Director of Development

Director of Development The Director of Development reports directly to the Vice President of Advancement and is a high-growth, results-oriented role responsible for expanding KGI’s philanthropic footprint. This position is designed for a sophisticated relationship manager with a background in strategic business development, professional services, or high-value client management. The Director will lead the strategic oversight of annual giving cycles and initiatives such as KGI Giving Days. The successful candidate will demonstrate a proactive “business development” mindset, identify new prospects, and possess the consultative skill set required to align donor interests with KGI’s leadership in Healthcare and Biotech. Central to this role is the ability to build deep, authentic trust with faculty and staff, translating complex academic and research excellence into meaningful philanthropic opportunities. Located in beautiful Claremont, California, KGI is a member of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five undergraduate liberal arts colleges, two graduate institutions, and the Claremont Colleges Services, which provides shared institutional support services. Education and Experience A bachelor’s degree is required, with experience in business development, marketing, banking/finance, or account management. Candidates should have five or more years in relationship-based sales, business development, or major gift fundraising, and a proven track record of meeting revenue targets and closing high-value contracts, multi-year agreements, or major gifts ($25,000+). Experience providing strategic oversight for multi-channel campaigns, project launches, or annual fund programs is a plus. Strong skills in managing complex donor pipelines, lead qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and long-term stewardship are essential. Essential Functions and Responsibilities Strategic Business Development & Relationship Management Portfolio Growth: Proactively manage a “portfolio” of 100–120 prospects using a disciplined, CRM-driven approach to move prospects from initial discovery to successful solicitation. Prospect Outreach: Conduct 10–12 high-quality strategic meetings per month to qualify new leads and deepen existing relationships. Collaborative Proposal Development: Work in close, daily partnership with Faculty and Staff to understand KGI’s research, mission and clinical breakthroughs, building internal trust and ensuring academic priorities are accurately represented to potential donors. Value Proposition: Translate KGI’s complex research and educational initiatives into a compelling “impact proposition” for individual donors and private partners. Annual Fund and Giving Day Oversight Campaign Strategy: Provide high-level oversight for KGI’s primary annual fund activities, specifically the Fall Campaign (November–December) and the Spring Giving Day (April). Cross-Functional Leadership: Serve as the primary liaison to the Marketing Office, defining the strategic “why” and target audience insights while delegating creative execution and digital deployment to the marketing team. Operational Alignment: Partner with the Operations Coordinator for Advancement Services to ensure high-quality data segmentation and list preparation, overseeing the process to ensure communications are sent accurately and on time (without performing data entry or execution). Institutional Representation & Internal Culture Faculty & Staff Integration: Actively participate in campus life to build the internal “social capital” necessary for effective fundraising, navigating the nuances of a university setting and building consensus with academic colleagues. Executive Partnership: Work in direct, frequent collaboration with the Vice President for Advancement to identify funding priorities and refine KGI’s case for support. Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Proactive Relationship Builder: Exceptional initiative and persistence for “cold” outreach and consistent, long-term follow-up. Academic Diplomacy: A high degree of emotional intelligence; the ability to listen to and learn from faculty experts and translate their passion into donor-centric language. Consultative Closing Skills: Strong ability to “ask for the investment” and navigate complex objections with tact, patience, and professional maturity. Project Oversight: Ability to manage complex, time-sensitive campaigns through effective delegation and cross-departmental collaboration (Marketing/Ops). Mission-Driven Orientation: Ability to apply high-level professional standards within a warm, relational, and mission-focused higher education environment. Commitment to CRM Discipline: Expert use of data tracking (e.g., Raiser's Edge) to manage activity and report on progress against benchmarks. Must possess a valid driver’s license and a driving record acceptable to the institute’s insurance carrier. Ability to lift 20 pounds and participate in light set-up for recruitment and campus events. Physical and Mental Requirements Ability to maintain good concentration while dealing with interruptions, with attention to detail and emphasis on accuracy. Capable of formulating work plans, articulating goals, and managing information. Requires sitting and standing for extended periods, reaching and extending arms, finger dexterity for keyboard use, as well as communication and visual and hearing abilities. Ability to drive locally and occasionally stand for prolonged periods at activities/events. Hours, Classification, and Status This is a staff, full-time, benefits-eligible, exempt position. Regular hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm, with flexibility based on institute needs. Salary Range $95,000 – $105,000 annualized, determined by internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training. Benefits KGI offers a comprehensive compensation and benefit package. Learn more at Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Keck Graduate Institute is an equal-opportunity employer. It does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all terms and conditions of employment. Employment Eligibility Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without employer sponsorship. No visa sponsorship is available from Keck Graduate Institute. Verification KGI is a participating employer in E-Verify and uses the system to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees as required by federal law. For more information about E-Verify, visit #J-18808-Ljbffr