Directors of Development, University Advancement

About the Role

The University of Nevada, Reno is recruiting four Directors of Development within University Advancement to support the College of Science, College of Business, Orvis School of Nursing, and College of Education. These development professionals will bring substantial fundraising experience and knowledge of all aspects of development. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, the Directors will support college-specific fundraising priorities as well as central University Advancement initiatives. The positions actively manage a defined portfolio of major gift prospects and donors by guiding their cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship while also growing the base of major gift support through establishment of new relationships. The Directors will build strong and mutually beneficial relationships between donors, friends, alumni, businesses, and the community with academic leadership, faculty, and staff.

Responsibilities

Compensation Grade C Level

• Secure private philanthropic support for the strategic priorities of the college in collaboration with academic leadership and University Advancement.
• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, leading the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship process while expanding the pipeline of prospective donors through the development of new relationships.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships among donors, alumni, friends, businesses, community partners, academic leadership, faculty, and staff.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan that advances the college's priorities, with a primary emphasis on securing major gifts of $25,000 and above.

Compensation Grade D Level

• Design and execute a comprehensive fundraising program for an assigned college or school to achieve annual fundraising goals.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-net-worth prospects and donors while maintaining and growing a strategic portfolio of major gift donors.
• Develop and implement multi-disciplinary fundraising strategies in partnership with academic leadership and University Advancement to increase philanthropic support for the University.
• Serve as a mentor and resource to other Directors of Development and Associate Directors of Development, sharing best practices and contributing to the continued growth and success of the University's development program.

Qualifications

Compensation Grade C Level

• Bachelor's Degree and four (4) years of related professional work experience OR Master's Degree and two (2) years of related professional work experience.
• Successful professional experience required, preferably in higher education fundraising, non-profit, or in a related field which requires strong relationship-building and outcome-driven components or related experience.

Compensation Grade D Level

• Bachelor's Degree and six (6) years of related professional work experience OR Master's Degree and four (4) years of related professional work experience.
• Substantial fundraising experience which includes demonstrable experience with individuals in either a higher education, athletic development operation, sales team, or other profession that required the candidate to uncover prospects, make outreach, and meet, cultivate, and solicit prospects.
• Experience with fundraising databases, contact reports, and proposal preparation.
• Experience with a metric-driven, results-oriented environment.
• Engagement with donors to solicit high-level gifts.

Schedule & Travel

• Frequent local travel
• Variable work schedule to include nights and weekends

Compensation

Administrative Faculty – Grade C/D. Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience. To view the salary schedule for this position, visit the NSHE Salary Schedules and select Administrative Faculty by Grade.

Benefits

Retirement

The NSHE faculty retirement plan provides a 19.25% employer match with 100% vesting on the first day of employment. All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate unless they are members of PERS of Nevada.

Health & Wellness

• Health insurance options including dental and vision
• Generous annual leave, sick leave, long-term disability, and life insurance
• E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships with spouse/domestic partner options
• Mountain EAP provides counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues for employees and eligible dependents

Additional Perks

• Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders
• No state income tax
• Faculty Senate representation
• Grants-in-aid for faculty employees: reduced-rate tuition for up to six credits per semester; qualified dependents (unmarried, under 24, receiving at least 50% financial support) receive unlimited credits at reduced rate
• Dual Career Assistance Program for newly hired faculty spouses/partners to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada

Application Details

• Position Type: Exempt, Full-Time (100% FTE)
• Required Attachments: Resume/CV, Cover Letter, Contact Information for Three Professional References
• Posting Close Date: 11/30/2026 (posting closes at 12:00 am; no applications accepted after 11:59 pm on 11/29/2026)
• Contact: Karessa Skuse, kskuse@unr.edu

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire. HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents; if verification fails, an official transcript of the highest degree must be submitted within 30 days of the first day of employment. References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment. Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify. For positions requiring driving, a valid driver's license is required at time of employment and as a condition of continued employment. Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

About the University

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada's original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries. Classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 ("Very High Research") university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie Community Engagement classification. The University is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the "Best National Universities" and "Best National Public Universities," and ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times' "Top Colleges for Economic Diversity." Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada's first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine – and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe. The University delivers on its land-grant mission with outreach across the state through Extension, Agricultural Experiment Station, Bureau of Mines and Geology, Small Business Development Center, Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics. The main campus in Reno, a burgeoning global technology hub, sits on a beautiful 290-acre Nevada State Arboretum where the high desert meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe. Physical infrastructure is expanding with the John Tullock Business Building (opening fall 2025) and a planned State Public Health Laboratory Building, alongside the recent acquisition of "University Village" to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early-career faculty.