POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting directly to the Vice President for University Advancement, the Senior Director of Developmentprovides strategic leadership and oversight for the University’s comprehensive fundraising program. This role is responsible foridentifying, cultivating, soliciting, negotiating, and stewarding major, planned, and leadership-level gifts in support of institutionalpriorities.
The Senior Director manages and leads development staff and is responsible for the continued growth andprofessionalization of the development function. As the University’s fundraising program expands, this position is designed to evolve withthe addition of subdirectors and specialized fundraising units reporting to this role
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Theessential roles and responsibilities of the Senior Director of Development include:
- Manages and coordinates fundraising forinstitutional priorities in collaboration with the Vice President for University Advancement and the President.
- Providesstrategic leadership for the University’s fundraising efforts and advises executive leadership on philanthropic trends.
- Assistsin planning and executing annual and multi-year fundraising strategies.
- Oversees donor prospect identification, research, andportfolio management.
- Coordinates biographical and financial research using internal and external resources.
- Serves asa cultivation and strategy partner for the Vice President for University Advancement, the President, and trustees.
- Preparesconfidential donor profiles, strategy briefings, and background materials for solicitations and events.
- Rates donor inclinationand capacity and guides solicitation strategies across development units.
- Manages and supports leadership portfolios andhigh-capacity donor relationships.
- Identifies and maintains prospects for major and planned gifts.
- Participates in allphases of the gift cycle, including cultivation, solicitation, negotiation, closure, and stewardship.
- Maintains a personalportfolio of leadership-level donors and prospects.
- Supervises development staff and prepares for the addition of subdirectors asthe program grows.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the Vice President for University Advancement.
PHYSICALDEMANDS
- Standard office environment
- Travel 10–25%, as required
EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution required; master’s degree preferred.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Five or more years of major gift fundraising experience, preferably in higher education.
- Demonstratedleadership and supervisory experience.
- Ability to articulate and advance a compelling case for support.
- Knowledge ofcharitable giving, tax considerations, and donor stewardship.
- Excellent oral, written, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage complex, multi-functional development operations.