Program Manager of Implementation, Principal Giving and Strategic Initiatives

Job Summary

The Office of Advancement with the University of Colorado, Boulder is seeking applications for a Program Manager of Implementation, Principal Giving and Strategic Initiatives! This role is responsible for supporting strategic plans, programs, and philanthropic initiatives of $5 million or more. This position translates high-impact donor visions into sustainable, operational programs that align with the strategic priorities of CU Boulder. Once philanthropic gifts are committed, this position will take the lead in building out implementation plans and timelines to accomplish each key initiative, program, and recruitment.

This inaugural role is designed to flex across both implementation and strategy within Principal Giving and Strategic Initiatives. While the primary focus is on delivering complex philanthropic initiatives, the Program Implementation Manager will also, as capacity allows, support front-end principal giving efforts, including donor strategy, opportunity development, and early-stage concept design for high-impact gifts. This dual focus ensures continuity from vision through delivery and strengthens the university's ability to realize ground-breaking philanthropy.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Programmatic Oversight/Implementation/Liaison

• Developing philanthropic spending plans and timelines for gifts $5M+ to accomplish each key initiative/program/hire. Maintain a portfolio of $5M+ closed gifts to support and work in close collaboration with the Associate Director for Donor Stewardship, who manages a stewardship portfolio of $5M+ donors.
• Work with University leaders, faculty and staff in a liaison role to develop and complete plans that advance utilization and fundraising initiatives.
• Together with the SCU's and Unit partners, the Implementation Manager will engage and translate between faculty partners, HR and finance staff to implement deliverables within philanthropic plan documents.
• Orchestrate quarterly meetings with campus and advancement leadership to provide updates on philanthropic gifts in their portfolio (initial focus on gifts of $5M+), including key deliverables, timelines, and concerns or opportunities.
• Ensure smooth progress between pre-and post-gift activities for $5M+ gifts, lead "kickoff" meetings to review spending plan and ongoing execution touchpoints alongside Donor Relations team.
• Build out of comprehensive spend plans for donors of $5M+ and partner with Donor Relations and university colleagues on fulfillment.
• Sharing collective responsibility to deliver upon the Office of Advancement's strategy and vision.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Serve as a strategic advisor in executive-level forums, providing consultative insight into operational implications, financial risk analysis, and strategic opportunities, while ensuring responsible stewardship of institutional resources.
• To the extent time permits, offer strategic guidance related to the development of budget models for principal gift proposals in the early concept development phase.
• Proactively assess the assigned portfolio to identify risks, gaps, and untapped opportunities-mitigating potential issues while positioning initiatives for stronger, more ambitious philanthropic investment.
• Apply tools such as CU Ascend, WealthX and other research resources to proactively prospect for potential high-impact donors to burgeoning critical initiatives.
• Maintain awareness of CU Boulder's strategic fundraising initiatives as well as national philanthropic trends.
• As capacity demands, occasionally provide project management support for in-flight, principal-level gift conversations. Tracks action and circulates follow-up with campus partners to support the development of principal gift proposals in coordination with advancement leadership and the university's academic and administrative leadership.