Development Director

Salary: $90,311.00 - $106,248.00 annually
Job Type: Full-time, exempt salaried staff

About the role

Utah Valley University is seeking talented, relationship-driven development professionals to join our team as Development Directors. These positions offer an exciting opportunity to build meaningful philanthropic partnerships and help advance the priorities of one of Utah's largest and fastest-growing universities.

Development Directors serve as strategic partners to university leaders, working closely with donors, alumni, community and business leaders, faculty, staff, and campus partners to identify opportunities, cultivate relationships, and secure philanthropic support. From developing comprehensive fundraising strategies and securing major gifts to engaging advisory boards and supporting alumni and community initiatives, these roles offer the opportunity to see your work translate directly into meaningful impact.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to shape development priorities, build lasting relationships, collaborate across the university, and connect donors' passions with initiatives that strengthen the student experience and advance UVU's mission. If you are an experienced development professional who combines strategic thinking with exceptional relationship-building skills and is excited by the opportunity to make a visible, lasting impact, we invite you to join UVU's Institutional Advancement team.

Responsibilities

• Raises funds from external constituencies.
• Manages an assigned portfolio of donors and prospects, identifies and qualifies prospects, engages and cultivates current and prospective donors, and directly solicits donors for major gifts and stewards donor relationships.
• Drafts and executes development gift agreements, gift acceptance letters, funding proposals, or other presentations associated with development.
• Represents UVU Athletics at key development and alumni events and fundraising or donor engagement opportunities. Travels to various functions around the country.
• Organizes and implements development strategy internally. Prepares and implements development plans for the college or unit.
• Organizes and develops leadership within the unit's fundraising-oriented advisory or volunteer organizations.
• Monitors Athletics alumni relations efforts and manages volunteers assisting with those efforts.
• Supports central development efforts, including a majority of colleges or campus units, e.g. the President's Scholarship Ball.
• Collaborates with development staff across campus to achieve the goals of Athletics and of the University.
• Documents development efforts, builds a donor pipeline, and identifies and researches potential funding sources and opportunities.
• Maintains records on donor prospects according to university standards, including pertinent information on individuals and organizations and their interest in and ability to support the school's initiatives and programs.
• May supervise full or part-time support personnel and/or student workers or interns.
• Other duties as assigned, which may include supporting university-level priorities in corporate sponsorship and engagement-focused events.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited institution with a bachelor's degree in a related discipline plus three years of staff-level experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience related to the Summary of Duties totaling seven years.
• Preferred: Have personal transportation or means to travel to meetings at other sites related to the nature of this position.
• Valid Utah driver's license.

Skills

Knowledge

• Knowledge of and significant direct experience with fundraising procedures, techniques, and the ability to apply this knowledge in personal fundraising.
• Strong knowledge of effective web-based search engines and search strategies.
• Knowledge of academic operations, governance, and culture.
• Knowledge of gift planning strategies.

Skills

• Strong aptitude with standard office productivity software, which must include Microsoft Office programs.
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Strong strategic planning and critical thinking skills.

Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to work with business, philanthropic, and community leaders.
• Ability to plan effective development strategies for donors.
• Ability to think conceptually, globally, and understand the comprehensive operation of an institution of higher education.
• Ability to appropriately represent the dean/unit leader and the interests of their unit.
• Experience with administration, including methods and techniques for the preparation, analysis, and conformity with budgets.
• Ability to effectively manage records and databases.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a university community.
• Possess a professional outlook and a keen sense of accountability and be highly energetic, focused, and outcome-oriented.
• Ability to freely navigate multiple campus sites, including visits to other campus locations.