Vice President, SME Education Foundation

SME; Michigan; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

403(b) matching

Paid time off

Holiday pay

Professional development

Wellness programs

Job summary

SME Education Foundation seeks a visionary Vice President to align strategy with SME’s mission and lead fundraising, development, and governance. You will build a strong team, steward major gifts, and cultivate public-private partnerships while guiding the foundation’s scholarship programs and budget.

You will work closely with SME leadership, manage the Board, and advance investments that strengthen manufacturing education and workforce opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; master’s preferred.
• At least 10 years in philanthropy, fundraising, nonprofit leadership or related field, incl. senior leadership.
• At least five years leading high-performing teams and aligning performance with strategy.
• Proven track record cultivating major gifts from various funders.
• Experience translating industry challenges into investment strategies.
• Strong governance, financial stewardship and board relationship skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Foundation's fundraising and development strategy with growth in public and private funding.
• Build and develop a high-performing, mission-aligned team.
• Identify and advance partnerships with corporations, foundations, individuals, and government.
• Translate industry challenges into compelling investment strategies and fundraising initiatives.
• Oversee the Foundation's scholarship portfolio with strong governance and donor alignment.
• Collaborate with SME leadership to connect philanthropic investments with capabilities.

Skills

Executive leadership

Fundraising strategy

Board governance

Strategic thinking

Relationship management

Public speaking

Budgeting

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Description

Responsible for aligning the Foundation’s strategy and priorities with SME’s broader vision and mission. This position provides overall executive leadership for the Foundation, with accountability for its strategy, financial performance, organizational effectiveness, operations and Board governance.

The Vice President also leads the Foundation’s fundraising and development strategy, philanthropic partnerships, financial stewardship and managing its signature scholarship portfolio. Success requires someone who is simultaneously a strategic thinker, exceptional fundraiser, coalition builder and organizational leader capable of mobilizing resources and relationships around bold opportunities to advance manufacturing’s future.

Working closely with the SME CEO, executive leadership, SME Education Foundation Board of Directors and the broader SME organization, the Vice President will translate industry challenges and opportunities into compelling public and private investment strategies and fundraising initiatives.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS

• Lead the Foundation's comprehensive fundraising and development strategy, with accountability for significant and sustained growth in public and private sector investment.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing team, including recruiting and retaining talent, establishing clear expectations and accountability, managing performance and fostering a collaborative culture aligned with organizational objectives.
• Maintain a strong understanding of manufacturing, workforce and education needs, the external funding environment and emerging opportunities to identify areas where philanthropic investment can create meaningful and scalable impact.
• Identify and advance partnerships that have the potential to mobilize resources and collective action at meaningful scale.
• Build and maintain a diversified portfolio of funding relationships across corporations, foundations, individuals, government and other public-private funding sources.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward gifts, multi-year commitments and strategic investments.
• Build and actively manage a robust fundraising pipeline with clear goals, prospects, strategies, accountabilities and forecasts.
• Partner closely with SME executive leadership and teams across the organization to connect philanthropic investment with SME's capabilities, expertise, networks and platforms.
• Foster a strong spirit of collaboration across SME, building effective partnerships and leveraging the collective expertise, relationships and capabilities of the organization to achieve shared goals and maximize impact.
• Serve as the senior executive responsible for the SME Education Foundation and primary management liaison to its Board of Directors.
• Partner with the Foundation Board President and Directors to establish strategy, priorities and measures of success and strengthen Board engagement in fundraising, advocacy and relationship development.
• Prepare and manage the Foundation's annual budget and long-range financial outlook and ensure responsible stewardship of Foundation assets and donor resources.
• Oversee and grow the Foundation's signature scholarship portfolio, ensuring strong governance, stewardship, donor alignment and measurable impact.
• Ensure compliance with donor restrictions, grants, contracts, regulatory requirements and nonprofit governance standards.
• Serve as a visible external leader and spokesperson for the SME Education Foundation including media, speaking engagements, and industry events.
• Build coalitions and strategic partnerships that extend the Foundation's reach, resources and impact.
• Ensure the Foundation has appropriate systems, processes and technologies to operate efficiently and effectively.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

MINIMUM EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, nonprofit management, philanthropy, education, communications or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in philanthropy, fundraising, foundation or nonprofit leadership, corporate social impact, workforce development, economic development or a related field, including senior leadership experience.
• At least five years of experience managing and leading high-performing teams, including recruiting, developing and retaining talent and aligning team performance with organizational strategy and culture.
• Significant senior leadership experience in philanthropy, fundraising, foundations, nonprofit leadership, corporate social impact, workforce or economic development, or another relevant field.
• Demonstrated record of developing and executing successful fundraising strategies resulting in significant growth in philanthropic investment.
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit and close major and transformational gifts from corporations, foundations, individuals and other institutional funders.
• Experience developing relationships with senior corporate executives, philanthropic leaders, public-sector stakeholders and other influential decision-makers.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex societal, economic or industry challenges into compelling strategies and cases for investment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing, workforce development, education, or economic development and the forces shaping the future of work.
• Experience building partnerships or coalitions involving multiple organizations and stakeholder groups.
• Financial acumen and experience with budgets, fundraising forecasts, grants and philanthropic investment.
• Exceptional executive communication skills and the ability to represent an organization credibly with senior leaders, boards, donors, government stakeholders, media and industry audiences.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with a Board of Directors or volunteer committees.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience developing or leading major philanthropic campaigns, collective-impact initiatives or multi-funder collaborations addressing significant societal, workforce, education or economic challenges.
• Demonstrated success securing seven-figure or larger gifts, grants, commitments or partnerships.
• Experience working at the intersection of industry, education, workforce development, philanthropy and/or government.
• Understanding of manufacturing workforce challenges, including career awareness and perception, workforce participation, education-to-career pathways, skills gaps and the changing skill requirements associated with advanced manufacturing.

KEY COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies

• Communication & Collaboration
• Relationship Management
• Professionalism & Integrity
• Critical Thinking & Decision-Making
• Execution & Accountability
• Initiative, Leadership, and Development

Leadership Competencies

• Leadership and Vision
• Talent Management and Development
• Change Leadership

Job-Specific Competencies

• Strategic Fundraising & Development
• Public-Private Partnership and Coalition Building
• Industry & Workforce Insight
• Case-for-Investment Development
• Executive Communication and Listening
• Board Leadership and Engagement
• Executive Stakeholder Collaboration
• Impact Measurement

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal office environment.
• Regular, in-person attendance required.
• Primary office location: Southfield, MI
• Travel (25 to 40% of total time)

Summary

POSITION TITLE: Vice President, SME Education Foundation
GROUP: SME Education Foundation

SME is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veteran status. Applicants must reside in the United States and be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for sponsorship.

In addition to base salary, SME offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b) with company matching, generous paid time off and holidays, professional development and training opportunities, and additional wellness and work-life balance benefits. Certain positions may also be eligible for bonus/incentive compensation, subject to role and company policies.

SME is currently unable to hire employees residing in California, Colorado, Oregon, or Washington.