Senior Associate Athletic Director, Development - Cal State Long Beach

🏀 Help shape the future of Division I Athletics while advancing your own leadership career.

Another Source is partnering with Cal State Long Beach to recruit their next Senior Associate Athletic Director, Development—the chief fundraising leader for Beach Athletics and a key member of both the University Development Division and the Athletics senior leadership team.

This is a unique opportunity to bridge Advancement and Athletics, partnering closely with University Development leadership and the Executive Director of Athletics to expand philanthropic support, strengthen donor relationships, and help drive the long-term success of one of California's premier NCAA Division I athletic programs.

🏆 Why this opportunity stands out:

• Serve as the chief fundraising leader for Long Beach State Athletics.
• Be a member of both the University Development Division and the Athletics senior leadership team, influencing strategy across both areas.
• Supervise an NCAA Division I sport program—providing valuable leadership experience for professionals interested in future Athletic Director opportunities.
• Lead a sophisticated major and principal gifts program, partnering with donors to secure transformational philanthropic investments that advance the future of Beach Athletics.
• Build a culture of philanthropy while partnering with coaches, campus leaders, alumni, and passionate supporters.
• Join a university known for developing and promoting exceptional leaders.

If you're ready to lead the future of philanthropy for Beach Athletics while expanding your executive leadership experience, apply today.

#AthleticsDevelopment #CollegeAthletics #NCAA #Fundraising #HigherEdJobs #AthleticDirector #Advancement #MajorGifts #Leadership

Another Source’s client, Cal State Long Beach, is recruiting a Senior Associate Athletic Director, Development to join their team in Long Beach, California. Go Beach!  

Here’s a little about Cal State Long Beach and the position they are recruiting for:   

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is one of the nation's leading public universities, recognized for its commitment to student success, academic excellence, and community impact. As part of the California State University system, CSULB provides students with transformational educational experiences while fostering innovation, inclusion, and meaningful engagement across Southern California. 

Long Beach State Athletics sponsors 19 NCAA Division I varsity sports and supports student-athletes competing at the highest level. With a proud tradition of competitive success and a passionate alumni and fan base, the department is focused on creating transformational opportunities for student-athletes while strengthening the philanthropic support that fuels scholarships, facilities, and championship aspirations. 

As philanthropic support becomes increasingly important in collegiate athletics, the Senior Associate AD, Development will play a critical role in building the relationships and resources that position Long Beach State Athletics for continued success. 

About the University Relations and Development Team: 

The University Relations and Development (URD) division at CSU Long Beach builds relationships and generates resources that strengthen the university’s capacity to achieve its mission. The development team partners closely with colleges, university leadership, alumni, donors, corporations, and foundations to advance philanthropic support across the institution. Through strategic fundraising, donor engagement, and cross-campus collaboration, the team works to foster a strong culture of philanthropy that supports student success, innovation, and institutional priorities. The team is focused on building meaningful, long-term relationships that deepen alumni and donor connection to the university 

To learn more about the University Relations and Development division, please visit: https://www.csulb.edu/university-relations-and-development 

To learn more about Long Beach State Athletics, please visit: https://longbeachstate.com/ 

Did you know? The California State University system is the largest public four-year university system in the world, serving more than 486,000 students with the support of over 56,000 faculty and staff: Learn more here. 

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $135,000- 150,000, commensurate with experience. Relocation support is available.  

About the role:  

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Development and serving as a member of the Executive Director of Athletics' senior leadership team, the Senior Associate Athletic Director, Development serves as the department's chief athletics development officer. This executive leadership position is responsible for leading the comprehensive athletics fundraising program, with a strong emphasis on securing major gifts of $50,000+ and principal gifts of $1 million+. 

The position leads a team of six, including two direct reports within Athletics Development, while also providing sport supervision for an NCAA Division I men's and women's program. In addition to coaching staff, the sport supervision portfolio includes assistant coaching staff and student assistants, providing leadership and operational oversight that extends beyond fundraising into the broader success of the athletics department.  

You'll work closely with university leadership, coaches, donors, alumni, and community partners to strengthen philanthropic support, advance strategic priorities, and help position Long Beach State Athletics for long-term success. In addition to personally managing a major gift portfolio, you'll provide leadership for athletics development operations, annual and planned giving initiatives, donor engagement, and a high-performing development team.  

Scope & Impact 

• Lead Long Beach State Athletics' comprehensive philanthropic strategy, overseeing major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, donor stewardship, campaigns, and fundraising operations.  

• Personally manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of $25,000+ with a focus on gifts above $100,000, including principal gifts at the $1 million+ level from individuals, corporations, and foundations. 

• Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that deepen donor engagement and increase philanthropic investment.  

• Supervise and mentor athletics development staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing fundraising culture.  

• Partner with Athletics, University Relations and Development, coaches, and campus leadership to align fundraising priorities with institutional goals.  

• Lead fundraising efforts supporting scholarships, capital projects, facility enhancements, and comprehensive campaigns.  

• Serve as a member of the Executive Director of Athletics' Senior Staff, contributing to strategic planning and department-wide leadership.  

• Serve as Sport Supervisor for assigned programs, providing leadership and oversight while ensuring compliance with NCAA, conference, and university regulations.  

• Represent Long Beach State Athletics with alumni, corporate partners, volunteers, donors, and community stakeholders to strengthen relationships and expand philanthropic support.  

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree.  

• Five or more years of successful major gift fundraising experience, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.  

• Demonstrated knowledge of comprehensive fundraising, including major gifts, annual giving, capital campaigns, planned giving, prospect research, proposal development, and donor engagement.  

• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills.  

• Strong organizational, planning, and strategic thinking abilities.  

• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience with the ability to develop and motivate high-performing teams.  

• Ability to build productive partnerships with campus leaders, coaches, alumni, volunteers, and external constituents.  

• Proficiency with CRM systems and standard business applications.  

• Valid California driver's license.  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience fundraising for an NCAA Division I athletics program.  

• Experience leading comprehensive athletics fundraising initiatives within higher education.  

• Demonstrated success securing major and principal gifts.  

• Experience developing fundraising strategies that leverage data, analytics, and donor insights. 

Why a career with CSU is for You: 

The CSU system offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary: https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits/Documents/employee-benefits-summary.pdf 

• Immerse yourself: Being on campus allows you to enjoy renowned sporting events, artist events, world-renowned speakers. Stroll through trails, museums, and enjoy all campus has to offer. 

• Tuition waiver: up to 2 courses, or 6 units, per semester for employee, spouse, registered domestic partner or eligible dependent child for any of the 23 campuses.  

• Mission driven culture: Transforming the lives of a diverse student body, including first-generation students and under-represented communities. 

• Jury duty: The CSU will continue an employee’s salary while they are on jury duty, regardless of length of jury service. 

• CalPERS Retirement Plan: CalPERS is a defined benefit retirement pension plan. Lifetime medical benefits for you, your spouse, or registered domestic partner. Learn more here: http://www.calpers.ca.gov/ 

• 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plan (Similar to a 401k plan) 

• Employees in this classification are entitled to two vacation days (16 hours) per month. 

• A healthier you. Access to athletic and gym facilities on campus  

• Transportation support. Pre-tax commuter benefits 

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination:  

The California State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, or protected veteran status consistent with applicable federal and state laws. This policy applies to all CSU students, faculty and staff programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). 

Another Source works with their clients on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.    

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