Senior Director of Development - Cohort Lead

Position Responsibilities

• Cohort Leadership & Management
• Lead, manage, and mentor a cohort of frontline fundraisers, ensuring alignment with LSU Foundation goals and fundraising best practices.
• Provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and professional development plans for cohort members.
• Partner with the AVP of Development to establish annual goals and support the performance evaluation process for all fundraisers within the cohort.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture rooted in accountability, shared goals, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a champion of Foundation culture, reinforcing shared values, expectations, and best practices across the cohort and within assigned units.
• Strategic Fundraising & Unit Partnership
• Serve as a strategic fundraising partner in collaboration with the AVP to assigned unit deans, guiding fundraising priorities and advising on philanthropic opportunities.
• Collaborate with the AVP, unit leads, faculty, and Foundation leadership to develop and execute fundraising strategies that advance unit-specific goals.
• Collaborate with the AVP of Development in the creation of fundraising plans for each unit supported by the cohort, ensuring plans are ambitious, data-driven, and measurable.
• Provide strategic support, coaching, and troubleshooting for fundraisers navigating complex donor interactions or unit-level challenges.
• Portfolio Management
• Maintain an active major gift portfolio, securing philanthropic commitments at the leadership and major gift levels.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors capable of making significant philanthropic investments.
• Model best practices in donor strategy, documentation, and relationship management for the cohort.
• Collaboration & Communication
• Facilitate strong communication between the LSU Foundation, cohort fundraisers, and academic units, ensuring clarity, alignment, and responsiveness.
• Support the AVP in providing timely, consistent updates to Foundation leadership regarding cohort progress, emerging challenges, and opportunities.
• Collaborate with development services colleagues on cohort administration.
• Delegate and plan administrative tasks for optimal efficiency.
• Represent the LSU Foundation professionally with donors, faculty, and external partners, strengthening trust and institutional reputation.

Qualifications Required

• Experience in major gift fundraising demonstrating a proven track record of securing major gifts and meeting fundraising goals.
• Strong management and team leadership experience, preferably within a development or nonprofit environment.
• Proven ability to build effective partnerships with deans, academic leadership, and cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong strategic planning, problem-solving, and organizational abilities.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Qualifications Preferred

• Master's Degree
• CFRE or other professional fundraising certification is a plus.

Competencies

• Critical Thinking
• Relationship Building
• Attention to Detail/Accuracy
• Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Effective Communication
• Emotional Intelligence
• Professionalism
• Tenacity
• Timely Decision Making/Judgment

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment Requirements

• This position is primarily performed in a professional office environment.
• The role routinely uses standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, printers, and related technology.
• The position may involve travel, meetings, or attendance at events, as applicable to the role.
• Work hours are generally standard business hours, with evening or weekend work as needed.
• Travel is required to effectively manage and cultivate a geographically diverse portfolio of donors and prospects, including regular in-state and out-of-state travel and multi-day trips.
• Physical Demands
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee may be required to:
• Sit for extended periods of time
• Stand or walk occasionally
• Use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
• Communicate clearly in person, by phone, and electronically
• Lift or move materials weighing up to 20 pounds occasionally (if applicable)