Assistant Dean for Development

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Science (SoS), research is integral to understanding the world, including detecting and curing disease, preserving the planet and its climate systems, creating sustainable energy sources, studying the hottest and coldest matter in the universe, decoding the brain, and developing the technology of the future. SoS is the second largest school at MIT in enrollment and raises the most in annual philanthropy. It is led by Dean Nergis Mavalvala, an award-winning physicist and trailblazer in the detection of gravitational waves and of quantum measurement science. SoS and Dean Mavalvala seek a highly motivated, collaborative, and intellectually curious assistant dean for development (assistant dean) to advance the dean’s vision and create a comprehensive, strategic plan to raise philanthropic support and awareness for the school’s six departments, centers, and institutes. 

The assistant dean will craft a multiyear development strategy that will ensure sustainable, long-term growth in philanthropic contributions, which yielded $175 million last fiscal year. The assistant dean will collaborate with the dean, department heads, center directors, and faculty members to articulate the funding priorities and aspirations of the school to key colleagues within MIT Resource Development (RD) and to individual and institutional prospects. They will travel on donor visits, often in tandem with the dean and other key academic partners, and work proactively to bring prospects to campus for substantive visits and engagements. The assistant dean will directly manage two to three staff members and maintain a dotted line reporting relationship with seven department- and center-based fundraisers.

The ideal candidate should be a self-starter with an innovative approach to growing and guiding a philanthropic program. They will have a track record of success working with faculty and development colleagues in a complex matrixed academic setting, and the ability to reach a broader community to promote the mission of an institution. The assistant dean must have prior success raising major and principal gifts and increasing the effectiveness of a development program through established objectives and performance standards. They will possess the communication skills required to articulate the vision and mission of a program and its leader to a diverse group of funding organizations in clear and compelling language. A background in science is desirable; a passion for science is required.

Jack Gorman is leading this search with Grace Zakim and Ryan Cheung.