Associate Director of Development

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Who We Are

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a globally recognized leader in business education, committed to building a better world through business. Through powerful ideas, purpose-driven leaders, and meaningful impact, Ross empowers individuals and organizations to make a positive difference. Our community is guided by core values that emphasize innovation, continuous learning, and excellence. Together, we strive to develop leaders who drive change and create lasting impact across industries and communities. Learn more about Ross here.

The Office of Advancement drives the fundraising and alumni relations activities of the Ross School of Business.

Job Summary

The role of the Associate Director of Advancement is to manage a portfolio of prospective donors for the Ross School of Business, traveling to the tri-state region, primarily Manhattan, to secure major gifts ($100k+). Managed by the Regional Director of Major and Principal Gifts, this person will develop and implement strategies for the discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donor prospects within their assigned geographic area. In this position, you will engage prospects and alumni in conversations about their campus experiences and post-graduation paths, guiding discussions to help them understand business school priorities and connecting them to meaningful philanthropic involvement with Michigan Ross.

This hybrid position is based in Ann Arbor, MI, with an expectation of three days per week on-site. The role requires occasional domestic travel and work outside standard business hours, including early mornings, evenings, or weekends. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain that authorization throughout employment. Please see here for a full job description.

What You'll Do

Community and Collaboration:

• Contributes to our positive and inclusive work community by building trusting partnerships across the school, continually learning, creating impactful experiences, and working with a sense of ownership for outcomes.
• Celebrates the work of teammates who help make fundraising possible and easier.
• Creates and maintains strong relationships with faculty and staff across Ross to deeply understand various school programs and specific fundraising needs.

Travel, Relationship Management, and Cultivation:

• Travels regularly (approximately 50% of the time) to secure major gifts, maintaining comfort with navigating public transportation and travel logistics.
• Engages with donors through the full fundraising lifecycle: introduction, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Conducts meetings with prospects and donors in a variety of settings, including homes, offices, or public spaces, and brings confidence to meeting new people for the first time.

Strategic Partnerships and Staffing:

• Maintains active relationships with Office of University Development regional colleagues, collaborating closely on multi-affiliate alumni, prospects, and donors.
• Attends regular full team and subteam meetings and provides timely follow-up on all actions.
• Ready to capably staff school leadership during regional travel or in Ann Arbor during home football games.

Strategic Planning and Campaign Participation:

• Participates in the development of geographic area objectives and strategies.
• Participates in cultivation and stewardship strategy setting with the Director of Strategic Alumni & Donor Engagement and Director of Major Gifts and Principal Stewardship for the assigned geographic area.
• Develops and maintains appropriate and effective reporting of activity and monitoring of resources or expenditures associated with the program and portfolio.
• Assists in the execution of a major School-wide fundraising campaign as it relates to the University-wide campaign.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum 3 years of experience in fundraising (especially in personal solicitation programs), or relevant work experience in sales or similar field.
• Experience working and collaborating with a variety of partners.
• Demonstrated written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of business productivity tools such as Google Workspace or Microsoft Office and video conferencing applications.
• Experience working with sensitive and confidential data.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous paid time off (Vacation, Holidays, Season Days, Maternity and Parental Leave)
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Flexible work arrangements
• Access to the onsite Fitness Center at Ross

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

Salary Information:

The salary offer range for this position is $75,300 - $97,300. Salary offers are determined based on several factors, including a candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications, along with internal equity considerations. It is not common for new hires to be offered the top of the range.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.