The Development Programs Director – External Relations is responsible for enhancing the planning, execution, and follow-through of strategic and operational activity for the External Relations vertical in alignment with the Department of Development’s business objectives. External Relations functions include: annual and mid-level giving, communications, creative strategy and design, campaign administration, events, executive and leadership engagement, stewardship and recognition.

Reporting to the Vice Chair, External Relations, and working in close collaboration with vertical and department leaders, the Development Programs Director contributes to a wide range of activities to ensure the operations of the vertical are effectively and efficiently executed. Work products advance strategy, execution, and operational excellence across the vertical. This is a strategic and operational role. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Leads vertical teams in evaluating and aligning strategic, operational and/or financial aspects of the vertical’s work with the department’s business objectives. Resulting strategies balance short-term and long-range business plans, evaluate viability and scalability, and seek department-wide synergies where applicable. Example deliverables include service/product assessment and development, strategic and operational plan development, competitive and market intelligence, KPI design and outcomes reporting.
• Leads engagements with vertical teams and internal/external stakeholders to analyze, design, implement, and improve systems of people, processes, and technology to enhance quality, productivity, efficiency, and foster sustainable growth in the vertical. Leverages continuous improvement techniques, as well as qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• Leads vertical teams in defining, documenting, and ensuring implementation of policy, procedures, processes, and best practices overseen by the vertical. Develops and provides training to vertical members and stakeholders on shared systems and processes and on continuous improvement techniques, shared templates and tools, and change management. 
• Provides leadership, management, coordination, and execution for vertical projects and special initiatives of varying complexity, ensuring alignment of strategies and activities with department business objectives. These may be time limited or ongoing and have high interdependencies and interrelationships.
• Facilitates the vertical’s coordinated adoption, application, and optimization of tools, technologies, processes, and systems that drive business value, including strategic use of data. 
• Facilitates strategic coordination and optimization of the vertical’s engagement and utilization of internal Mayo Clinic partners and external vendors/contractors. 
• Partners with vertical leadership to manage annual business planning cycle and reporting, as well as planning for business transformation. Manages preparation, execution, and follow-through for vertical leadership-level meetings, communications, and deliverables. Develops and implements business processes and infrastructure to ensure effective vertical integration, communication, collaboration, and agility and effective stakeholder engagement. 

Bachelor's degree required. Must have at least 7 years of experience in programmatic leadership at a large, complex organization or at least 10 years of project management experience required. Additionally, must have demonstrated competencies in leadership, strategic thinking, project management, program management, operations, and communication. Must be able to inspire trust/confidence and communicate effectively with internal and external audiences.  The ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality is essential. Master’s degree preferred. 7 years of experience in philanthropic programmatic leadership at a large, complex organization is preferred.  Demonstrated experience in being able to work with high-level, affluent clientele (benefactors) is preferred. Requires the ability to work in a complex, matrix environment with multi-dimensional points of view. Incumbents will have demonstrated competencies to effectively function in a consensus-style organization that expects and promotes teamwork. Must be comfortable with ambiguity. Must be proficient in the use of technology. Work related experience at Mayo Clinic, in healthcare or development setting is beneficial. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience in philanthropy at a complex organization highly preferred. 
• Experience with any of the following areas: strategic and operational planning, consulting, project management, stakeholder engagement, change management, scorecard and dashboard development, financial analysis, new service/product planning and development, data analysis and reporting, systems engineering and optimization, lean management, continuous improvement.