Senior Director of Development

The Senior Director of Development reports to the Assistant Dean for Advancement and serves as a senior frontline fundraiser for the College of Arts & Sciences. This role is responsible for the full arc of major and principal gift work - discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship - with a focus on donors and prospects capable of giving $100,000 and above. The Senior Director will manage an active portfolio of approximately 80 high-capacity donors, build genuine relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and University colleagues, and serve as a compelling voice for A&S's priorities and philanthropic potential. A key partner to the Assistant Dean and Dean in their work with top prospects, this person will be expected to move donors through the pipeline with purpose.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of eight years of fundraising experience, preferably in Higher education.
• Valid driver's license is required.

Skills and Knowledge

• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising including a record of discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors and prospects.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff and volunteers.
• Strategic thinker able to develop and successfully execute fundraising plans.
• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to follow through and attention to details, manage multiple priorities.
• Strong verbal and written skills.
• Excel at building relationships internally and externally.
• Must be donor and goal centric.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a complex environment and work independently.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.

Responsibilities

• In coordination with the Assistant Dean, strategize, develop and execute individual fundraising plans to secure major and principal gifts from alumni, parents and friends with the capacity to make gifts of $100K+.
• Manage an assigned portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects (~80) to maximize giving potential of each donor and prospect.
• Discover and qualify suspects for major and principal gifts as well as solicit annual gifts at the leadership annual giving level.
• Focus on the College's priorities and fundraising goals; Project management as needed.
• Serve as a senior leader on the advancement team.
• Partner closely with the Assistant Dean for Advancement and Dean to shape and advance fundraising strategy for the College.
• Lead efforts to build and sustain robust major gift prospect pipelines.
• Mentor and support frontline fundraisers to strengthen collective fundraising performance.
• Support the Dean's travel and donor engagement activities as needed, including preparation of briefings, prospect strategies, and post-visit follow-up.
• Regularly review and assess progress to the achievement of goals via reports available in Dashboards.
• Represent the college and their interests/priorities across campus as needed.
• Project management as assigned.
• Support the Assistant Dean and Dean in their work with volunteer board(s) as needed.
• Attend and participate in college and central development office meetings, training opportunities, as well as University-wide functions.
• Other Duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.