Development Specialist

Details

Open Date 05/14/2026

Requisition Number PRN45046B

Job Title Development

Working Title Development Specialist

Career Progression Track P00

Track Level P2 - Developing

FLSA Code Administrative

Patient Sensitive Job Code? No

Standard Hours per Week 40

Full Time or Part Time? Full Time

Shift Day

Work Schedule Summary

Typically, Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, with appointments, including travel, outside of those hours (as needed). The job duties of a development professional are predominately performed in an in-office/in-person work environment. Due to the nature of donor engagement this role may also include some evenings and weekends, especially when the college is hosting events.

VP Area President

Department 00700 - Office of Advancement

Location Campus

City Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment External Posting

Pay Rate Range 56,000-66,000

Close Date 08/14/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement, the Development Specialist for the College of Fine Arts ( CFA ) is responsible for supporting the fundraising program of the college. As a member in the University Advancement function, the Development Specialist is expected to support and live out the Advancement division’s Core Values of Collaboration, Belonging, Empowerment, and Integrity.

The College of Fine Arts has a powerful vision: “A world where we harness the power of the arts to inspire us all to find our voices, fuel our passions, and ignite our futures.” The College is made up of five distinct but complimentary academic units; Department of Art & Art History, School of Dance, Department of Film & Media Arts, School of Music, and Department of Theatre. The work of the Advancement unit is to connect alumni, friends and donors with the special mission and vision of the college through philanthropic support.

The Development Specialist will oversee the following primary functions within the College of Fine Arts: administrative support for the CFA Advancement team and frontline fundraisers, donor relations, and donor recognition/stewardship.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to meaningfully engage a broad community of alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends to support the mission and priorities of the College of Fine Arts.

Responsibilities

Administrative support for the College of Fine Arts Advancement team

• Act as the key contact with the CFA Dean’s office, CFA Marketing & Communications team, and Central Advancement.

• Serve as the primary administrative contact for scheduling, business operations/reporting, and office logistics for the CFA Advancement team.

Support the College of Fine Arts frontline fundraising team

• Maintaining accurate constituent and gift records.

• Help prepare and run reports for development officers, alumni engagement, and stewardship efforts.

• Collect and organize donor visit and travel documentation, ensuring compliance with university and foundation expense guidelines.

• Track, review, and reconcile expense reports and reimbursements in a timely and accurate manner in coordination with CFA business office and Advancement services.

College of Fine Arts donor relations administration

• Working with CFA’s Advancement team, execute a comprehensive donor relations program that supports the four pillars of donor relations.

Acknowledgements:

• Manage the design and production of donor acknowledgment letters.

• Develop and maintain acknowledgment templates, segmentation strategies, and an annual calendar for acknowledgment delivery.

Stewardship and Impact Reporting:

• Coordinate the creation and tracking of annual endowment, scholarship and impact reports in partnership with CFA academic units and Central Advancement.

• Collect financial, narrative, and visual content for reports to demonstrate the donor’s impact.

Recognition:

• Liaise with university scholarship administration teams to ensure CFA donors are appropriately matched, recognized, and informed of student impact.

• Oversee and coordinate donor recognition activities.

Engagement:

• Liaise with CFA and University event planners to execute donor-centric events, such as appreciation receptions, scholarship luncheons, and intimate cultivation gatherings.

• Collaborate with CFA Marketing & Communications to create meaningful donor communications that foster connection and inspire continued support.

• Work with the Advancement Services team execute a best practices stewardship program that includes impact reporting, gift acknowledgement, and a high level of donor engagement.

• Work on giving campaigns in alignment with the University—including Giving Tuesday, Giving Day, End of Year appeal etc, to help in the cultivation of new donors.

• Work directly with CFA board members and volunteers.

• Track and analyze donor engagement metrics and report on donor participation and satisfaction.

• Work with other areas across campus to strategically steward and cultivate shared donors and prospects.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Complete other duties assigned by the Senior Director of Advancement.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fine arts, marketing, communication, public relations or a related area.

• UCareers: 4 years of directly related work experience in philanthropy; or a master’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience in philanthropy. Assumes work equivalency (1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience.

• Possess knowledge and familiarity with the visual or performing arts, museums or other cultural organizations.

• Strong human relations and excellent communication skills.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Preferences

• Experience with CRM database preferred.

• Great organizational skills, a calm head and a great sense of humor are a plus.

Disclaimer: This job description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Type Benefited Staff

Special Instructions Summary

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io or University Human Resource Management at View phone number on click.appcast.io if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX ( OEO ). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page .

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As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members , a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.