Senior Director, Development

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The Senior Director, Development is a senior-level fundraising professional responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding the College's high-capacity prospects. Reporting to the Vice President (VP) of Institutional Advancement, the Senior Director focuses on securing transformational commitments at the $500,000+ level. The Senior Director serves as a strategic partner to the President, the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and the College's academic and auxiliary leadership, aligning donor interests with the College's highest strategic priorities and campaign initiatives. In addition to managing a personal portfolio of principal gift prospects, the Senior Director provides mentorship to other development team members and leadership in developing complex gift strategies that involve multiple institutional partners.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Manage a selective portfolio of approximately 75 major and principal gift prospects with the capacity to make transformational investments in the College, primarily located up and down the East Coast.
• Lead the design and execution of bespoke cultivation and solicitation strategies for high six- and seven-figure gifts, including blended gifts (outright and planned giving).
• Partner with the President and VP of Institutional Advancement to prepare for high-level donor interactions, providing comprehensive briefings, talking points, and strategic follow-up plans.
• Write and oversee the creation of highly personalized, complex gift proposals and case statements that articulate the impact of transformational philanthropy.
• Maintain regular engagement with the academic Deans and Chairs, translating their funding needs into philanthropic opportunities. Ensure fundraising objectives align with the strategic plan and campaign priorities.
• Maintain a consistent schedule of debriefs with the VP and President following all significant donor interactions; ensure all field activity is documented immediately in the CRM database to provide leadership with a real-time view of the principal gift pipeline.
• Work in close coordination with the VP to ensure principal gift activity is fully integrated into the broader campaign timeline and goal-setting.
• Serve as a mentor for development team members, providing guidance on "moves management" for donors with high growth potential.
• In close coordination with the President and VP, strategically engage and support high-level volunteers and Trustees in the identification and solicitation of major and principal gift prospects.
• Develop and implement high-touch, individualized stewardship plans for principal gift donors to ensure continued engagement and future investment.
• Maintain meticulous records of donor interactions, strategies, and solicitations in the advancement database to ensure accurate reporting and pipeline tracking.
• Stay abreast of trends in wealth management, tax law, and philanthropic vehicles to advise donors on the most effective ways to structure significant gifts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS - Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform job.

• Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Arts Administration, Business, or a related field or equivalent experience required; Master's degree or higher preferred.
• Minimum 8-10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience in higher education or a complex non-profit environment required.
• Proven success in personally closing seven-figure ($1M+) gifts and managing a pipeline of high six- and seven-figure prospects required.
• Driver's license required.
• Professional experience working and/or fundraising in communication, arts, media, or equivalent fields preferred.
• Previous experience working within a multi-year comprehensive campaign is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job.

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to navigate complex social and professional settings with high-net-worth individuals and institutional leaders.
• Ability to think creatively about donor interests and institutional needs to build "win-win" funding opportunities.
• Masterful written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate the College's vision in a way that inspires transformational giving.
• Ability and willingness to frequently share status and plans for donors with College leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across a matrixed organization, building consensus with faculty, deans, and senior administrators.
• Strong understanding of planned giving vehicles, complex assets, and the financial implications of large-scale philanthropic commitments.
• Strong understanding and experience on the application of AI tools for fundraising and relationship management preferred.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES - Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Requires the ability to travel frequently, both locally and nationally, and occasionally globally, and work occasional evenings and weekends for donor events.
• Usual office conditions; however, significant time is spent off-campus in face-to-face meetings with prospects and donors.

WORK ENVIRONMENT - Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• Usual office conditions

IN-OFFICE EXPECTATIONS

This position is primarily a hybrid role with expected days in the office each week.

The hybrid arrangement will be made upon hire. Candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the Boston campus to ensure operational effectiveness. This arrangement must be approved as outlined in the Remote Work Policy.

Compensation: $131,900.00 - $168,200.00 annually, commensurate with experience.


Grade of Position: 23-14E

Employment Category: Regular

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25

In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week.


Emerson Employment Categories influence work schedules, benefits eligibility, and time off policies. Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits, such as life and disability coverage and commuter offerings, are available.

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.