Dean of Advancement

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicantsSt. Sebastian’s seeks a Dean of Advancement to lead the school’s fundraising and engagement efforts. With longtime faculty member and administrator Brendan Sullivan wrapping up his first year as Head of School, a recently completed strategic plan, and a soon to be completed campus master plan, the new Advancement leader will be well-positioned to build upon the school’s 30+ year history of sustained fundraising growth.St. Sebastian’s alumni lead purpose driven lives, reflecting the school’s mission of the pursuit of truth through faith and reason. Similarly, this spirit of St. Sebastian’s ensures a deep affinity for the school from current and past parents, whose involvement further enriches the school community.Reporting to the Head of School and a member of the school’s senior leadership team, the Dean of Advancement develops and implements all strategic fundraising and alumni and parent engagement efforts for the school.Leading a team of 10 and in keeping with St. Sebastian’s mission-driven culture, the incumbent will foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the Advancement organization. S/he will be a highly visible representative of the school, building upon St. Sebastian’s strengths to galvanize others in support of an even stronger future.The Dean is responsible for driving overall fundraising growth by:Providing counsel to the Head of School on solicitation strategies, including briefing and staffing the Head for meetings with existing and prospective major donorsManaging a portfolio of approximately 50 existing and prospective major donors; developing strategies to ensure their cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship so that St. Sebastian’s remains among their philanthropic prioritiesBuilding on the St. Sebastian’s 2024 strategic plan, working with the Head of School, senior leadership team, and select Board members, planning and executing the school’s next campaign(s)Serving as the primary staff liaison to any committee supporting campaign efforts, in both quiet and public phasesProviding regular updates to the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and other key stakeholders on fundraising progressIn collaboration with the Head of School and Director of Finance, developing annual fund goals, ensuring support for the school’s operating needsAlumni & Family EngagementAdditionally, the Dean is responsible for fostering increased and meaningful engagement from St. Sebastian’s alumni and parents by:Ensuring diverse pathways for engagement informed by life-stages, interests, and experiencesDeveloping data-informed approaches to measure the efficacy of engagement efforts, beyond participation in givingImplementing innovative programs that strengthen the St. Sebastian’s community and foster a lifelong relationship with the schoolDeveloping content and ideas for Communications Department – magazines, news and social mediaCreate and manage fundraising materials including case statements, grant proposals and donor communicationsOperationsFinally, the Dean will also ensure best practices in all aspects of Advancement operations by:Establishing strong annual planning practices, including setting clearly defined and measurable goals; establishing metrics to assess performanceUsing data analytics and other technology-enabled tools to measure efficacy of fundraising and engagement efforts, to understand when those efforts might need to be recalibrated, and to establish a roadmap for future successMaintaining best practices in gift processing, acknowledgement, and stewardship; date integrity and managementEnsuring opportunities for ongoing staff professional developmentStaying abreast of fundraising best practices and trends along with relevant regulations and law changesQualificationsCommitment to the mission and values of St. Sebastian’sSeven years or more of advancement experience, preferably within an independent school setting, with at least five of those years including management/leadership experienceClarity of communication, both verbally and in writingStrategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plansFamiliarity and comfort in working with high-net-worth individuals and familiesUnderstanding of different gift vehicles and how they can be used to maximize philanthropyProficiency with Microsoft Office suite, Raiser’s Edge NXT or similar advancement CRMFlexibility to work evenings and weekends, including travelTo apply:Required cover letter and resume should be addressed to Brendan Sullivan, Head of School.Please submit to Linda Panetta at phone calls please.Deadline for submissions – May 30Seniority levelSeniority levelExecutiveEmployment typeEmployment typeFull-timeJob functionJob functionEducation and TrainingIndustriesPrimary and Secondary EducationReferrals increase your chances of interviewing at St. Sebastian's School by 2xSign in to set job alerts for “Dean” roles.Massachusetts, United States 3 months agoMassachusetts, United States 3 months agoAssistant Dean- (School for the Environment)Assistant Director of Student Activities and Orientation25-26 [Anticipated] High School Dean of Academics and CultureDean of Curriculum and Instruction (SY25-26)Dean of Curriculum and Instruction (SY25-26)Sr. Associate Dean for Student Conduct & Community StandardsAssociate Director of Graduate AdmissionAssistant Dean of Clinical Skills & Simulation EducationDirector of Advanced Practice - FNP ProgramAssistant Professor and Associate's Degree Program DirectorFull-time Lecturer, School of EngineeringUpper School Science Teacher (Parental Leave - 2025-26)Full/Associate/Assistant Dean - School of Business (Position Require Relocation to Kuwait)Deputy Dean Education - Faculty of ScienceFaculty – School of Healthcare Business and TechnologyWe’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. 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Created: 2025-09-17