Senior Associate Athletics Director, Development Intercollegiate Athletics

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles , Principles of Community , and Strategic Plan .

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

Departmental Overview

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics consists of more than 275 staff members and coaches and sponsors 30 varsity sports programs. These 30 programs include more than 850 student-athletes who participate in the various sports programs annually within the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

This position serves as the Deputy Chief Development Officer for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (IA) and works closely with the head of External Relations, Director of Athletics, and University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) leadership to plan and implement overall fundraising strategies and goals for the department. The Senior Associate Athletics Director, Development is a member of the department's Director's Cabinet and reports directly to the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, External Relations. In addition, this position serves as an active participant on the athletic department's External Leadership Team.

The Senior Associate Athletics Director, Development is responsible for managing and assessing a wide range of development programs and activities to achieve the department's and the university's fundraising goals. These programs and activities include development officers, leadership gifts, capital campaigns, annual giving, donor engagement, and gift reconciliation. The Senior Associate Athletics Director, Development oversees a full-time staff of approximately 20 and interacts regularly with athletics staff and coaches, key volunteers and members of the donor community, UDAR staff, California Alumni Association staff, and staff members in the Chancellor's Office and UC Berkeley Foundation Trustees. General management responsibilities include developing, implementing, and assessing short and long-range strategies to achieve departmental fundraising goals, setting and monitoring the unit's operating budget, and motivating, directing, and evaluating staff. This position requires a high level of leadership and management ability, as well as vision and strategic planning skills, aligned with the athletics department's external relations goals.

This position o versees, through subordinate managers, a large department or multiple smaller units. Has significant responsibility to achieve broadly stated goals through subordinate managers. Determines objectives, directs programs, develops strategies and policies, manages human, financial, and physical resources, and functions with a high degree of autonomy. Proactively assesses risk to establish systems and procedures to protect organizational assets. Determines strategies for a program with organization-wide impact.


The position m anages a moderately complex fundraising program, including the design, delivery, and administration of fundraising initiatives . Assignments require managing a fundraising staff comprised of several professionals and related administrative support staff. The position is responsible for the full range of development programs and for other external relations functions, such as events, volunteer and donor coordination and management, and other marketing and communication activities.


Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: June 2, 2026


Responsibilities

• Manages a moderately complex, multi-channel fundraising program encompassing the full spectrum of development activities, including leadership giving, annual giving, and donor engagement. Oversees and integrates related donor engagement functions such as signature events, volunteer coordination and engagement, donor stewardship, and recognition programs to ensure a cohesive and impactful donor experience. Aligns all efforts with Cal Athletics' priorities, while maximizing philanthropy and strengthening long-term relationships with key stakeholders.
• In partnership with leadership, conceives, creates, and leads the development of comprehensive fundraising strategies designed to achieve predetermined goals and objectives. Implements and manages these strategies across multiple channels. Adjusts tactics to optimize results, ensuring that all fundraising goals are consistently met or exceeded while identifying new opportunities for growth.
• Manages and oversees a team of development professionals and administrative support staff, ensuring effective coordination of responsibilities across functional areas. Establishes clear roles, expectations, and performance standards while fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment. Promotes cross-functional collaboration and communication to enhance efficiency and effectiveness across all fundraising and external relations efforts.
• Recruits, selects, trains, mentors, and provides ongoing professional development for staff, cultivating a culture of accountability, growth, and excellence. Provides clear direction and leadership to ensure alignment with Cal Athletics' and UDAR's mission and vision. Conducts regular performance evaluations, offers constructive feedback, and implements corrective actions when necessary to maintain high standards. Inspires and motivates staff to achieve individual and team goals, builds a strong leadership pipeline, and fosters long-term organizational success.
• Participates in long and short-range strategic planning.
• Oversees and manages the identification, cultivation and solicitation of donors and donor prospects throughout California and nationwide. Could include traveling with donors to home/away football, men's basketball, and select post-season events.
• Other, including professional development.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrates strong knowledge of leadership/management concepts, procedures, techniques, and best practices.
• Proven success in managing, mentoring, motivating, and retaining a professional fundraising staff. Ability to motivate others, including peers, direct reports, coaches, and volunteers.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communications skills, including excellent political acumen skills, to build and maintain effective working relationships within all organizational levels and with outside constituencies.
• Excellent skills in meeting predetermined goals and objectives.
• Demonstrates effective strategic planning, critical thinking, analytical, problem-solving, persuasion/negotiation skills, communication, and marketing skills.
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor and public relations, including advanced knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, et cetera.
• Excellent knowledge of the campus, its achievements, vision, mission, goals, objectives, applicable policies, infrastructure, and current issues of concern, and knowledge of issues of concern for higher education generally.
• Experience as a manager in the field of fundraising. Additional experience in marketing, communications, and public relations is also desirable.
• Proven record of accomplishment that demonstrates initiative, creativity, and managerial and interpersonal skills, preferably in a university setting.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills. Willingness to take risks and solve problems creatively.
• Well-developed leadership skills as demonstrated through an ability to appreciate and articulate the university's vision, values, and programs to donors, volunteers, and development staff in an engaging, motivating, and inspirational manner. Willingness to work as an integral part of the team.
• Ability to make a compelling case for supporting the priorities of the Athletic Department in a complex internal and external fundraising environment.
• Familiarity with the culture and environment of intercollegiate athletics and the ability to work within this environment.
• Knowledge of benefit-linked giving, athletics, and university development.
• Excellent computer skills, including Word, Excel, and database tools.
• Must be able to travel and work nights and weekends as required.
• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Must maintain current knowledge of applicable rules and standards of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), as well as other associations and agencies to which the Berkeley campus of the University of California adheres, and, at all times, avoid any and all violations of these rules and standards.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.


Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.


The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $210,000.00 - $240,000.00.

• This is a full-time (40 hours/week), career position that is eligible for UC Benefits.
• This is an exempt monthly-paid position.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity.
• This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Referral Source info

This job is part of the Employee Referral Program. If a UC Berkeley employee is referring you, please ensure you select the Referral Source of " UCB Employee ". Then enter the Employee's Name and Berkeley E-mail address in the Specific Referral Source field. Please enter only one name and email.


Driving Required

Required to hold valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.


Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.


Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.


Misconduct Disclosure

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

Misconduct means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace


Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.