Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Principal Gifts

The Principal Gift Officer leads the development and execution of fundraising strategy for university-wide strategic initiatives and interdisciplinary priorities identified in the campaign and strategic plans. This position forges collaborations that integrate executive and research leadership, strategic committees, development colleagues, and fundraising volunteers to advance case development and prospect strategy.

• Collaborate with academic and research leadership, identify focal initiatives for philanthropy and build/articulate the case for support
• Develop and execute short- and long-range strategies to identify, cultivate, and solicit assigned prospects
• Work closely with Office of University Development colleagues to coordinate strategic development and fundraising activities
• Convene discussions among academic leadership about the cross-unit collaborations essential to achieving the focus campaign priorities
• Work with analytics teams to identify current and prospective donors who may have an interest in the campaign’s imperatives and themes
• Collaborate with communication departments on the development of materials and proposals used to promote, advance, and articulate campaign goals and elevate the visibility of strategic initiatives
• Examine systemic and metric changes that incentivize academic leaders and fundraising colleagues to share in advancing philanthropic support for strategic initiatives
• Adapt DDAR procedures and systems to support donor-centered interdisciplinary fundraising activity and success
• Monitor high-level donor cultivation and solicitation activity to ensure closure of major gifts in these areas
• Operate as the lead fundraising liaison for identified strategic initiatives between DDAR and academic leadership
• Maximize philanthropic outcomes and increase transformational gifts

Level:

– Supervisor

Base Description:

– Supervises direct reports, but primarily completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates appropriate knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. Demonstrates baseline planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Reviews completed work of others to verify accuracy and quality. Follows recommended approaches to assigned work. Supervises assigned staff and coordinates routine work activities. Monitors employee interactions and facilitates a productive working environment. Communicates instructions and policies in a consistent, effective and timely manner. Identifies and addresses concerns appropriately. Makes recommendations for possible solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Typically oversees at least 2 full–time direct reports or equivalent team of part–time and/or student workers (for Support track, performs work at Senior Support level or higher; for Professional track, performs work at the Advanced Professional level or higher)

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– May monitor/track budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems with progressively more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows standard operating procedures to resolve problems
– May apply specialized knowledge and skills to resolve complex and/or varied problems
– Applies proven and tries new approaches when solving problems

Independence of Action:

– Works with minimal supervision on difficult work assignments, conferring with manager on unusual matters
– Follows precedents and procedures
– Organizes work of direct reports and may set priorities within general guidelines established by manager
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Collaborates closely with team members; may interact with other staff outside of area
– Utilizes a communication style that is appropriate for a given situation
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials

• Comp Grade – 14
• Minimum – $97,100.00
• MidPoint – $121,400.00
• Maximum – $145,700.00