Chief Alumni and Development Officer

IMD Business School (IMD) seeks a seasoned, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as the chief alumni and development officer (CADO). Reporting to the president of IMD and serving as an integral member of IMD’s executive committee, the CADO will provide strategic vision, leadership, and direction for all alumni engagement and fundraising activities. Founded by business executives for business executives, IMD is an independent academic institution with Swiss roots and global reach. Consistently ranked among the top business schools globally, IMD develops leaders who transform organizations, contribute to society, and manage the complex challenges of the twenty-first century. 

This is an exceptional opportunity for a strategic, creative, and experienced advancement leader to partner with an inspiring president early in his tenure to build and develop a best-in-class advancement program at one of the world’s top business schools, positioning IMD to achieve exceptional fundraising success. The CADO will work closely with IMD’s executive leadership and the president to establish strategic direction of the fundraising program, reinforce connections with IMD’s alumni, and strengthen infrastructure and systems to support a robust advancement enterprise. Importantly, they will serve as a key leader in the planning and implementation of IMD’s first capital campaign. The CADO will cultivate and foster a culture of philanthropy among all internal and external constituencies and strategically develop and engage new relationships with individuals and corporations who are inspired by IMD's mission and impact and are motivated to contribute philanthropically. 

With at least ten years of leadership experience in advancement, preferably within a higher education environment, the CADO must possess strong managerial, strategic planning, and motivational skills; a keen understanding of fundraising best practices; and a comprehensive knowledge of all major development and alumni engagement functions, including a track record of significant personal success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship at the major and principal gift levels. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned team leader adept at motivating, empowering, and advocating for staff, as well as facilitating cohesion and team success. The CADO must possess comprehensive advancement knowledge and be prepared to develop and enhance critical advancement infrastructure, refine the application of a new CRM, and develop and implement related policies, procedures, and best practices to effectively leverage data and moves management in all aspects of advancement work. 

The ideal candidate must demonstrate a high level of integrity and trust and exhibit the credibility, maturity, and sophistication to effectively engage and partner with varied groups of internal and external constituents. The CADO must possess extraordinary communication and negotiation skills, the political savvy, flexibility, and cultural agility to navigate a complex academic and alumni community, and the desire and ability to build bridges and strong, genuine, and collaborative relationships across IMD. The CADO should possess knowledge and awareness of the nuances of the culture of fundraising in Europe and Switzerland. An advanced degree is preferred.

Jack Gorman is leading this search with Bryce Ervin and Ryan Cheung.