Senior Associate AD, Development - Search Firm

Join the vibrant community at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)! Located just three miles from the Pacific Ocean, CSULB offers an inspiring workplace and an exceptional Southern California lifestyle. Our 322-acre campus—one of the largest in the CSU system—serves more than 42,000 students and is known for its commitment to student success, innovation, and impactful academic and research initiatives.

About the Role

The Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development serves as the department's chief athletics development officer and a member of the Executive Director of Athletics' senior leadership team, providing strategic leadership for the planning, execution, and growth of Long Beach State Athletics' comprehensive philanthropic program. This position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects, with a focus on securing major gifts of $50,000+ and principal gifts of $1 million+. The incumbent provides strategic oversight of annual giving and planned giving initiatives while fostering meaningful relationships with donors, alumni, corporate partners, and community stakeholders.

Working collaboratively with the Executive Director of Athletics, University Relations and Development, campus leadership, coaches, and external constituents, this position advances the department's strategic priorities by leading athletics development operations, supervising development personnel, supporting assigned sport programs, ensuring responsible stewardship of philanthropic resources, and promoting a culture of compliance, service, and excellence in support of Long Beach State Athletics and its student-athletes.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors, with a focus on securing major gifts of $50,000+ and principal gifts of $1 million+.
• Provide strategic leadership for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the athletics development program, including fundraising strategy, annual and planned giving, campaign initiatives, budgeting, donor engagement, and the supervision and performance management of athletics development staff to achieve departmental fundraising goals.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Long Beach State Athletics and University Relations and Development, collaborating with campus partners to align fundraising strategies, coordinate donor engagement, and advance campus philanthropic priorities.
• Serve on the Executive Director of Athletics’ Senior Staff to plan, implement, support, manage, and evaluate overall goals and objectives of the Long Beach State Department of Athletics.
• Provide oversight and leadership to assigned sports programs, ensuring adherence to NCAA, conference, and institutional rules while guiding overall program development and team performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five years of demonstrated successful major gift fundraising experience including donor identification, cultivation, and solicitation.
• Proven record of knowledge in the full spectrum of philanthropic fund development, including special gifts, major gifts, capital campaigns, annual giving, special events, prospect research, proposal development, and gift planning.
• Prior experience fundraising for an NCAA Division I athletic program is preferred.
• Valid California driver's license required.

Skills

The ideal candidate is a strategic and accomplished fundraising professional with a strong record of securing major and principal gifts, cultivating donor relationships, and advancing comprehensive athletics development initiatives. They are skilled at managing a portfolio of high-capacity donors, developing effective cultivation and stewardship strategies, and achieving ambitious fundraising goals through major, planned, annual, and transformational gifts. They leverage data, CRM systems, and donor insights to inform fundraising strategies, strengthen engagement, and maximize philanthropic support for athletics programs and priorities.

This individual provides strong leadership for athletics development operations, overseeing fundraising strategy, staff development, budgeting, capital campaigns, and donor engagement efforts while fostering collaboration across athletics, university advancement, and external partners. They build effective relationships with campus and community stakeholders, ensure alignment with institutional goals, and maintain a thorough understanding of NCAA regulations, NIL initiatives, and compliance requirements.

As a member of senior athletics leadership, they contribute strategic counsel, support departmental planning and policy development, and promote a culture of accountability, inclusion, and excellence. The successful candidate also provides oversight of assigned sports programs, supporting coaches, student-athletes, and program operations while ensuring compliance with NCAA, conference, and university regulations. They are committed to advancing student-athlete success, promoting diversity and gender equity, maintaining strong ethical standards, and fostering a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment that supports the mission and values of Long Beach State Athletics and the university.

Ability to communicate with an ethnically and culturally diverse campus community. Ability to follow all university policies, procedures, and guidelines including but not limited to safety, civility, information security, and non-discrimination policies and procedures. Ability to contribute to a positive university experience for each and every student and assist in achieving the university's commitment to a "vision of excellence."

Benefits

At California State University (CSU), we prioritize the health, growth, and success of our employees. Our benefits program reflects our commitment to your overall well-being. To be eligible for full benefits, employees must be appointed at least half-time (.50 FTE) with an appointment lasting more than six months and one day. Benefits eligibility and offerings may vary based on appointment type, classification, and applicable collective bargaining agreement.

• Paid Time Off: Up to 24 vacation days per year (based on employee group and/or length of service), 14 paid holidays, and 12 sick days annually with unlimited accrual.
• Health Coverage: A variety of medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Retirement Plans: Participation in the CalPERS defined benefit plan, along with voluntary savings options such as 403(b), 401(k), and 457 plans.
• Educational Benefits: Tuition fee waiver programs for eligible employees; dependent eligibility varies by employee group and bargaining unit.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families.
• Additional Benefits: Wellness programs, professional development opportunities, and insurance options including life, disability, and pet insurance.

Candidates are encouraged to review the appropriate CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details specific to their position. Additionally, the CSU Total Compensation Calculator is available to help prospective employees understand the full value of the CSU benefits package and how it complements base salary.

Pay

Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources. The MPP Comp Summary Range for this position is $10,069 - $15,104 per month.

This is a regular, at-will position classified as Administrator II.