Head of Fundraising & Corporate Relations

Are you looking for an impactful job in which you can combine your commercial, people and organisation skills? Do you believe in Vlerick’s mission to ignite entrepreneurial leadership?Let’s talk!

HEAD OF ADVANCEMENT - FUNDRAISING, CORPORATE RELATIONS & ALUMNI

Vlerick Business School is a triple-accredited, top-ranked international business school at the heart of Europe– with a solid scientific foundation that provides the backbone for knowledge with lasting impact.

Vlerick is a school, but it is run as a company aligned with the high standards we foster in our different activities. We are looking for an experienced professional to head our Advancement Team. This team strengthens strategic relationships with businesses, philanthropists, and our alumni. It secures the resources needed to accomplish Vlerick’s mission by leveraging strategic relationships through corporate partnerships, institutional giving, and philanthropy.

Your mission

• Be responsible for the planning, coordination, and implementation of the school’s activities in securing support from its community (including corporate fundraising, individual giving and alumni engagement).
• Create and execute the strategy for a continuous base of corporate and individual financial support to realise the school’s aspiration and purpose.
• Build an integrative approach towards corporate fundraising, individual giving and alumni engagement to ensure an aligned approach.
• Manage and develop a portfolio of the School’s most important corporate and individual relationships. Create tailored funding proposals and implement solicitation strategies to secure major partnerships and gifts.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major partnerships and gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations.
• Develop core infrastructure (policies, procedures, metrics and tools) to optimise fundraising success and administrative efficiency by building strong, two-way relations with colleagues across the School and effectively leading the advancement team.
• Advise and collaborate with the School’s Marketing teams to ensure that School messaging is consistent with its purpose, its philanthropic foundation and aspirations.
• Build a strong team with a collaborative spirit and a drive to succeed.
• Report to the Dean.

You

• Have a minimum of 10 years of work experience, preferably in a fundraising, business development or relationship management role.
• Have a strong belief in the school’s purpose, and an ability to engage eloquently with prospective supporters on its importance and impact.
• Are a strategic thinker with a proven capability to implement.
• Have proven experience leading a team.
• Are a natural networker, getting energy from connecting with people.
• Have excellent people and communication skills. You like building and maintaining relationships.
• Possess the ability to add value by working collaboratively and strategically on a wide range of issues with the school’s senior leadership team, faculty and colleagues.
• Are fluent in English and Dutch, both written and spoken.
• Are discrete, and not afraid to take initiative.
• Will be based on one of our beautiful campuses in the city centre of Ghent, Brussels, or Leuven.

#ProudtobeVlerick

• Autonomy and responsibility in a challenging work environment.
• A dynamic, open, and international company culture.
• Opportunities for professional and personal growth, including a training budget & a LinkedIn Learning account.
• A team of enthusiastic, driven colleagues, passionate about learning.
• Flexibility: 30+ holiday days, working from home, a flexible benefits system, etc.
• Meal vouchers, a hospitalization insurance, a group insurance, and a mobility budget are also part of your package.
• You’ll have a real impact and inspire people to live, learn and leap!

At Vlerick, openness to the world is part of our DNA. We are continuously working towards being a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work and learn at. So, no matter who you are, where you come from, or what your dreams are, we are looking forward to receiving your application.

Take the leap and join us

If you think you meet these criteria, please apply with your resume and motivation letter on our website. We look forward to hearing from you! Happy to give you more information on the job content: kirby.vanlaere@vlerick.com.