Executive Director of Development, College of Engineering & Computing

About the role

Florida International University is a Top 50, preeminent public research university with 55,000 students from all 50 states and more than 140 countries, as well as an alumni network of more than 340,000. Located in the global city of Miami, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, including medicine and law. FIU faculty are leaders in their fields and include National Academy members, Fulbright Scholars and MacArthur Genius Fellows. A Carnegie R1 institution, FIU drives impactful research in environmental resilience, health and technology and innovation. Home to the Wall of Wind and Institute of Environment, FIU stands at the forefront of discovery and innovation. With a focus on student success, economic mobility and community engagement, FIU is redefining what it means to be a public research university.

Job Summary

Serves as the leading fundraising and solicitation officer for the College of Engineering & Computing (CEC). Provides strategic and operational leadership in the development, implementation, management, and growth of a comprehensive fundraising program aligned with CEC's mission, vision, campaign priorities, and long-term goals. Works closely with University Advancement leadership and the Dean to establish and execute annual and multi-year fundraising goals, including leadership and principal gift($500K+) and directs all development, stewardship, board management oversight, corporate engagement, and alumni relations activities for the College. The Executive Director (ED) develops and maintains effective, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, corporate partners, foundations, donors, alumni, and University Advancement colleagues. The ED manages the College's development team, leads strategic fundraising initiatives, and proactively cultivates a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects to secure philanthropic support for CEC's academic, research, and student-success priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develops, leads, and executes a comprehensive strategic plan for fundraising, corporate relations, stewardship, Dean's Leadership board management oversight, and alumni engagement for the College of Engineering & Computing (CEC).
• Affirms CEC's funding needs in collaboration with the Dean, department chairs, faculty, and University partners. Develops compelling cases for support across research, innovation, student programs, capital projects, and emerging technology initiatives.
• Develops, plans, and implements multi-channel strategies to secure philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, government partners, and foundations. Leads the full lifecycle of fundraising activities including identification, cultivation, proposal development, solicitation, closing, and stewardship at major and principal gift levels.
• Proactively manages a personal portfolio of major, and principal gift prospects. Develops customized cultivation strategies, conducts discovery visits, and maintains a rigorous schedule of donor meetings. Travels locally, nationally, and internationally to engage donors, cultivate partnerships, and solicit gifts.
• Led the development and execution of CEC's campaign activities, ensuring alignment with University-wide campaign priorities. Oversees all campaign planning, timelines, reporting, prospect strategies, and donor engagement initiatives tied to campaign goals.
• Collaborates with University Advancement, FIU Foundation leadership, FIU Alumni Association, President's Council, Foundation Board, and internal stakeholders to create coordinated fundraising strategies, improve donor pipeline development, and elevate the College's philanthropic visibility.
• Provides strategic guidance and coaching to the Dean, department chairs, faculty, and senior leaders on donor engagement, corporate relations, external partnerships, stewardship, and fundraising opportunities. Prepares briefing materials, talking points, presentations, and proposals for leadership to use in donor and partner interactions.
• Oversees stewardship, recognition, and donor relations programs for the College. Ensures timely, accurate, and strategic acknowledgement of gifts; manages pledge tracking; and ensures proper use, reporting, and compliance of donor funds, including scholarships and endowed gifts.
• Leads strategy development to expand, deepen, and institutionalize corporate and industry partnerships in engineering, computing, and technology sectors. Identifies potential partners aligned with CEC strengths such as AI, cybersecurity, robotics, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, biomedical engineering, and other emerging areas. Creates engagement pathways for research collaborations, workforce pipelines, sponsored programs, and philanthropic support.
• Directs alumni relations activities for the College in collaboration with the FIU Alumni Association. Develops strategies to increase alumni engagement, participation, and philanthropic involvement, including targeted communications, events, volunteer opportunities, and affinity-building initiatives.
• Develops and oversees production of fundraising collateral, case statements, proposals, digital assets, and public-facing materials for the College. Utilizes emerging technologies, data insights, and digital platforms to enhance donor outreach and fundraising impact.
• Serves as a key partner in University Advancement's prospect management system, ensuring adherence to guidelines, consistent documentation, and coordinated donor strategies across units. Develops annual work plans, solicitation matrices, and performance benchmarks for the CEC development operation.
• Recruits, supervises, and develops a high-performing development team. Provides ongoing coaching, training, performance evaluation, and professional development opportunities. Ensures team adherence to University policies, fundraising standards, and measurable goals.
• Develops and effectively administers the departmental operating budget. Allocates resources to support strategic fundraising priorities, staff operations, donor cultivation activities, and external engagement initiatives.
• Serves as a key partner in University Advancement's prospect management system, ensuring adherence to guidelines, consistent documentation, and coordinated donor strategies across units. Develops annual work plans, solicitation matrices, and performance benchmarks for the CEC development operation.
• Represents the University and/or the College at public events, donor engagements, industry functions, professional conferences, University programs, and community activities to strengthen partnerships and visibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and twelve (12) years of experience with seven (7) years of experience in fundraising. Supervises/ manages subordinate staff.
• Desired Qualifications: Degree in Communications/Marketing/Public Relations/ Sales/Business or related field. Possess 7 or more years of major and leadership giving fundraising in a higher education environment; campaign and Engineering fundraising experience is highly preferred. Proven record of significant achievement in a broad-based development role in a complex matrix organization, ideally with experience in higher education.