Senior Director of Development, Transformative Philanthropy and Strategic Initiatives

About the role

The Senior Director of Development for Transformative Philanthropy and Strategic Initiatives (TPSI) will lead the development of new university initiatives with a focus on philanthropic support. This role requires a blend of fundraising and strategic advisory work, with a strong emphasis on emerging, high-impact initiatives.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

• Engage in initiatives at an early stage, helping to clarify vision, priorities, structure, and funding needs.
• Design and implement fundraising strategies for new university priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects aligned with strategic initiative priorities.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward principal and major gift donors, particularly for complex, cross-disciplinary opportunities.
• Partner with development officers across schools and units to co-develop donor strategies and advance shared prospects.
• Contribute to the development of donor materials, proposals, and engagement strategies for transformational gifts.

Work Environment

This position prefers to be located in the Nashville, TN area. If based in Nashville, a hybrid work environment is available, with one day per week or more in the office depending on business needs. Overnight travel is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, is necessary.
• Eight years of relevant experience, or the equivalent, is required. Five or more years of development experience preferred, ideally within a higher education environment.
• Demonstrated success in soliciting and closing gifts of $100,000 or more and proven participation in principal-level gifts.
• Proven success managing the full donor lifecycle, from identifying and qualifying prospects through cultivation, solicitation, and gift closure.
• Strong strategic thinking and organizational skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including proposal and presentation development.
• Experience collaborating across teams and disciplines to drive results.
• Familiarity with donor management systems and Microsoft Office tools.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in an agile, growth-oriented, and fast-paced environment.