Associate Athletic Director for Development - University of the Pacific

Founded in 1851, University of the Pacific is California’s first university and a nationally recognized private institution known for preparing students to lead with purpose. With a strong emphasis on personalized education, innovation, and service, Pacific combines the resources and opportunities of a comprehensive university with the close-knit feel of a student-centered community.

Pacific has three unique campuses across Northern California. Its flagship 175-acre Stockton campus is consistently recognized as one of the most beautiful college campuses in America. As the only West Coast university featuring collegiate gothic architecture, Pacific offers a distinctive campus experience complemented by iconic carillon bells, Division I athletics, and the renowned Faye Spanos Concert Hall. Additional campuses in Sacramento and San Francisco extend Pacific’s impact across the state, supporting nationally recognized programs in health sciences, law, business, and more.

About the role

The Associate Athletic Director for Development is an opportunity for an accomplished fundraiser to lead philanthropic strategy for Pacific Athletics while personally cultivating the major donor relationships that can have a lasting impact on student-athletes and the university.

As a member of both University Development and Athletics leadership, you’ll lead Athletics fundraising with a primary focus on major gifts, manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects, and partner with university leaders, coaches, development colleagues, and volunteers to translate Pacific’s priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities. This is both a strategic and hands-on fundraising role. You’ll provide leadership to Athletics development staff while remaining actively engaged with donors—building relationships, developing individualized strategies, and securing major gifts of $100,000 and above.

Responsibilities

• Lead the fundraising strategy for Pacific Athletics, including major gifts, campaign priorities, annual fundraising goals, and donor engagement.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors, moving relationships through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop individualized donor strategies in partnership with Athletics, University Development, campus leaders, coaches, and volunteers.
• Build collaborative relationships with frontline development officers across Pacific’s schools and colleges to effectively co-manage shared prospects and maximize philanthropic opportunities.
• Lead and develop Athletics development staff, establishing clear expectations, performance metrics, and accountability for fundraising results.
• Strengthen the partnership between Athletics development and University Development’s Annual Giving team, aligning priorities across crowdfunding, Pacific’s annual Giving Day, donor pipelines, and communications.
• Develop proposals, briefings, donor correspondence, and other materials that advance major gift conversations and philanthropic commitments.
• Ensure Athletics priorities are represented within University Development’s broader strategic and campaign planning.
• Build and sustain relationships with alumni, parents, friends, community leaders, corporations, foundations, and volunteers whose interests align with Pacific Athletics.
• Oversee Athletics development operations, including budget planning, program effectiveness, donor events, and collaboration with annual giving and advancement services.
• Partner with the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations on additional priorities that advance Pacific’s philanthropic goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Two years of full-time experience in the same or a similar position may substitute for one year of completed post-high-school education coursework.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or athletics.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and successfully moving prospects through the fundraising cycle.
• Experience developing and executing campaign and fundraising strategies.
• Demonstrated experience leading annual giving fundraising strategies.
• Experience supervising development professionals and setting expectations and accountability for fundraising performance.
• Experience partnering effectively with senior leaders, volunteers, donors, coaches, alumni, parents, and other key stakeholders.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience developing fundraising plans, proposals, donor briefings, and cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Strong organizational, strategic planning, and budget management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures and incorporate culturally responsive practices into your work.
• Demonstrated experience advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.

Pay

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $105,000–$139,000 annually. Pacific considers factors including the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate qualifications, internal equity, and market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Employer retirement contributions of up to 10%
• Generous paid holidays and vacation
• Tuition remission and tuition exchange programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Wellness resources
• Employee Assistance Program
• Relocation assistance can be provided for the successful candidate.

Schedule

This is an in-person role based on Pacific’s Stockton campus. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate within California, preferably within 25 miles of Pacific’s Stockton campus. The position requires frequent local and overnight travel. The Associate Athletic Director for Development should also be prepared to work occasional non-business hours and weekends to support donor engagement, Athletics activities, and university priorities.