The Global Advancement Team implements a comprehensive collaborative campus-wide program that deeply engages the international community of UChicago alumni, parents, and friends with a focus on raising significant philanthropic support for the University’s top priorities, academic units, and faculty and students across the campus ecosystem. Working closely with University and academic leadership, the UChicago Global Office, academic divisions, and colleagues across ARD, the team is responsible for developing, executing, and coordinating the university’s strategic global advancement program with a goal of building a robust and sustainable donor pipeline through curated meaningful engagement opportunities and delivering $25M - $40M or more in fundraising progress annually. Job Summary The Director plans and implements a coordinated program of fundraising and engagement activities for the University of Chicago in Europe and beyond. This encompasses identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major gift prospects in Europe for a wide range of the University’s units, schools and Divisions. This role will manage a personal portfolio of donors and prospects with capacity to make 6- and 7-figure gifts to the University. The portfolio will concentrate on the UK and continental Europe and may selectively extend to the broader EMEA region. This position will participate as a strategist in building the University’s international major gift and principal gift fundraising capacity in the region. The Director acts as a general resource and advisor to senior development colleagues, Deans and other University academic leaders whose units are active in Europe. This position requires deep specialized knowledge in the planning and implementation of development activities; typically within the undergraduate college, an academic department, a professional school, the central development office, or another University unit. Executes fundraising projects, cultivation programs for prospective donors and for advisory councils. Responsibilities Develops and executes a comprehensive regional engagement and major gifts strategy for Europe aligned with University fundraising priorities and campaign objectives. Manages a personal portfolio of 70 high-net-worth individuals and families with capacity of $100K, with a focus on prospects capable of $1M gifts. Builds and manages a fundraising pipeline capable of generating 20 major gift solicitations and $4M in new commitments annually at steady state. Achieves 75 substantive prospect visits annually. Leads new prospect identification and qualification efforts across Europe. Cultivates and stewards relationships with alumni, parents, and unaffiliated friends with significant philanthropic capacity. Serves as Advancement’s primary regional expert for Europe, advising senior development colleagues, Deans, Officers, and academic leaders on strategy, engagement opportunities, and relationship management. Partners with unit directors of development, Deans, Officers, Faculty Directors, and other University leadership to help shape and implement regional fundraising plans and drive engagement activity on behalf of these campus partners. Plans, briefs and accompanies University leadership (Deans, Officers, Faculty Directors, etc.) on prospect and donor visits and community engagement activities in Europe. Ensures alignment of regional strategies with institutional priorities and cross-campus development initiatives. Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions. Identifies, cultivates and solicits prospects. Develops strategies for cultivating participation. Leads the preparation of annual development reports assessing progress toward achievement of goals. Provides expertise to analyze and evaluate information to identify trends and patterns, evaluates strategies and makes recommendations. Performs other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: Preferred Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree. Experience: Minimum seven years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar professional work. Demonstrated track record of building and maintaining long-term relationships with high-net-worth constituents such as individual major donors, private foundations or corporations. Minimum three years of soliciting and closing major gifts experience. Minimum two years developing and monitoring budgets. Background working with trustees, senior leadership, or other volunteer leaders. Background fundraising for higher education or for an international or globally focused mission. Technical Skills or Knowledge: Foreign language proficiency. Knowledge of international fundraising methods and culture. Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management System., Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Preferred Competencies Familiarity with European cultures; comfortable in different cultural settings and exhibit a general global sophistication. Demonstrated strong soft skills including an ability to form strong relationships within the University and externally; leverage volunteer leadership in advancing donor relationships; and intellectual curiosity about the work of the University. Demonstrated fluency in representing the interests of academic leadership to external constituents. Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Explain complex ideas clearly and simply. Manage confidential information with discretion and tact. Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality. Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting. Self-motivated and take initiative. Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.? Working Conditions This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence. Standard office environment. Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business. Travel to Europe regularly. Work evenings and weekends as needed. This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization. Application Documents Resume/CV (required) Cover Letter, addressed to the Hiring Committee (required) When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Alumni Relations & Development Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 37.5 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ? FLSA Status Exempt ? Pay Range $127,500.00 - $150,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook . Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Keywords: University of Chicago, Mount Prospect , Director, Global Advancement, Europe, Administration, Clerical , Chicago, Illinois